second battery

[wcherashore]

I am considering installing a 3 pump (jabsco's) integrated ballast system in my 2000 Air and am wondering what the power needs of this system will be. I currently have the stock battery set-up (under the nose bow cushion). Will I need a second battery? If anyone is familiar with this perhaps they can tell me where they installed the second battery and if they moved the original from its stock location. Perhaps a battery under each side of the bow cushions (starboard and port) or under the passenger seat? Maybe moving the battery out of the nose will make room for a bow sack?

Thanks.

[verhagmr]

Im not formiliar with having the battery in the bow, and to me that sounds a little scetch. I take water over my nose all the time and having electricity flowing up there doent seem too safe! Anyway I dont think having a second battery is that big of an issue if you fill your ballast while the boat is running and you alternator is working. I wouldnt worry about it too much unless you have had battery issues in the past. Hope this helps!

[wcherashore]

the stock battery location is under the nose bow cushion... and you're right, water does get in there....

what if I added 2x 300W tower speakers?

[verhagmr]

I have 4 tower speakers (really not sure of the watts, they are just the two dual speaker ones you can order from Nautique) I dont have any issue running my pumps and my stereo at the same time on one battery. I ride with some guys who are always on two batteries unless they are sitting in aux. mode listening to music, then they'll shut one off until they need to start their boat just as a back up.

[liquid-diet]

we run 2 just for piece of mind and use a Surepower separator (http://www.surepower.com/separator.html) so we never have to mess with switching batteries off or forgetting to do so. Have all the audio and ballast stuff connected to the backup battery and the necessities to the primary. both batteries are mounted behind the rear bench on each side.

[jaybird]

We live on a lake and put about 230 hours a year on our boat. Considering the time we are out and we run a sound system with 3- amps pulling 1200 watts plus a 3-pump ballast system, I will not go out on the lake with a single battery. We sit anchored or docked without the engine running and listen to tunes. A duel battery system is more than peace of mind if you run a big sound system it’s a necessity.
EXAMPLE: If you add 2-300 watt speakers and already have say 4-150 watt speakers or 1200 watts assuming you have the amps to drive them at 25% of their power rating, that’s 300 watts or about 25 amps, the RC or “Reserve Capacity” rating on batteries is base on 25 amps, the average “NEW” battery has about 130 minutes reserve capacity at 25 amps, so you can maybe use 60-80% of that and have enough to crake the engine or 70 minutes, and remember that’s driving the speakers with only 300 watts for the entire system, crake it up to 600 watts and a “NEW” battery is dead in half that time. If your battery is in poor condition, a good sound system could kill it in 15-20 minutes, if the engine is not running.

It’s not too cool having a dead battery and asking some Mastercraft to give you a jump. You can install several types of dual battery systems but I agree with liquid-diet, go with an automatic charging relay so you don’t have to remember to turn your switch from bat 1 to bat 2. A charging relay is simply a high amp contact set that when a charging source is available it combines both batteries so they will charge. When no charging source is available the relay opens so your accessories are only running on one battery and the other battery will remain hot for starting. Probably the best kit is available from BLUE SEAS, this kit has the battery switch and charging relay with installation instructions: http://bluesea.com/files/resources/i.../990310020.pdf
My 230 came with dual batteries and a switch so all I had to add was the charging relay.
If you go the duel battery route, be sure your wire size is #2 minimum depending on the length of run and properly attach the terminal ends and fuse as required.

[wcherashore]

if I don't sit around and listen to music does this advice still the way to go?

For now, I'm just looking to add 2x 300W tower speakers to the stock stereo.

thanks for the input thus far

[jaybird]

if I don't sit around and listen to music does this advice still the way to go?

For now, I'm just looking to add 2x 300W tower speakers to the stock stereo.

thanks for the input thus far

If you install tower speakers, how will you power them? If you expect the head unit to drive them you will be very disappointed. Unless the tower speakers are for looks, you need an amp to drive them regardless of when you listen to your music. A head unit will barley drive main cabin speakers. In a boat, unlike a car, the sound has little to bounce off of; in the case of tower speakers they require more amps due to their orientation in the open air.

[mf01]

I've been in the debate of adding a second battery. Right now I have one battery and it's under the rear middle seat. Only option would be to run long power cables up to the storage area under the gull wing seat. For now I have a Black and Decker portable jump start if I need it (also jumper cables). My amps are rated for about 700watts total, but I rarely crank them when floating.

Anyone been able to install a second battery in the location under the rear middle seat on a DD?

[wcherashore]

newer sport nautiques have the gas tank below the rear seat....

[Mikeski]

If you don't sit around and listen to the system with the motor off a second battery will not do much for you. I only had one battery in my last boat with a 1200 watt system, never had an issue but I didn't do the sit and listen thing like we do now. Now I have a 3000 watt stereo system and we sit/listen quite often, I run two batteries dedicated to the stereo and one starting battery.

Just to be clear, batteries cannot make up for a weak charging system. That said, even the 65 amp alternator should be able to keep things charged for any system up to 2000 watts. This would be a good question for the stereo's topic area.

[jaybird]

amps - watts

65 amps at 12 volts is only 780 watts, so if your running the system at 2000 watts even with the engine running the system is being drained.

VA=Watts 12V x 65 amps = 780 watts

that said, seldom would you actually run a 2000 watt system at full capacity. New PCM engines now have a 100 AMP alternator standard.

[ers906]

Does anyone know what size alternator the 2002 PCM excalibur motor has stock?

[Chexi]

I second the recommendation of the BlueSeas isolator/combiner System with 2 (or more) batteries. I don't often sit around with engine off with the tunes cranked, but I like the option of doing so. That said, a portable jump start is probably enough for peace of mind. It just takes up some valuable space... although it is extra ballast.

I also would recommend a CTEK charger with comfort indicator quick connects. One of the best upgrades I have done on my boat.