Let Talk Batteries....

[RID22]

I always thought lead acid golf cart batteries were cheap, no? Why would you need $1000 for golf cart batteries?
.

I didn't install them, my Tige dealer did. I'm sure I paid too much, but if you can do it for less than it makes even more sense. The problem for us was that the alternator could never recharge the batteries at the rate we drained them. If you have a big system and you constantly drain the batteries, they stop holding a charge. I was tired of paying for new expensive batteries. Golf cart batteries can be drained down to zero and back up over and over.

Two 6V batteries have to be installed together as a 12V to make it work, they fill the same space as two regular batteries. We installed ours in the left rear storage compartment next to the other two regular boat batteries. Supposedly you loose that quick punch of a high end AGM, but we never noticed a difference in the sound. It was actually the opposite result, full power all the time.

The golf cart batteries solved all our problems and they absolutely made our stereo crank!!!

[petrey10]

bump for some more suggestions!!

[off2board]

No matter what route you go...car batteries, golf cart batteries gel cell batteries or marine batteries... the only way you'll be able to continuiously enjoy a boat that has an overloaded audio system, is by using an offshore charging station. Your alternator will never in a million years, be able to charge the batteries you need.

[petrey10]

how do the battery chargers work are they onboard? do they charge once you start up or once you get home and plug it into the 110v outlet?


Sorry for my ignorance

[dingleberry]

how do the battery chargers work are they onboard? do they charge once you start up or once you get home and plug it into the 110v outlet?


Sorry for my ignorance

On-board smart chargers will plug into a 110v outlet, charge your batteries, then apply a trickle charge to maintain them.

[thtrog]

On-board smart chargers will plug into a 110v outlet, charge your batteries, then apply a trickle charge to maintain them.

http://www.pmariner.com/Chargers.php

[chpthril]

Pete,

What I included with your order was a Blue Sea ACR Iso/Combiner. This is basically a lazy man's Perko. It will keep the main starting battery and house battery separated when the engine is off, but allow them both to get charged when the engine is running.

Your 2 amps have a potential of a 150A draw running wide open. A rule of thumb number is .5 of that, so you are probably talking a 75A draw at normal listening level.

From there, its a matter of deciding on how long you want to listen, then figuring how many batteries with an Ah ratting of "X" will it take to give you want you want.

The next thing is, once you decide how many batteries it will take, you then need to look at if it's practical to tie them into the engine's alternator or make the battery bank a stand-alone. Too many batteries on a stereo bank, and it will lead to a short life of the alt, not to mention that it will never recharge them any way.

If you want a lot of engine-off play time, and have access to 110, then it may be best to build a stand-alone bank and use an on-board charger to recharge the stereo bank.

If one or two batteries is all you need, then wire them to the alt, and maybe use a small charger to top them off after a long weekend.

[petrey10]

ok I don't understand the onboard charger... does it charge when I get home and plug it into the 110v outlet or does it actually charge when the engine is on? I am thinking I might have to do a stand alone bank which is fine but we boat sometimes 6-7 hours. Is there a way to have the speakers run off of the starting battery and alternator while the boat is running and then just have the stereo run off the bank when the engine is off? I would think that would be the most efficient.

[ajholt7]

Onboard charger charge from 110v outlet.

[petrey10]

ok so my next question when you have a stand alone bank is there a way to run the stereo off the battery and alt when the engine is running?

[petrey10]

CHPTHrill what brand of battery do you recommend that won't break the bank?

[ajholt7]

ok so my next question when you have a stand alone bank is there a way to run the stereo off the battery and alt when the engine is running?

You could just add another perko switch.

[petrey10]

Pete,

What I included with your order was a Blue Sea ACR Iso/Combiner. This is basically a lazy man's Perko. It will keep the main starting battery and house battery separated when the engine is off, but allow them both to get charged when the engine is running.

Your 2 amps have a potential of a 150A draw running wide open. A rule of thumb number is .5 of that, so you are probably talking a 75A draw at normal listening level.

From there, its a matter of deciding on how long you want to listen, then figuring how many batteries with an Ah ratting of "X" will it take to give you want you want.

The next thing is, once you decide how many batteries it will take, you then need to look at if it's practical to tie them into the engine's alternator or make the battery bank a stand-alone. Too many batteries on a stereo bank, and it will lead to a short life of the alt, not to mention that it will never recharge them any way.

If you want a lot of engine-off play time, and have access to 110, then it may be best to build a stand-alone bank and use an on-board charger to recharge the stereo bank.

If one or two batteries is all you need, then wire them to the alt, and maybe use a small charger to top them off after a long weekend.

Im just going to keep the questions rolling so my system will draw probably around 75 Amps per hour so one battery at 75 Ah will last only one hour? So this battery would last a little over an hour on the lake(see link below)

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...KHC+1800-.html

[ajholt7]

I don't know what CHP would recommend but, I have good luck out of the Wal-mart Deep cycles.

[Iwndr]

How long have you been running the Wal Mart batteries AJ?