Battery Setup Suggestions

[boardnxtx]

Recently had my new system installed and I'm looking for some suggestions on the battery setup. I have an 04 210 with the factory 2-battery setup with switches. My new stereo consists of the following:

Speakers:
Kicker S15L7 sub
Kicker KS650 interior speakers - 3 pairs
Fusion T-Series 3 way speakers for tower

Amps:
Boston Acoustics GT-42
Kicker KX300.4
Precision Power PPI D2000/1

I also have LED's throughout the interior, a pair of X6000 transom LED's, and a 5 light bar on the tower.

I haven't added any additional batteries as of yet, but want to make sure I get the most out of the dual battery setup I have now.

Is it good to mix a starter battery and a deep cycle? Wouldn't they have different charging systems?

This is all new to me, so any help is appreciated!

[AuMDLST]

RE: Battery Setup Suggestions

I believe mixing batteries is not recommended
Do you plan on running the stereo for long periods of time with the engine off?
Do you sit with the light bar on? Are they halogen lamps?

I'm running the factory two interstate batteries with 4 amps (850.4, 750.1, clarion 480 & 280)
I have yet to have an instance of starting issues after playing for several hours.
Factory battery selector switch is always in the both position.

[boardnxtx]

RE: Battery Setup Suggestions

Yes, on most trips out we end up anchoring up and listening to music for a good period of time. I know its good to start the motor from time to time to get a charge going, but I'd like to minimize having to do this if possible. The light bar is only used on rare occasions and does not stay on while we are sitting. Yes, these are halogen lamps.

There are two Interstate batteries in there now, but I'm not sure on age of either. I've charged them both, but it doesn't seem like they are holding the charge like they should. I was out on Thursday evening and the voltage meter read 10-11 with both switches on. I'm thinking it's probably best to just go ahead and change them out and get some fresh cells in there.

Now the question is, which batteries to go with. This is my first boat with a big stereo and dual battery setup, so this is not a subject I'm familiar with...

[AuMDLST]

RE: Battery Setup Suggestions

The batteries may have a date code on them telling you the age. They could very well be original factory. You could take them for a load test at an auto shop.
If you do replace them and plan on leaving everything else in the boat the same - look for batteries with a high drain rate (amp hours).

[AuMDLST]

RE: Battery Setup Suggestions

There are several threads on here about batteries - there are probably as many recommendations as there are battery brands.
Seems a lot of suport goes out for the optima blue tops
http://www.optimabatteries.com/optim...etop/specs.php
IMO the only one worth getting is the D31M as the others don't spec out much batter than the interstates.

If the dimensions work out you could go with these (get ready to spend quite a bit though)
http://www.odysseyfactory.com/marinespecs.html
The PC2150


Or just save some some money and get two new interstates as they will get you another 2-3 years.

[Chexi]

RE: Battery Setup Suggestions

Whatever you decide to do on the batteries, do yourself a favor and pick up a CTEK charger and a comfort indicator quick connect for each battery. You can find the comfort indicator quick connects on ebay pretty cheap. I bought 2 from BSMexhaust and had them in about 2 days. I love my CTEK 3000 and comfort indicators. It is awesome to be able to just look at the LED and see if either battery needs to be charged. If it does, it I just hook up the quick connect and I'm done. The CTEKs also automatically switch to trickle charge, are capable of charging all types of batteries, and will allegedly desulfate batteries as well. One of these might restore your Interstates to near full capacity.

If you are going to be draining your batteries down, it is a good idea to have something like this instead of relying on your alternator to charge them back up to full from fully or nearly fully drained.

[EarmarkMarine]

In this warm weather area its possible to use deep cycle batteries for both the stereo and starting batteries.

The standard Interstate marine batteries do a good job. There are many benefits to an AGM, like an Optima, beyond the amp/hours rating. We use a lot of the Optima blue/gray for stereo and blue/black for starting.

Most battery problems are a result of being solely dependent on the alternator for recharging the stereo bank. If you're lounging and playing the stereo for extended periods, the alternator doesn't get it done. And its not practical to burn a tank of gas to recharge the stereo battery. A shore AC charger is mandatory.

A small trickle/tender charger is fine for the starting battery for winter and long term maintenance since the starting battery is only momentarily discharged. But the deep cycle stereo battery requires a higher current charger to chemically excite the battery (desulfate). Otherwise a perfectly good battery slowly deteriorates.

You want to avoid simultaneously charging two batteries with dissimilar charges with a single bank charger.

We use CTEK, Guest, ProMariner and DualPro. You can run two separate chargers, like a CTEK 3300 and 7000, or a single dual-bank multi-phase charger of at least 10 amps capacity. This will correctly address every scenario, give you several more seasons of battery lifespan and provide longer play time when you're lounging.

David
Earmark Marine

[emagine]

or a single dual-bank multi-phase charger of at least 10 amps capacity

David - Is there a specific make/model of this type of charger that you would recommend?

[EarmarkMarine]

Emagine,

A ProMarine ProSport 12 ($139) is good or the ProSport 20 ($179) would be better.

Even though these are a daul bank charger they will deliver nearly all their capacity to the depleted stereo battery when the starting battery is full (generally the case).

David
Earmark Marine

[Mikeski]

If I were starting over I would keep my stock starting battery and use a pair of golf cart batteries for the stereo. They are cheap enough at Costco so you can replace them ever 2nd or 3rd year when the capacity starts to fall off. Grant and I discussed battery life this morning, we are both getting 2 full seasons on batteries before we start to see some performance degradation.

For charging use David's combiner, I think it's probably better and cheaper than the Yandina C150 I have been recommending.

[EarmarkMarine]

Along with Mike's point:

If you're adding an automatic combiner/separator, like a Yandina or SurePower, in conjunction with a dual bank charger, add a provision to manually isolate the two battery banks when in storage.

For example, the Yandina has a remote control wire when grounded via a switch that will open the combiner for isolation.

If you're using a manual Perko switch then set it to "off" when charging in storage.

David
Earmark Marine

[boardnxtx]

With a ProSport 20 installed, how should the two batteries be charged while in storage? I usually separately charge each battery over night before going out on the water. Should I continue with this regime, or is there another way to charge to accomplish?

Thanks again!

[EarmarkMarine]

board,

A smart multi-stage charger will not needlessly heat your batteries after they're charged. Flooded batteries self discharge by as much as one percent per day. So its not a bad idea to keep the charger on them for maintenance.

And with a dual bank charger keep the two battery banks isolated while in storage.

David
Earmark Marine