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Volvo Penta 4.3 OSI-E Battery Advice Needed

K

Kirdud

Contributing Member
Good day, captains!

Could you please advise which batteries fit well with the Volvo Penta 4.3 OSI-E engines? I have two of them, and during the 6 months of maintenance/storage, my batteries completely died. I replaced them back in 2023 with Delkor 105Ah batteries.

Now I’m starting to think that my engineer’s decision to install these batteries may not have been correct, because ChatGPT suggested that 70–90Ah batteries, preferably AGM type, would be more suitable.

My main question is related to the Ah capacity. I believe there may be a limit to how much power the alternator can provide to charge the batteries properly, and it seems that my current batteries are not charging to full capacity.

Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Thank you!
 
it all depends upon how much energy has been consumed from the battery...and then for how long you run the engine (alternator).

Having batteries with a (~ 20-30%) larger capacity than specified doesn't hurt anything beyond your wallet...

Its not that hard to make measurements to assess what is where...the instruments aren't cheap so it may make more sense to sub that out.
 
The batteries are only for the engines one battery for each engine, plus the bow thruster.
The generator uses its own battery. The anchor, fridges, etc. use the large battery.

What I mean is that if the alternator can charge the battery only up to 95Ah, then there is no sense in installing a 110Ah battery because it will never be fully charged, as the alternator is too weak.

For example, in BMW cars, you can configure the battery type and Ah capacity to avoid overcharging or undercharging, but here there is nothing to configure.
 
Kirdud said:
The batteries are only for the engines one battery for each engine, plus the bow thruster.
The generator uses its own battery. The anchor, fridges, etc. use the large battery.

What I mean is that if the alternator can charge the battery only up to 95Ah, then there is no sense in installing a 110Ah battery because it will never be fully charged, as the alternator is too weak.

For example, in BMW cars, you can configure the battery type and Ah capacity to avoid overcharging or undercharging, but here there is nothing to configure.
Click to expand...
How are your batteries maintained when you're not using the boat? Are they all connected parallel, or isolated? Do you keep the refrigerator powered when the boat is left unused for long periods?

Which Delkor batteries are you using and what are the make/model and year of your boat? Chemistry matters and charging is different for flooded Lead/Acid, AGM and Lithium batteries- is your alternator compatible with all?

Cranking the engine(s) uses more than anything else, assuming there are no constant loads draining energy. If you don't run the engines above the minimum RPM that allows charging, they'll always be partially depleted and idling for a long time doesn't help.

How long does it take for the batteries to be fully discharged? Someone needs to determine the current used when the engine isn't running and all unnecessaary accessories have been turned off.

Modern car alternators don't just connect 12V to excite the field- I have a 2005 Chevy Astro and even vehicles before that year were using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) from the PCM (Power Control Module) to control the alternator's charging duty cycle, to save fuel, prevent overcharging and to make bulbs & battery last longer. That's the explanation I have read and heard.
 
I installed them in 2023 and that’s it I haven’t really checked them since then. To be honest, I never had any issues with them until now.

The boat is in the water about 360 days a year and is usually connected to shore power at the marina when docked. The batteries are mainly for the engines, while other onboard systems run off a separate, larger battery bank.

I’m using Delkor 105Ah, 800 CCA batteries. Currently, they are not charging at all. The charger on the boat is a ProMariner ProTech-4 Battery Charger.
 
Kirdud said:
I installed them in 2023 and that’s it I haven’t really checked them since then. To be honest, I never had any issues with them until now.

The boat is in the water about 360 days a year and is usually connected to shore power at the marina when docked. The batteries are mainly for the engines, while other onboard systems run off a separate, larger battery bank.

I’m using Delkor 105Ah, 800 CCA batteries. Currently, they are not charging at all. The charger on the boat is a ProMariner ProTech-4 Battery Charger.
Click to expand...
Are the batteries led/acid? Are you saying the batteries aren't charging at all, or the charger isn't being used? Can you test for voltage from the charger?

It's possible that the charger is at fault.
 
The batteries are lead-acid. As I mentioned, my boat has been out of the water and in dry dock, with all cables disconnected from the batteries for the past 6 months. When the mechanic recently tried to reconnect the cables, there was no response at all. He then attempted to charge the batteries with a charger, but it was unsuccessful. I also noticed that one of the batteries appears to have swollen slightly.
 
Kirdud said:
The batteries are lead-acid. As I mentioned, my boat has been out of the water and in dry dock, with all cables disconnected from the batteries for the past 6 months. When the mechanic recently tried to reconnect the cables, there was no response at all. He then attempted to charge the batteries with a charger, but it was unsuccessful. I also noticed that one of the batteries appears to have swollen slightly.
Click to expand...
You posted "on the water for 360 days per year" (yesterday) but in the original post, wrote about the 6 month layup- batteries need to be fully charged before storage and checked occasionally because fully charging takes time. If the engine isn't running long enough before layup to fully charge the batteries, they need to be on a charger.

Is that a 'smart charger'? If not, check the electrolyte level- my friend has a charger that's not 'smart' and more than one battery manufacturer called it a 'brute force' charger. Even 'no maintenance' batteries can lose electrolyte if they're being charged constantly and somewhere, they have a vent.

Swollen isn't good. I had a battery that suddenly went dead and when I wiggled the positive battery cable, the whole insert came out of the battery case. Never failed to crank before that incident.

Can you post the exact part number for the batteries? It would be helpful for looking into the technical info. Also, where are you located?

He connected the charger in the boat, or a different charger?
 
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jimn said:
You posted "on the water for 360 days per year" (yesterday) but in the original post, wrote about the 6 month layup- batteries need to be fully charged before storage and checked occasionally because fully charging takes time. If the engine isn't running long enough before layup to fully charge the batteries, they need to be on a charger.

Is that a 'smart charger'? If not, check the electrolyte level- my friend has a charger that's not 'smart' and more than one battery manufacturer called it a 'brute force' charger. Even 'no maintenance' batteries can lose electrolyte if they're being charged constantly and somewhere, they have a vent.

Swollen isn't good. I had a battery that suddenly went dead and when I wiggled the positive battery cable, the whole insert came out of the battery case. Never failed to crank before that incident.

Can you post the exact part number for the batteries? It would be helpful for looking into the technical info. Also, where are you located?

He connected the charger in the boat, or a different charger?
Click to expand...
Battery Delkor 31-800, 800 CCA, 12V, 105Ah, 190 min (RC). He did not use the boat’s charger, but instead used his own non-smart charger.

I’m in Cyprus, and according to the information I found online, this is an acid battery. It does not seem to be the best choice for marine use. AGM batteries are generally more preferable for boats because they handle vibration better, are more resistant to deep discharge, and are safer in marine environments.
 
Kirdud said:
Battery Delkor 31-800, 800 CCA, 12V, 105Ah, 190 min (RC). He did not use the boat’s charger, but instead used his own non-smart charger.

I’m in Cyprus, and according to the information I found online, this is an acid battery. It does not seem to be the best choice for marine use. AGM batteries are generally more preferable for boats because they handle vibration better, are more resistant to deep discharge, and are safer in marine environments.
Click to expand...

Lead acid batteries work well, as long as they're not exposed to excessive heat and total discharge isn't good, but if it hadn't happened repeatedly, it should be able to be recharged, unless the electrolyte was missing. A battery tester sholld be used, but the fact that it doesn't respond to charging tells me it won't be useful.
 
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