Batteries

[Dgreenhouses]

After 2 long days on Lake Travis this weekend, I found that my stock battery just won’t cut it playing music all day long. (Kinda thought that was going to happen) I’m looking at adding 2 more batteries, any suggestions to what kind to buy and where’s the best place to put them? The boat came with two, one for cranking and one for the stereo.

Thanks guys.

[chpthril]

Plan on buying 3 and an on-board charger, an ACR and an ON/OFF switch to isolate two of the depleted ones from the alternator when the boat is restarted. Letting the alternator "see" one large dead battery is hard on it.

Since the batteries will be wired in parallel as one large battery, they need to be the same kind, group and age, in order to get the best life out of them. Since you are buying 3, go with as big as you can fit and budget.

Im partial to wet-cell marine deep-cycle batteries for their Ah to $$$ value. Next would be an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery. The cost more, but seem to handle deep cycling better them wet-cells, but both require proper care/maintenance.

Group size would dictate where they go or where they go will dictate the group size.

[Dgreenhouses]

What brands do you recommend on the on board chargers and the ACR. Will any on off switch work?

[Timmy!]

My buddy put 2 of these VMax Charge Tank batteries in his boat that he is running about 3,000 watts rms on and he played the stereo probably 5 hours a day for 5 days this past week and they never went dead once and they were never charged. He has 2 of the CT-2500's
http://www.vmaxchargetank.com/

[chpthril]

What brands do you recommend on the on board chargers and the ACR. Will any on off switch work?

I use the Blue-Sea 7610 ACR and Blue Sea Switches. I do not like Perko switches, they are made of stiff brittle plastic and do not allow for the cables to enter but one way only.

Lately, I have been using The Ship-n-Shore from Shumacher and have been happy with them. Ctek, Guest, Xantrex are all good chargers. ideally, you want one that will deliver an amperage level that is about 10% of the battery banks Ah rating.

[chpthril]

My buddy put 2 of these VMax Charge Tank batteries in his boat that he is running about 3,000 watts rms on and he played the stereo probably 5 hours a day for 5 days this past week and they never went dead once and they were never charged. He has 2 of the CT-2500's
http://www.vmaxchargetank.com/

Those look just like the Shuriken Power cells I use. With a bank like that, I would do it as a standalone system and not tie it in with the alt.

[Timmy!]

His isn't tied into the alt at all. He just put the 2 batts in the mid-ship locker and has a manual charger that he hooks up every weekend (except this time). I think he got the batt's for $250 each.

[Dave K]

I have installed 3 deep cycle "Auto Value" 24 series batteries, and we haven't had a problem with power. I also have a 3 bank charger and EVERY night without fail they get pluged in to recharge. Also it didn't break the budget too!

I think these batteries are East Penn and the reserve capacity was pretty decent. I have used 3 31 series in another boat but I thought it was over kill at least for my needs.