Adding a 2nd Deep-Cycle Battery

[MRMoffat1]

Got'er done. Third battery squeezed in. Pushed in around the shower install aft starboard. (See post 23 for the "before" photo")

[MRMoffat1]

Added a charger - 3 Bank

Figured this might work. So far so, good, although will find out for sure this summer. Ran the three banks of wire thru the hole. The power cord is hanging down.

[off2board]

Do you know if adding a different deep cycle as the one that came with the boat will put strain on the alt?
I have a spare blue top deep cycle, but was unsure about adding it, in fear it would work against (in some way) the original deep cycle.

[chpthril]

Do you know if adding a different deep cycle as the one that came with the boat will put strain on the alt?
I have a spare blue top deep cycle, but was unsure about adding it, in fear it would work against (in some way) the original deep cycle.

Keep it as a door stop in the garage and go get a brand name marine deep cycle. That is a gel filled and they do not have the same charge rate as a std wet-cell lead-acid so you can end up with an under charged blue top or an over charged wet-cell. The wet-cells are more Ah's (amp hours) for the $$$ anyway.

[Carter13]

Are you guys with these on board battery chargers able to charge without unhooking your wiring? Is there any chance of frying the electronics? How easy to intall one of these?
I was out yesterday and my new deep cell stereo battery died. I can only get three days out of it. We ride for about two hours and sit for four. We have a 1500 watt system but only crank it when riding. I don't think a second battery is going to keep from running the batteries down. I really need a battery charger.

[chpthril]

Are you guys with these on board battery chargers able to charge without unhooking your wiring?

Yes

Is there any chance of frying the electronics? How easy to install one of these?

The charger is designed so not to deliver anymore amps or volts that the electronics are designed for. Easy to install. they have a ground lead and fused positive lead that goes to the battery. If it's a dual bank battery, it will have 2 sets of leads, one for the starting battery and the other for ACC bank. Some have settings that allow you to set it for the type of batteries you have. When your ready to charge, just pull out the A/C cord and plug it in. The lights will indicate it's charging and when its done.

I was out yesterday and my new deep cell stereo battery died. I can only get three days out of it. We ride for about two hours and sit for four. We have a 1500 watt system but only crank it when riding. I don't think a second battery is going to keep from running the batteries down. I really need a battery charger.

Is it fed off the Alt? Are you using an Iso/combiner? A 2nd ACC battery will double the Amp/hrs giving you longer play time, but will then require longer recharge time.

[Carter13]

I had a blue sea installed back in March.
I was wanting to connect this to the starting and stereo batteries although I have only had my stereo battery die on me. I looked in Cabelas and found the pro sport II 8.
It looks like you hook the wiring to each + and - battery terminal, is that correct? If it is any harder then that I am doomed and will have to have it installed.

[chpthril]

I had a blue sea installed back in March.
I was wanting to connect this to the starting and stereo batteries although I have only had my stereo battery die on me. I looked in Cabelas and found the pro sport II 8.
It looks like you hook the wiring to each + and - battery terminal, is that correct? If it is any harder then that I am doomed and will have to have it installed.

Purty much!

[Carter13]

Thanks Mike.
When charging I will want the blue sea in the off position right?

[chpthril]

Thanks Mike.
When charging I will want the blue sea in the off position right?

Probably. It wont matter to the batteries as the charger will be hooked directly to them, but with the switch off, that will isolate the charger from what ever is powered off the "C" terminal of the manual battery switch. You did go with the BlueSea Add-a-Battery, right? Have you verified that the stereo batt is receiving a charge from the alt when the engine is running?

[Carter13]

Yes it is a blue sea add a battery and yes it is charging. It has been mostly my wife and I going out. We ride first thing and kick back for the rest of the day. I am sure if we had a boat load of people riding it would not drain down.

[Carter13]

I bought a pro sport 20 like Mofatt and went to install it tonight. The instructions say not to install on carpet. I plugged it in and boy does it get hot to the touch. I was thinking of using washers to get a 1/2 inch space between the unit and the carpet. What have you guys used? Or did you just mount to the carpet?

[MRMoffat1]

I bought a pro sport 20 like Mofatt and went to install it tonight. The instructions say not to install on carpet. I plugged it in and boy does it get hot to the touch. I was thinking of using washers to get a 1/2 inch space between the unit and the carpet. What have you guys used? Or did you just mount to the carpet?

I used a piece of formica/fiberglass material cut to the dimensions of the charger, placed it on the carpet first and then mounted the charger on top, so it does not touch the carpet. In the picture above you can barely make out a white line along the top.

I found a slightly better spot for it, in the same compartement but farther forward, so you don't have to deinstall to get access to the engine. Did need 15ft extenstions to reach the batteries - you can purchase online. Will take a pic tomorrow and post.

[Carter13]

Thanks for the info Mofatt. I have also seen them installed on 1/4 inch plastic cutting boards.

[Carter13]

For those that are interested I emailed a guy by the name of Jim at ProMariner and he prefers mounting them on aluminum stand offs. He said you can also stack washers so the charger is about 1/2 inch off the carpet. Getting the 1/2 inch space helps to cool the unit.