Generator is dead. Anyone converted to batteries only?

[Maogwaicat]

Hello all,
We have owned our '05 CB35, for about a year, it was very neglected when we took the vessel and we have spent the past year changing;
*Seat Cushions inside and out
*Eisenglass and Command Bridge Enclosure
*Shower Sump and pump box
*Forward, mid and Shaft Pocket Bilge Pumps
*Holding Tank pump
*Cockpit Shade
*Two 120W Solar Panels on hardtop
*Rebuilt Bowthruster (That was $350 bucks WELL SPENT!)
*Reworked Airconditioning control system
*Reworked Engine Access hatch hinges and installed gas support Strut.

We cruised from Palatka to Marathon and returned in 16 days, staying in yacht club marinas everynight plugged into shore power.. We learned much about the boat and the reasons for having a working generator, which we do NOT have. The current Northern Lights 6kW with 599 hours appears to be locked up and so far unable to rotate. No one in the business seems to have time to troubleshoot and make repairs unless we remove and replace. Replacement has been quoted as above $15K... I would have been willing to spend that previously, but the $Plus-$Plus after purchase that the dealer wants is making me a bit unwilling to embark on putting some Northern Lights Distributer's kid through college in order to enjoy A/C on the odd night when anchored. (Yes, I know that everyone has the right to make a legitimate profit.)

Big question for anyone interested in answering; Has any Albin Owner installed a large capacity Lithium Battery system which replaces a generator? I'm thinking of two 650Amp Hour batteries with any support systems needed. It looks like Dakota Lithiumhttps://dakotalithium.com/product/dl-12 ... h-can-bus/ or Battle Born Batterieshttps://battlebornbatteries.com/product ... d-battery/ have products that can literally replace the noisy and heat generating Northern Lights generator that currently acts as a paper weight in our engine compartment, for less than the Northern Lights $15K.

I would like to hear of some of the other actions Albin Owners have performed in improving our already great boats! Thanks! Darryl C, Cypress Moon. Palatka, Fl.

[Nancy]

Hi Darryl --

You've made some great repair$ on your boat and have also had some good adventures. I agree that it's time to research whether a generator is worth having vs. changing to lithium batteries. I have no expertise to offer, though. Our Northern Lights genset is working well...knock on wood. Think of all the space you'll gain if you ditch the generator!

[Maogwaicat]

Thanks, Nancy.
It certainly makes sense to use batteries to replace a generator. Even if I only save a couple BOAT spending units to make this happen it would be well worth the trouble. Dakota Lithium and Battle Born have long warranties on their battery systems, up to something like eleven years. I don't imagine owning this vessel past 2035... Imagine the silence of no diesel genny while anchored! This project will be studied and grokked upon over the summer.

[Nancy]

Looking forward to hearing what you figure out.

[REBMystic]

When my house AGM dies I plan to go lithium and will add some solar. I have learned some great stuff from this guy on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/@WillProwse Definitely look at his reviews of 12V batteries before purchasing.

[Maogwaicat]

Thanks for the link, Rob!

[BarryG]

For anyone still interested in this discussion, I too was considered ditching my gen for a Lithium battery set up... BUT there is more to consider! Lithium batteries absorb a charge at a MUCH greater rate that standard "wet" cells or AGM batteries. That means it will absorb charge power from your engine mounted alternator faster that can be supplied. A typical alternator at 85-95 amps cannot supply as much as the Lithium batteries want to take. This leads to overheating of your alternator even leading up to a fire and... burning down your boat. You have to purchase a very Hi Power (Balmar, et;al) alternator to supply many more amps and utilize an external regulator with overheat protection of the alternator. There are also devises in line to control and protect power supply to the new (and expensive) batts. The larger capacity alternator will also likely steal a little HP from the engine as it takes more power from the engine to turn.

If I were to do this today, I would lean towards a brand called EPOCH. Designed for boats and RV's, water resistant to (i think) IP67. Yes, on YouTube, Will Prouse is my go to guru. This battery is is internally protected with internal BMS (battery monitoring system) and I believe will self heat the battery in low temp situations.

If my generator was truly dead, I think the price of a new gen would be similar to expense of converting to LiFePo batts and sysytem updates needed.
Remember, the price of a good battery alone, approaches $2000.00. A new gen... $10 - $20,000.00!

My gen is still running fine and I just can't justify the expense of converting.

[REBMystic]

For anyone still interested in this discussion, I too was considered ditching my gen for a Lithium battery set up... BUT there is more to consider! Lithium batteries absorb a charge at a MUCH greater rate that standard "wet" cells or AGM batteries. That means it will absorb charge power from your engine mounted alternator faster that can be supplied. A typical alternator at 85-95 amps cannot supply as much as the Lithium batteries want to take. This leads to overheating of your alternator even leading up to a fire and... burning down your boat. You have to purchase a very Hi Power (Balmar, et;al) alternator to supply many more amps and utilize an external regulator with overheat protection of the alternator. There are also devises in line to control and protect power supply to the new (and expensive) batts. The larger capacity alternator will also likely steal a little HP from the engine as it takes more power from the engine to turn.

If I were to do this today, I would lean towards a brand called EPOCH. Designed for boats and RV's, water resistant to (i think) IP67. Yes, on YouTube, Will Prouse is my go to guru. This battery is is internally protected with internal BMS (battery monitoring system) and I believe will self heat the battery in low temp situations.

If my generator was truly dead, I think the price of a new gen would be similar to expense of converting to LiFePo batts and sysytem updates needed.
Remember, the price of a good battery alone, approaches $2000.00. A new gen... $10 - $20,000.00!

My gen is still running fine and I just can't justify the expense of converting.

Great points on the alternator. I have also read that when Lithium batteries are full, their BMS will abruptly shut them off and can cause overvoltage on engine alternator. So - care must be taken in how the battery systems are connected to engine alternators. I am same as Barry - my generator works great, but if it died, I would likely consider conversion to LiPo.

[Jkraft]

You do what you want. It’s your boat. That being said, if it was me doing this, I’d be getting a new generator or changing it to a next gen 3.5 or next gen 5kw with a sound shield. I love my northern lights. So far it’s reliable and amazingly quiet with the sound box on it. Good luck no matter what you decide.

[jmfernan]

I upgraded my house bank to lithium when it showed signs of diminished capacity (it was 7 years old, an 8D). I generally took the approach described here: https://marinehowto.com/easy-lifepo4-conversion/

I kept the Albin battery switches. I installed three Epoch Group 24 batteries (https://www.epochbatteries.com/products ... essentials) in parallel for a 315 amp hour bank that can also start the main engine if needed. I've also used Epoch on our RV with great results. Since my installation they have expanded options so if I did it today I'd probably get their combo starter/deep cycle 300 AH battery for simpler wiring. Nice to be able to check status via bluetooth and see exactly what's going on. The Victron DC-DC converter and solar controller are also bluetooth enabled and easy to monitor/set up.

We also have a rarely-used NL generator (no A/C needed in our climate). The tech is definitely there for battery powered A/C but I don't know the details.
Joe
1999 32+2 CB

[BarryG]

I don't think that Lithium batteries will "shut off" when fully charged. I do think the BMS will stop further charging, but not inhibit outputting supply to the boat.

[BarryG]

Hi All, for anyone interested, I just came across a very informative YouTube video about the topic of this thread. You can find it on YouTube. The channel is named "MotorCity Boat Works." The title is "Boat Problems with Lithium Batteries / Electrical Design / Sailboat Trawler Restoration (Ep 107). It was posted on Dec 27, 2024. The considerations make my head hurt...hahaha. I am considering changing out my AC,120 volt battery charger to a newer unit, but I want it to be able to accommodate all battery types, including LiFePo that I may utilize in the future. The boat he is working on happens to be an Albin.

[REBMystic]

I don't think that Lithium batteries will "shut off" when fully charged. I do think the BMS will stop further charging, but not inhibit outputting supply to the boat.

You are right. I didn't mean the battery is off, just that charging is abruptly stopped and can affect the alternator.