forklift batteries for an electric boat

[mike hanyi]

Im converting a boat to electric, I want about 400Ah + in 24v.
I want to go with 2v cells and do it correctly, does anyone know the Ah on the 2v cells so I can figure out the dimensions and weight required.

many thanks
mike

[ssor]

Mike , When I was a kid about 60 years ago we had a battery room with glass cased 2 volt cells lined up on several shelves and we ran the house on a 32 volt system with a wind mill and a gas generator set. Those cells were about eight inches square and twice that tall. I expect that single cell storage battery components come in any size you want.

Edit to add: you will need 400+AH 2 volt cells and you will need 12 .Or you will need 200 AH cells and you will connect them series parallel and you will need 24.

[mmd]

Lead-acid, absorbed glass mat, or gel batteries? Sizes vary for the same capacity between the types (so do the prices!).

Check this site for info on lead-acid battery sizes & capacities.

http://www.surrette.com/

[ssor]

Try this link:
http://www.sbsbattery.com/index.php?_p_=7

[C. Ross]

I have a pair of Trojan L16H 6V. Here is the same thing in a 2V version: http://www.trojanbattery.com/Products/L16RE-2V.aspx Heavy buggers.

[ssor]

Looks like about 1500 pounds and 1200 AH.

[C. Ross]

I did the Ah to weight calculation on a bunch of batteries, and the Trojan 6V had the best ratio of any wet cell I could find.

[Thorne]

There is an Electric Boat group on Yahoo groups -- well worth a search, and the folks there have some good info on just this issue...

Much depends on if the boat will live in the water or be trailered sometimes. If the latter, and if the batteries will have to be removed for transport, then size and storage become much more complex issues.

Best of luck!

[mike hanyi]

she will live in the water, and the weight to amps thing is starting to be an issue, I have the old engine box to fill with cels, and the weight is in the correct place.

she is a double end traditional fishing boat about 18-20ft, Im removing the propshaft and want to mount a minnkota 24v "80" in the ruddershaft post.

we will see how this continues
mike

[willmarsh3]

This sounds like a workable plan. Do you have pictures of the boat and the place you are thinking of installing the batteries?

[mcdenny]

Check out telephone system back up power batteries - they will have single (2v) cells anywhere from small to huge.

I have to ask - why would you want them? (4) 300 ah 6v batteries (Concorde GPL6CT) would give 300 ah at 24v at 360#. (8) 220ah 6v (Concorde GPL4C) would give 440 ah at 528#. Fewer connecting cables = better efficiency and less hassle.

[mike hanyi]

why built of 2V batteries?

because the closest neighbor of an electric boat is a forklift, charge all night and drive all day, on a large bank of batteries if you got one dud cell then it is easier to replace the cell then an entire battery, they charge better and discharge more evenly.

the battery bank size is
58cm x 40cm x 36cm
L X W x H

24v/ 290AH = 200kgs

fits nicely in the area of the old engine box, should run all day

mike

[George Ray]

Do some searching for 'living off the grid', wind and solar type sites and you will find some resources for retail access to large single battery cells.

I once was in the the backup power room of nuc station where they had batteries to supply ??120V??DC. The glass containers holding the single cells plates had an interior dimension of (guessing /aprox) maybe 12"x18"x30". How's that for a single cell lead acid?