Let Talk Batteries....

[Carter13]

mike you always help with your posts... What kind of Ah should I be looking for in a deep cycle? How big? I am thinking I am going to do one starting battery and then two standalone batteries for the system. What onboard charger do you recommend? I would love one that I could just plug in and leave plugged in so that way I don't have to worry about shutting it off after a certain time.

The ProMariner in boat chargers are good ones. Just make sure all your batteries are of the same make, either gel or standard. The charger cannot accept two different kinds of batteries.
I have had one for a year and it has been stellar.

[ajholt7]

X2 on the ProMariner. I have the single bank prosport6 charging two batteries through the Blue Sea ACR.

[Iwndr]

Here is another good thread on this subject

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3985

[petrey10]

great thread I am going to go through that today if work aint too busy...

I think I might buy the Promariner prosport 8 so I can just top off the two stereo batteries when I put the boat back in my barn

[Jason B]

I think I might buy the Promariner prosport 8 so I can just top off the two stereo batteries when I put the boat back in my barn

Do some research. There are A LOT of complaints with the Promariners not working for long-sometimes even multiple units with the same person. I have no personal experience so I am not "badmouthing" them. Just an FYI that's worth a little consideration. I went with a Xantrex just to be safe; all of their user reviews spoke very well about them.

[petrey10]

well i went with a bass pro model it comes with 2 year warranty is 2 banks at 5 amps each. I will use it to charge my stereo batteries only.

[larryueckert]

i ran my stereo all day and had to get a jump but no one had cables and my jumper was dead 2. so a buddy had this in his boat and 5 min later the boat started no problem... what do youy think about hooking 1 or 2 of these solar panels and when your partying set them out so you get sun to charge the battery's up
http://www.batteryjunction.com/12vsopabachs.html

[H20SKIER14]

I have the same question as larry, I found a marine version http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6865_200306865 what is everyones opinion on wiring one of these into your stereo bank of batteries?? I would think you would also want to add one of these http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6970&langId=-1

[chpthril]

i ran my stereo all day and had to get a jump but no one had cables and my jumper was dead 2. so a buddy had this in his boat and 5 min later the boat started no problem... what do youy think about hooking 1 or 2 of these solar panels and when your partying set them out so you get sun to charge the battery's up
http://www.batteryjunction.com/12vsopabachs.html

An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Does your boat have the EIDB dual battery set? If not, it's time to add stereo battery and isolator.

If you do have a dual battery setup, then you need to relocate the H/U's yellow memory wire to the amp's power wire. This will get it off the starting battery and on the stereo battery. i'm 99% sure that the yellow wire is on the starting battery, this would explain why both went dead.

[larryueckert]

An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Does your boat have the EIDB dual battery set? If not, it's time to add stereo battery and isolator.

If you do have a dual battery setup, then you need to relocate the H/U's yellow memory wire to the amp's power wire. This will get it off the starting battery and on the stereo battery. i'm 99% sure that the yellow wire is on the starting battery, this would explain why both went dead.

i just never turn the perko switch but i have 3 battery's one for starter and 2 for stereo and i never fully charge the battery's when i get home

[chpthril]

i just never turn the perko switch but i have 3 battery's one for starter and 2 for stereo and i never fully charge the battery's when i get home

We need to look into how your system is designed, you shouldn't have to mess with a switch as all.

[wakeatx]

Ok, here's a dumb question. On my perko does it allow both batteries to be charged when I'm running or just the one I have selected? or just the starting battery no matter which one I have selected?

[chpthril]

Ok, here's a dumb question. On my perko does it allow both batteries to be charged when I'm running or just the one I have selected? or just the starting battery no matter which one I have selected?

Well, depends on how it's wired, but in theory, and if wired in a typical fashion, both batteries get charged when the switch is in "Both" position and each individually get charged when the switch is in "1" or "2"

[wakeatx]

Ok, cool. So am I going to overwork my alternator if I make it charge both the crank and the deep cycle when I'm running?

[chpthril]

Ok, cool. So am I going to overwork my alternator if I make it charge both the crank and the deep cycle when I'm running?

Depends on how low you run the deep-cycle down. If you play the system all day with the engine off, or stereo battery isolated by the switch, a short trip back to the dock or ramp will not be enough for the alternator to recharge it. This is were some kind of charger comes in. It all depends on how the system is used.