Which batteries are best for audio power??

[TigeDuner]

I have read several posts regarding the alternator upgrades and multiple batteries but could not find how many extra batteries are suggested and what manufacturer to use. I am planning on a Wetsounds threesom, 6 cabin speakers (75w rms), sub not selected yet, with a couple of RF P8004 amps. I am hoping to keep the stock 70 amp alternator and add a pair of extra batteries just for the audio power. Probably will include a charger that I can plug in at night. Any good ideas on battery manufacturers?

[spharis]

Optima, Stinger, Odyssey, etc. But in all honestly, the Delco batteries at Wal-Mart/Autozone will perform just as well for you if you aren't in to brand names and into competition sound. Look for a marine battery, or a deep cycle with the AH you require to run your estimated amperage for a given time. If you post up amp specs and your esimates on how long you are going to run your audio off the battery, I can tell you what you need. A 70 amp alternator will charge your battery fully (from 10.5V) within 30minutes to an hour, depending on RPM, this is with no other pull. With other loads that time can go up to 4 hours or more.

[Coach]

I have read several posts regarding the alternator upgrades and multiple batteries but could not find how many extra batteries are suggested and what manufacturer to use. I am planning on a Wetsounds threesom, 6 cabin speakers (75w rms), sub not selected yet, with a couple of RF P8004 amps. I am hoping to keep the stock 70 amp alternator and add a pair of extra batteries just for the audio power. Probably will include a charger that I can plug in at night. Any good ideas on battery manufacturers?

The key for batteries when you want to play all day will be Amp hours. In your case you will want a AGM battery. I have had wet batteries in the desert and it was a bad idea. I killed the life with poor maintienance. There are a few major players that I like. I have Oddessy's in my boat. They are a millitary grade battery designed to be abused and knocked around. I opted to go with the 2150's at 100 Ah each. I have 3. Problem is price. They are not cheap but should last a long time if I take care of them interms of charging. I did install an onboard charger to bring them back up at night or while being stored. Other batteries I like are the Trojan 6V. You have to run a least 2 to make it 12V and the Ah don't double. But must 6V you will get 225 Ah from the 2 and if you run 4 you will have well over 400 Ah. I was going to go this route but I was able to get a good guy deal on the Oddessy. Many will say to get the Optima Blue Tops. They are nice but are only 55 Ah each so in the long run you will be starting your boat more to charge (I use the term loosely with here) it up some. I don't remember if we did the math here or on another site but we figured if I played my system at 3200 RMS at 40% volume it would last 8-10 hours. I wanted something that would last all weekend without pulling the boat to charge the batteries. My guess a good set of Gel or AGM Trojan 6V will power your set up very well. Add on an on board charger and you are money. I did a lot of research into the onboard Alt charger set up and you are better off to go with good batteries and an on board charger to start.

[spharis]

I don't remember if we did the math here or on another site but we figured if I played my system at 3200 RMS at 40% volume it would last 8-10 hours.

I did that math here for you.
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...4&postcount=28

And word....a spiral or dry cell is going to give you a longer life, but at a higher cost. It's all in what your budget is, and what you need to do. An AH rating is an AH rating, regardless of the battery type. The decision you have to make is if you are willing to keep your wet batterie son a trickle charger when they aren't being used, and are you going to monitor them for corrosion and stress from the use of the boat. You can remove some of the maintenance with a dry cell, spiral, or gel cell.

Coach is going to enjoy many years of trouble free operation with his setup, at a premium cost, but he will be headache free. I have to trickle charge my battery every time I park my boat. Coach can just turn his key off, and maybe come back 4 months later, and it will fire right up.

[Coach]

Optima, Stinger, Odyssey, etc. But in all honestly, the Delco batteries at Wal-Mart/Autozone will perform just as well for you if you aren't in to brand names and into competition sound. Look for a marine battery, or a deep cycle with the AH you require to run your estimated amperage for a given time. If you post up amp specs and your esimates on how long you are going to run your audio off the battery, I can tell you what you need. A 70 amp alternator will charge your battery fully (from 10.5V) within 30minutes to an hour, depending on RPM, this is with no other pull. With other loads that time can go up to 4 hours or more.

I knew there was a math guy on this site! You are right about the batteries just most of the companies don't make batteries with the large Ah ratings.

Another way to go is a RV battery like a 8D they are HUGE at 170lbs but one will have 400 Ah!!!!

[Coach]

Spharis is da man with the calculations!!! That was a huge help for me. When I run out of fingers and toes I am screwed!

[TigeDuner]

spharis, here are the specs for the P8004 amps.

4-channel car amplifier
100 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms
200 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms
400 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohms (4-ohm stable in bridged mode)
2 or 4-channel output
CEA-2006 compliant
Tri-way capable (Tri-Way Crossover required)
MOSFET power supplies and output stages
MEHSA transfers heat efficiently from the MOSFET devices to the heat sink for high performance
TOPAZ eliminates ground loop noise
trans-ANA circuitry keeps preamp signal clean
NOMAD "intelligent" protection circuitry
preamp inputs and outputs
variable high-pass/low-pass crossover (40-400 Hz, 12 dB/octave)
variable Punch Bass boost (0-18 dB at 45 Hz) with remote
17-5/8"W x 2-3/8"H x 11-1/4"

I will be running two of these amps to power the following:

1. Wetsounds threesom for the tower
2. 6 RF T162C cabin speakers (75w rms each)
3. 12" sub to be determined.

I plan to use two of the Optima blue tops (110 AH total) dedicated to the system with an onboard plug in charger in the evenings to insure charge for the next day.

The place that sells the Optima's will warranty the batteries for 18 months free replacement and no questions asked so I suppose I get new batteries each season. Been doing this for years with our RV.

Alternator is 70 amp. Do you think this system will work without to much strain on the alternator? I usually have the battery switch charging all batteries when moving and when we are anchored I switch to the blue tops only.

Thanks for your help with the numbers.

[spharis]

I'll try and respond with more detail a little later, but you are all set it seems.

[TigeDuner]

spharis,
Here is the specs on the sub:

12" subwoofer with dual 2-ohm voice coils
molded polypropylene woofer cone
102-ounce magnet structure
Embedded Tinsel Leads
2.5" Anodized Aluminum Voice Coil Former
Parabolic Triangular Geometry cone support system for reduced piston flex
dual 2-ohm voice coils
power range 500 watts RMS
peak power handling 1000 watts
Sensitivity - 87 db
top mount depth 6.3"
ported box volume .85 - .85 cubic feet
sealed box volume 1.3 -1.3 cubic feet

Thanks again for the help, M

[Tanner]

Duner,

Last summer, I crammed 4 Trojan T-105's into my battery compartment on my 24V, in addition to my starting battery. I changed the connections a bit and now the only draw on my starting battery is from the boat starting. Everything else draws from the T-105's. I have close to 4000W, and a couple of different times last summer, I parked and played for 8 hours straight, 2 days in a row. I have a true charge system that I use to charge the batteries. One of the best investments I've made. Plus they are totally concealed. Unfortunately if you have a Ve or an RZ you won't have the room, as this would not have worked if I was missing just a half inch in either the front or back.

[Coach]

The Trojan T-105's are very good. I had them in my last boat, but storage in the AZ desert heat dried them up and they ended up not putting out the same power I had started with. Unless you are very good at maintaining the T-105's in AZ and put a full charge back on them after you are done (a full charge can take up to 2 days with them) then they will not last or work as well. But if you are able to maintain them they are a very good bang for the buck. Very often you can find them for about $60-80 each. And for your setup Dunner a pair of T-105's would work very well. The maintance free Trojan 6V cost a bit more.

[TigeDuner]

Coach,
How do the T105's stack up against the Optima blue tops or the yellow tops?

[Coach]

T-105's (2 6V) have 225 Ah. They are Wet batteries and take more care to keep them working well. You have to have 2 to make 12 V's so you are looking at $180 total.

Optima's are Gel and run about 55 Ah each. They are no matinence batterys so you don't have do anything to maintain them except for re-charging them (that is true with all batteries). Optima's run about $150 or more each so you are looking at a grand total of $300+ for 2 Optima's with a total of 110 Ah.

[TigeDuner]

Thanks Coach for the comparison. I guess we will see how the two proposed Optimas work with spharis' numbers for my system. I really don't want to have to deal with maintaining the wet batteries if I don't have to. However, the T105's are twice the power for half the price...
Will the T105's be charged up and ready to go the next morning if I plug them in each night using a charger like yours?

[Coach]

Thanks Coach for the comparison. I guess we will see how the two proposed Optimas work with spharis' numbers for my system. I really don't want to have to deal with maintaining the wet batteries if I don't have to. However, the T105's are twice the power for half the price...
Will the T105's be charged up and ready to go the next morning if I plug them in each night using a charger like yours?

Trojan does make a 6V AGM battery which is more and the Ah are a bit less. That was the route I was looking to go but I got a great deal on the Oddessy's so I went that route. My guess with your system 200 Ah will last you all day and some. I will try to find the site with the Trojans