While I like to pick on Tobeck every single, solitary chance I get there are some great point illustrated by this clean, professional installation!
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First, the use of marine, double-terminal batteries with stainless nuts NO WINGNUTS!!!
Clean, marine-grade swaged and insulated cables bound together and the correct color .
Batteries are mounted using correctly sized mounting frames with stainless hardware. NO PLASIC STRAPS!!!
While the batteries have caps they are sealed, AGM's or Absorbed Glass Mat type and as such will not vent or release electrolyte or explosive hydrogen gas.
The batteries are correctly sized. The larger Group 27 or Group 31s' far exceed the cranking amps and reserve capacity of the more common, less expensive Group 24's.
One last point: This battery upgrade was initially performed to just add a battery and increase the overall capacity of the system. Instead of adding a new battery to an old bank, Tobeck took the extra step of replacing all the batteries at the same time, installing identical cells of the same size and chemistry resulting in a bullet proof (but sadly not Cougar-proof
) installation!The problem with adding a new battery to an old bank is that the older battery will work the new one and hasten it's demise. Also, do not mix battery chemistry. Your boat should sport all flooded-cell or all AGM's. The newer dry-cell Optima or Blue Tops are beginning to fall out of favor with most boaters and marine mechanics due to a high failure rate. AGM's have their lead plates supported by a polyester mat matrix and are very resistant to the jarring, pounding and vibration so common on board boats.
I hate to say it but GOOD JOB ROB!
