Battery

[juddmyers]

What size batterie?

I am running two. I have heard of people buying one big for starting and then one smaller....

I need to replace both mine and am just unsure how big...
engine is 454

[Big Block Power]

I'm running two of these 24m series batteries.

[Driller]

I run 2 x 24 series also. I don’t run a dedicated start / house setup. Everything pulls electricity from whichever battery is selected. That setup allows one battery to always be kept in reserve.

Use a charger after every run so both batteries are full capacity when I leave the dock.

[Ytmsn]

+1 Same setup Driller

[tgrace98]

+2 on the setup as driller and YT. After a full weekend of use my main battery was at 87% and my reserve was still around 97.

But I just have the default stereo system of a head unit and 6 speakers.

[juddmyers]

And you are able to start just fine using one battery? Just making sure.

If so. That is what I'll do.

[tgrace98]

yep, I start mine just fine on battery 1

[stan1541]

Anyone running one Deep Cycle and one Cranking? We like to sit for an hour or two and I'm afraid a regular marine won't handle two hours of draw on a stereo without drawing too much charge.

[Driller]

I run my stereo not at full volume but pretty loud for a couple hours at a time and the battery still has enough power to start the boat. No big deal.

I thought about Deep Cycle, but the drawback is that then you have to hook up the house load to that battery or what is the point. I wanted to have a system where if I pull down one battery or if it goes bad I have another fully charged spare ready to go.

[thunder550]

A deep cycle / starting battery combo would be great, but it would need to be done the right way. Like Driller said, all of the "house" loads would need to be run to the deep cycle, and you'd have to go through everything and decide which is a house load and which needs to go to the starting battery. Then install an isolator that would allow both batteries to charge when the engine is running, but would not allow either to draw the other one down when not running. Personally, I think it's easier to do what most others have already said, have 2 identical batteries, charge them in full before each trip (I keep each of mine on it's own battery tender when the boat's at the storage yard), and alternate which one I use for the day. Always have a fully charged spare ready to go this way, and each gets the same amount of "wear" by alternating each trip. Plus most of our boats already have a dual battery setup with the 1/2/ALL/OFF switch, so there's nothing new to install this way.

[juddmyers]

Love all the help. Thank you!1

Do any of you think brand matters? I’m thinking optima

[Big Block Power]

Love all the help. Thank you!1

Do any of you think brand matters? I’m thinking optima

Deep cycle batteries there's only a few companies that Make them. Johnson Controls is prob the largest. Elan M might make a few other styles

[Protip]

Is it recommended to charge after each trip? I have never done this in any of my boats. I just run two identical batteries on a perco switch setup. I alternate which battery I use each trip out and turn them to off when we leave the boat. Trickle charge over the winter.

[Big Block Power]

Is it recommended to charge after each trip? I have never done this in any of my boats. I just run two identical batteries on a perco switch setup. I alternate which battery I use each trip out and turn them to off when we leave the boat. Trickle charge over the winter.

Some people charge everytime when they get back. I don't. Unless the boat sits for a month then I'll top it off. I've never had a issue. It's a personal preference thing.

[juddmyers]

I wasn’t planning on deep cycle but two dual purpose