Indeed the boat does get hot here in LA. I have 3- yes 3- thermometers (they run in a range of about 10 degrees variance) in the cabin to get an idea of how hot it gets. Always above 100 June, July, August and Sept. Sometimes 120 and that is actual temp and not Heat Index. I have been told by others that 3 years on the average is about what is expected with batteries in general here.
I was thinking AGMs not just to get another year or 2 but to avoid the concern about having to add water. The batteries are under the quarterberth which is always covered with stuff and I'd rather be sailing, etc so my maintenance habits are not always the best.
I do find I have to add water every month or so. So that I do check regularly...kinda. The charger-- I was told I have one-- is somewhere in the beyond. I'll have to look more closely. I don't have a separate shore charger. I have a refrigerator (which only seems to run on AC shore power and not my batteries) that a previous owner added that takes up some of the space and sight line under the galley area back by the engine. But I recall "Ericson" on the outside of one of the metal boxes so that is likely the charger if that was standard equip with the E25+.
BTW, I run the engine about 20 mins a week, not daily. (Wish I could get out daily!) And, after I start on bat 1, I switch to Both. Only if I night sail (which I do a fair amount of in the summer since it's cooler) do I switch to bat 2.
I do put the voltmeter on the batteries ever so often. This last time when I did so after running the engine for about 10 or 15 mins, I got readings of 13.15v on one and 13.18v on the other. I thought that looked pretty good but the next day when I tried to start the engine, I had to switch to "Both" to get the 1-banger to kick over. I guess I should have then checked the readings on the voltmeter. And it's been several weeks since I checked the water level.
So I have some work to do this w/e, but- hey- this is a learning process! Thanks for all the helpful advice.
I was thinking AGMs not just to get another year or 2 but to avoid the concern about having to add water. The batteries are under the quarterberth which is always covered with stuff and I'd rather be sailing, etc so my maintenance habits are not always the best.
I do find I have to add water every month or so. So that I do check regularly...kinda. The charger-- I was told I have one-- is somewhere in the beyond. I'll have to look more closely. I don't have a separate shore charger. I have a refrigerator (which only seems to run on AC shore power and not my batteries) that a previous owner added that takes up some of the space and sight line under the galley area back by the engine. But I recall "Ericson" on the outside of one of the metal boxes so that is likely the charger if that was standard equip with the E25+.
BTW, I run the engine about 20 mins a week, not daily. (Wish I could get out daily!) And, after I start on bat 1, I switch to Both. Only if I night sail (which I do a fair amount of in the summer since it's cooler) do I switch to bat 2.
I do put the voltmeter on the batteries ever so often. This last time when I did so after running the engine for about 10 or 15 mins, I got readings of 13.15v on one and 13.18v on the other. I thought that looked pretty good but the next day when I tried to start the engine, I had to switch to "Both" to get the 1-banger to kick over. I guess I should have then checked the readings on the voltmeter. And it's been several weeks since I checked the water level.
So I have some work to do this w/e, but- hey- this is a learning process! Thanks for all the helpful advice.