Battery Help Needed

[conman27]

I currently have 1 battery in my boat and I am wanting to replace it and get a back up battery. What kind of battery should I get, I am running 1 12" JL W3, 1 Pair of Pro80s, and 2 amps. Any help or suggestions would be great! Thanks, Connor

[74green]

I run Optima batteries in my truck and boat.
I have two amps in my truck on 1 yellow top. Never any problems within the last 4-5 years.
In the boat which also has two amps…I have 2 blue top marine batteries.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optim...etop/index.php

[RyanATX]

Optimas are "ok" but for the money, you can get a more reliable, and more powerful battery.

Check out www.4xspower.com or www.kinetik.com

I would say that a single Kinetik 2400 in addition to your current battery (not combined) should allow you to play your system quite some time, while leaving your current battery there for starting when you're ready to leave..

[Chattwake]

Optimas are "ok" but for the money, you can get a more reliable, and more powerful battery.

Check out www.4xspower.com or www.kinetik.com

I would say that a single Kinetik 2400 in addition to your current battery (not combined) should allow you to play your system quite some time, while leaving your current battery there for starting when you're ready to leave..

www.4xspower.com has the best batteries I've used. I've got 2 3100 series agm's in my 230. I'm running 2 485's, 6 xs-650's, one XXX 12, one stock 10'' sub, 2 wetsounds syn4's, 1 wetsounds syn1, and a wetsounds ws-420.

Call and ask for Nathan. Tell him you know Tom from www.chattwake.com and he'll give you a discount.

[Chad52]

Tom,

Where did you mount your batteries? Group 31's are larger than the stock mounting cut-outs aren't they?

[Murphy_Smith]

You are going pay top dollar for kinetik or power whatever??

Take a look at the Deka Sea Mates. They are AGM's. You can probably get one of the 31 series for $200 which will give you 105 amp hours.

Sea Mates are the best bang for your buck of any marine sealed mattery out there.

[Chattwake]

Tom,

Where did you mount your batteries? Group 31's are larger than the stock mounting cut-outs aren't they?

In my 230, the 3100's fit in the floor cutout in which the battery box was placed for the stock batteries.

[GoBig]

I'm running two Optima Blue Tops, two years old, no issues, plenty of power. Last season, I accidentally left them on in storage for a month...drained to 7.x volts. I thought they'd be shot. Recharged and they've been holding the charge just great. Side note -- always disconnect the negative when in storage! Not only did I forget to do that, I left the batts on...doh!

[EarmarkMarine]

Connor,

Here's a scheme that is very simple and should serve you well.

Since we're talking about predominantly small block motors and exclusively warm weather usage, use two identical deep cycle batteries. Alternating their usage each week with a basic dual battery switch will significantly prolong the batteries' collective lifespan.

With an existing Group 24 box or tray, I would probably stay with a full-sized Group 24 battery versus the shorter and smaller Group 34 options. You'll get more amp/hours per your investment. If you want to expand to 27s or 31s with a mount replacement (inexpensive) you'll see a considerable increase in amp/hours.

AGMs (Kinectic, Optima, etc) are superior to flooded batteries in a number of aspects but are rarely a better amp/hour per dollar value. Less expensive flooded batteries can still serve you well.

Obviously you want the maximum amp/hours that your budget will permit but you've still got to set some limitations in order to protect and preserve your alternator. In other words, its a bad idea to simultaneously load up an alternator with 15 amps of boat operations, a 50 amp stereo pull plus a fully depleted 100 amp/hour battery (might be 30 amps of initial draw) if your alternator is rated at only 60 amps. So sometimes you just have to limp along with your stereo to give your alternator a breather and until you build up a little charge.

The real key is to get a high quality multi-stage dual-bank charger. As you increase your battery capacity your alternator will be less likely to fully restore your batteries and you'll become more dependent on AC shore charging. A smart charger with an amperage capacity of at least 10 percent of your total battery(s) amp/hour rating will serve to properly desulphate and condition your batteries. In turn this will ensure you get maximum longevity from whatever battery you choose.

Your battery size in amp/hours should be based on the size and efficiency of your audio system plus for how long and how hard you expect to play your system at rest. We've got a detailed formula to arrive at what usage will be but a $15 clamp-on meter will measure your actual current draw. At 25 amps of draw for example, you can expect two hours of play time from a typical 55 amp/hour 'new' Group 24 battery. Its better to have more capacity than you'll use since repetitively cycling your battery all the way down to 11 volts will significantly limit the number of deep cycles your battery will provide before serious degradation. Its not a linear equation as you might get four times as many half cylces.

David
Eamark Marine