Refer at 50% run time:	12 hrs/2 * 50A  = 300 A/hrs
    Anchor light		 12 hrs * 2 A     = 24 A/hrs
    TV, Game,Lectra-San      evening            =  30 A/hrs   estimate

I need to discuss this idea with others. More heads is better than one! My present battery situation is: House bank Deka Gels 2x8D, 1x4D (220 + 220+180=620 A/hrs) when new Engines Deka Gels 1x8D each engine Genset Deka Gels 1xGroup31 Charging: Balmar 100A dual output - house bank and one engine, inverter under way Delco 55A second engine battery Heart 2000 - 100A house bank - shore power or genset Pro Mariner 80A both engines, genset - shore power Problem: The household refer draws 50A, Anchor light 2A, TV and Video Game in the evening ??? you see the problem, no sneekering please! So after running a genset to cook dinner, hot water heater, etc. batteries are full, at about 8pm. By morning 8 am. voltage drops to about 11.5V. I know, that I am pushing the envelope. We run genset again for cooking, hot water, etc. about 2 hrs. We can only restore part of used Amp/hrs. Refer at 50% run time: 12 hrs/2 * 50A = 300 A/hrs Anchor light 12 hrs * 2 A = 24 A/hrs TV, Game,Lectra-San evening = 30 A/hrs estimate Therefore, I am using more that 50% of my house bank capacity. I need to run genset at least 4 hrs to recover what we have used-up. I like quiet, even though genset is in sound cover you still get little vibration and some noise. It comes to running genset 8 of every 24 hrs. I would like to last through the weekend without having to run genset unless for cooking, hot water or A/C on those hot/hazy/humid afternoons. I need to have a battery bank that will deliver 600+ A/hrs. Is this what others are doing? I have a choice of adding two more Gel 8Ds (440 A/hrs for a total of 1060A/hrs) ~ $850 or supposedly better 6 Golf Cart Acid batteries (3 x 220A/hrs=660 A/hrs) ~ 6 * $90 = $540 but it requires at least new charger $500, battery bank switch and isolation between Gels and Acid, and in all propability new Balmar alternator to recharge secong bank underway $500; for total of between $1000 and $2000. I know you will say, get a new refer. One problem, how do you remove a refer that is 30" wide or deep and your doors are 23" wide and the admiral likes the size of it and shrugs off any mention of getting smaller one. One choice cut it into pieces. Another problem, getting a new one, most of them are at least 24" wide or deep and to small. I am leaning towards getting more Gels and waiting until they get old enough, so I must replace all of them, at once. Current Gels are 5 years old. Any opinions? Alternatives? Thank you, Igor Kapuscinski M/V Pretty Lady Chris Craft 460 Canstellation