Why Temperature Sensors are SO Important on Boat Batteries

[@SkyPilot54]

Calder deserves nobel peace prize ,, ⚡⚡

[@PacificYachtSystems]

He's amazing!

[@bryangreenleaf5001]

Wow. That’s super interesting.

[@kingposeidon9362]

I learned something new from this. Thanks for sharing.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Very welcome

[@robertduncan4612]

Incredibly insightful.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnKJohnson]

Temp sensors are a potential failure point, too. On my recently purchased used boat the prior owner had just replaced both the four AGM batteries (I should have suspected something amiss) and the Balmar 614 regulator in a vain attempt to resolve charging problems that in the end I found arose from a faulty battery temp sensor. Charging system would charge normally for 40 minutes, then shut down. (I replaced the perfectly good 614 regulator, too, in my first attempt to resolve problems.) Fortunately, the Balmar 614 regulator has temp display for the temp sensors (if you get on your belly to read them, read the Balmar instructions, and have a magnetic screwdriver to tap thru the modes) which showed that a high temp reading from from the battery sensor was shutting down charging system . I think it shuts down charging when it sees that the batteries get to around 50-55C, but my batteries were not warm at all. I disconnected that sensor for the remainder of my 30 hour trip, ran fine, but also, tamped down the belt tension regulator setting, just in case there was a temp problem. Bought new temp sensor. Later Balmar regulators have easier ways to check on these parameters, but the 614 works OK, too if you get on your belly like a reptile. Bottomline, lots of money spent before discovering the bad temp sensor.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Thanks for sharing your experience, you bring good points, those temp sensors can fail and cause lots of problems for charging.

[@tvonzweck]

I just moved my charger closer to the batteries for a few reasons, one of which was that the temp sensor cable would not reach. Q; does it matter which of my 4 batteries (in parallel) I attach the sensor to? And, can I trick a 10 year old Magnum 2812 into holding the 14.4v charge to .6amp on my Firefly batteries by increasing the charger's absorption time setting (just when doing the restoration charge)? As of now the charger comes off 14.4v after 90 minutes and goes to the 13.4v float charge. Hence, I've been unable to perform a restoration charge. This Magnum's vintage does not allow it to accept a firmware level newer than 3.7. Therefore I cannot utilize the newer ARC remote setting that lets one set absorbption cut off based on amps.

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Install the temp sensor at what should be the hottest battery post in the whole bank. Generally the most middle negative post of any battery bank is the warmest.

[@DJohns-nz4ul]

Mounting LiFePo4 in the engine room?

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Mounting LiFePO4 batteries anywhere on a boat is a challenge. Where did you install your LiFePO4 batteries?

[@DJohns-nz4ul]

Where the agm's came out of along side the Lehman engine

[@rglaz0311]

@5:02 Who the hell would argue with Nigel Calder lol

[@PacificYachtSystems]

exactly, Nigel is the authority.

[@svStargate]

On their next visit to the boat, everybody that just saw this video will be checking their battery temp sensor location and fire suppression type….. For sure I will!

[@PacificYachtSystems]

Good one, thanks for sharing.