A split cell
We have been chomping through our batteries power too quickly and today we discovered why. Our AGM’s are 10 years old and we had decided to replace them this season but the were unobtainable in May when we departed Canada despite ordering and paying for them 4 months earlier. We had then planned to re-power in Fort Lauderdale but then we stumbled across the OCC’s Hank George in Kilmarnock who supplies and designs lithium battery systems for sailboats. He exuded knowledge and found us a certified fitter who had the time to do all the upgrade work. So we have taken the plunge and remain tied up on Brian Murray’s dock while the parts are ordered and the installation takes place. Exciting times and much more to follow.
When we burrowed into the deepest recess of the bilge we found two blown cells one of which had split with fibreglass hanging out. Presumably it had discharged during a shore power outage during COVID abandonment. Once discharged it would have been more susceptible to freezing and that must have caused the split.
Brian and Vicki’s dock