Battery Choices
- Thread starter colbysmith
- Start date
Great dialogue and awesome ideas. Just put two new batteries in my CD22 with great confidence thanks to all of you CBRATERS. After doing my usage budget, I decided on two AGM's, a size 24 for the starting battery, and a size 31 with 105 Amps for the house battery.
Installed a BlueSea BatteryLink Charger/ACR:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/7605/1 ... America%5D
I was amazed with how the device instantly charged the two batteries (through the voltage/amperage monitor). Very cool. Can't wait to start putting the batteries to good use out on the water early next spring.
Thanks to all again for the great post(s).
Installed a BlueSea BatteryLink Charger/ACR:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/7605/1 ... America%5D
I was amazed with how the device instantly charged the two batteries (through the voltage/amperage monitor). Very cool. Can't wait to start putting the batteries to good use out on the water early next spring.
Thanks to all again for the great post(s).
Generally it is advised to have equal batteries (age, size, and type) when combining them. Thus I would suggest two group; 27's
I personally like the charger inside the cabin--less chance of corrosion. I have put them under the dinette or under the galley sink. Where ever the power cord is most convenient. If there is a AC panel under the dinette, then I would put the charger there. If you need to put in a single breaker and outlet for the charger--under the galley is more convenient.
I personally like the charger inside the cabin--less chance of corrosion. I have put them under the dinette or under the galley sink. Where ever the power cord is most convenient. If there is a AC panel under the dinette, then I would put the charger there. If you need to put in a single breaker and outlet for the charger--under the galley is more convenient.
I was surprised to learn for twin outboards (Honda 90s), each requires its own
starting battery. So that means 3 batteries for the redundant types since you'll
also need a house battery.
For twins on a 22CD, I'd put in 3 AGM Gr 27s and for larger 3 AGM 31s; all deep
cycle since they'll meet the engine battery specs for engines for these boats.
You can never have too much juice as thirst is a dangerous thing.
Aye.
starting battery. So that means 3 batteries for the redundant types since you'll
also need a house battery.
For twins on a 22CD, I'd put in 3 AGM Gr 27s and for larger 3 AGM 31s; all deep
cycle since they'll meet the engine battery specs for engines for these boats.
You can never have too much juice as thirst is a dangerous thing.
Aye.
PaulNBriannaLynn
New member
Foggy":3ac0yk3k said:
Some may have been configured this way, but our 2003 with twin hondas was not. You could start both engines with the battery switch positioned in the #1 or #2 position. No requirement for this, its all in the wiring.
You can get away with walking on thin ice too, sometimes.
For the serious twin outboarder, a dedicated battery for each is the recommended
default. This was echoed by my dealer, his tech and the local Honda factory rep.
Plus, reading can help:
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-re ... -outboards
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/marinco- ... --14152219
https://shop.pkys.com/Battery-layout-fo ... _b_36.html
Aye.
For the serious twin outboarder, a dedicated battery for each is the recommended
default. This was echoed by my dealer, his tech and the local Honda factory rep.
Plus, reading can help:
https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-re ... -outboards
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/marinco- ... --14152219
https://shop.pkys.com/Battery-layout-fo ... _b_36.html
Aye.
Down the rabbit hole.
It's funny how a weak battery that wouldn't start my Wallas lead to two AGM group 27's (from 24), an onboard charger, and now I'm looking at putting in a 30a shore power receptacle, 120v panel and an extra outlet, heck, may as well add an inverter as well, already have one I can install. :shock:
It's funny how a weak battery that wouldn't start my Wallas lead to two AGM group 27's (from 24), an onboard charger, and now I'm looking at putting in a 30a shore power receptacle, 120v panel and an extra outlet, heck, may as well add an inverter as well, already have one I can install. :shock:
Ref the LED (While we are spending your hard earned dollars). Either bulbsordedicated fixtures. In my current 25, the prior owner had converted all of the original fixtures to full bright and dim white LED, and full bright and dim Red LED. The LED bulbs are really cheap--but there is an infant mortality for the bulbs. Conversion is fairly easy, as long as you can solder. I have purchased 50 assorted color LED (warm white, cool white, red, blue, green--10 of each for $8.00 @ Amazon. Also 100 LED cool white for about $10 on Amazon. (I was using these for multiple lights inside each cabinet and in the storage under the V berth, and settees). Also put in aisle lighting and night lighting.
As for 110V system: There is a less expensive way than the panel. That is to get a battery charging inlet: I put these thru the starboard side aft bulkhead, under the gunnel. These take a standard 15 amp extension cord (the inlet is a recessed male 15 amp plug). Then I go to a fuse box, with a switch on the hot leg. (Motor start box from Home Depot)--and that is either hard wired to the battery charger, or to an outlet for the battery charger. Since I never used more that 15 amps, I also put in several outlets in the 22--under dinette seat and forward under galley outboard of the helm seat. All of the fittings for this cost less than $50 at Home Depot.
Photo of 110 V outlet, plug to guest battery charger, and fuse box/switch.
Photo of battery charger inlet under starboard gunnel:
As for 110V system: There is a less expensive way than the panel. That is to get a battery charging inlet: I put these thru the starboard side aft bulkhead, under the gunnel. These take a standard 15 amp extension cord (the inlet is a recessed male 15 amp plug). Then I go to a fuse box, with a switch on the hot leg. (Motor start box from Home Depot)--and that is either hard wired to the battery charger, or to an outlet for the battery charger. Since I never used more that 15 amps, I also put in several outlets in the 22--under dinette seat and forward under galley outboard of the helm seat. All of the fittings for this cost less than $50 at Home Depot.
Photo of 110 V outlet, plug to guest battery charger, and fuse box/switch.
Photo of battery charger inlet under starboard gunnel:
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the pictures, they are truly worth a thousand words.
I see what you did there, recessed male plug to breaker, then to receptacle for charger and to other receptacles? I like it.
I really like the red interior lights. Thats my ultimate goal, to install a fixture or two with a red/white switch, I think I could just wire these to the same "lights" breaker that the other two are wired to right? . The more I use and work on the boat the more comfortable I get with drilling a few small holes.
The hardware you screwed into the aft bulkhead in that picture, is it just screwed into the core or thru-bolted? If its screwed in, what length screw did you use?
My shore power and inverter comment was a little tongue and cheek. The shore power with an extra outlet or two is way down on the list, but I really am not in a hurry as I don't really need one right now.
As for the charger I'm going to mount, I did get a 15amp recessed male plug that has a female plug on the other end. I'll just plug the battery charger into that. My boat spends most time in the yard on the trailer when not in use, so I'll run an extension cord from an outside GFCI to the charger, the same way I do now for the dehumidifier. So I won't have a breaker right at the charger, I assume thats OK. If I need to plug in at a marina I have a 30a > 15a GFCI adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009A ... UTF8&psc=1
Eventually it'll be easy to wire in a system like yours using the recessed plug I install, I could cut the plug off and wire it to a small breaker, or replace it with one that accepts wire to the back of it.
As for spending money you got that right, I dropped quite a few Benjamin's this week on batteries and chargers, especially when you add in the camper, lol. Some people have vacation homes, we have a boat and camper. I still need to upgrade my VHF for safety reasons, and eventually get a plotter. It's worth it, we love this boat!
Thanks for the pictures, they are truly worth a thousand words.
I see what you did there, recessed male plug to breaker, then to receptacle for charger and to other receptacles? I like it.
I really like the red interior lights. Thats my ultimate goal, to install a fixture or two with a red/white switch, I think I could just wire these to the same "lights" breaker that the other two are wired to right? . The more I use and work on the boat the more comfortable I get with drilling a few small holes.
The hardware you screwed into the aft bulkhead in that picture, is it just screwed into the core or thru-bolted? If its screwed in, what length screw did you use?
My shore power and inverter comment was a little tongue and cheek. The shore power with an extra outlet or two is way down on the list, but I really am not in a hurry as I don't really need one right now.
As for the charger I'm going to mount, I did get a 15amp recessed male plug that has a female plug on the other end. I'll just plug the battery charger into that. My boat spends most time in the yard on the trailer when not in use, so I'll run an extension cord from an outside GFCI to the charger, the same way I do now for the dehumidifier. So I won't have a breaker right at the charger, I assume thats OK. If I need to plug in at a marina I have a 30a > 15a GFCI adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009A ... UTF8&psc=1
Eventually it'll be easy to wire in a system like yours using the recessed plug I install, I could cut the plug off and wire it to a small breaker, or replace it with one that accepts wire to the back of it.
As for spending money you got that right, I dropped quite a few Benjamin's this week on batteries and chargers, especially when you add in the camper, lol. Some people have vacation homes, we have a boat and camper. I still need to upgrade my VHF for safety reasons, and eventually get a plotter. It's worth it, we love this boat!
Thanks everyone, I got my charger mounted, my new batteries in and hooked up. I put it under the sink on the aft side of the bulkhead right behind the helms seat. It seemed a little sturdier to mount it there and in more unusable space just inside the sink drain. I also mounted a 15 amp recessed male receptacle under the starboard side gunnel where Bob pictured above. I really just need two outlets, one for the charger and one for a dehumidifier so I'm thinking about getting a mountable 3 outlet power strip with a breaker that I can mount beside the charger.
Something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F ... UTF8&psc=1
Something like this.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F ... UTF8&psc=1
Foggy Said: (some stuff clipped)
Well, for the last 14 years, my twins have each had their own battery, ( a Group 29). Yes, but those 2 batteries are the only ones. No house battery, just careful management via cheap and easy volt meter and manual use of the 1-2-Both and Off switch.
BTW, Anchorout, min have been Interstates Deep Cycle the whole time.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Well, for the last 14 years, my twins have each had their own battery, ( a Group 29). Yes, but those 2 batteries are the only ones. No house battery, just careful management via cheap and easy volt meter and manual use of the 1-2-Both and Off switch.
BTW, Anchorout, min have been Interstates Deep Cycle the whole time.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
anchorout":6dopulgy said:
4.2 average stars with only 28 reviews is awful? One gets mostly complaints on internet reviews. I have had outstanding results with why Sam's AGM group 31 marine batteries. They are made by East Penn.
We must live on different planets!
Interstate batteries are also excellent batteries.
I've used East Penn's MK brand AGM / gel cell batteries on electric handicap scooters for years
and there's no comparison with some of the cheaper band alternatives,
particularly some of the foreign stuff (Chinese).
East Penn also markets batteries under several other names in the US.
I'd give them 5 stars any day! :star :star :star :star :star
Joe. :teeth :thup
and there's no comparison with some of the cheaper band alternatives,
particularly some of the foreign stuff (Chinese).
East Penn also markets batteries under several other names in the US.
I'd give them 5 stars any day! :star :star :star :star :star
Joe. :teeth :thup
FYIO: A group 29 house battery will fit crossways inside the front of the transom stb locker, allowing a smaller, starter battery to the rear. I use the space between the gas tanks to fit an auxillary 12 gallon tank on long trips. Anyone have a different setup in this locker?
colbysmith
Active member
I have a group 24 starting battery in the starboard lazarette and a group 27 house battery in the port side. Both situated parallel to the gunnels.
hardee":u85znqj2 said:Foggy Said: (some stuff clipped)
Well, for the last 14 years, my twins have each had their own battery, ( a Group 29). Yes, but those 2 batteries are the only ones. No house battery, just careful management via cheap and easy volt meter and manual use of the 1-2-Both and Off switch.
BTW, Anchorout, min have been Interstates Deep Cycle the whole time.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Harvey (nothing clipped),
Glad you can get by on your twin engine boat with using only your two starting
batteries, voltmeter and fiddling with your battery switch.
Guess you're not one of "the redundant types".
Aye.
When Grandpa used to say, "If two is good, three is better",
he was referring martinis before dinner...
Foggy":1tappoc7 said:hardee":1tappoc7 said:Foggy Said: (some stuff clipped)
Well, for the last 14 years, my twins have each had their own battery, ( a Group 29). Yes, but those 2 batteries are the only ones. No house battery, just careful management via cheap and easy volt meter and manual use of the 1-2-Both and Off switch.
BTW, Anchorout, min have been Interstates Deep Cycle the whole time.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Harvey (nothing clipped),
Glad you can get by on your twin engine boat with using only your two starting
batteries, voltmeter and fiddling with your battery switch.
Guess you're not one of "the redundant types".
Aye.
When Grandpa used to say, "If two is good, three is better",
he was referring martinis before dinner...
Foggy,
Oh But I Love Redundancy. Twin engines, Multiple VHF's, extra antennae, double extra PFD's, duel plotters, Tandem axle trailer, 2 anchors, multiple flashlights, 2 spot lights, add on infanitum......
to wit. I can start and run both engines on either of my batteries.
AND, I like the idea of a spare 12 gallon tank, just hate the extra weight so far aft.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
