I just put an Optima in my Maverick. Now I have an extra battery. What to do?

[scooper77515]

I don't have a radio in the boat, but I do have speakers I could install.

Is there something productive I could do in the boat with this extra battery? I don't want to mess with a switch that I have to keep track of which position it is in, but maybe set it up so both charge, and one runs just the battery, the other runs just the boat?

That way when the radio kills it's battery, we still have a full charge on the boat's main battery.

How hard would that be to set up?

I would even be willing, maybe, to hook a radio up to the 2nd battery and recharge it with a trickle charger each night, unless I could figure out how to make the boat charge it automatically, while keeping the second battery only used for the radio and the first just for the boat.

 

[FrankyJ87]

Duel battery set up

G'day mate, Maybe you could install a duel battery kit like one from a four wheel drive.

 

[scooper77515]

More details, please? I don't do 4-wheel drives, so I am not clear on what you are talking about, but interested...:cheers:

 

[FrankyJ87]

Duel battery setup for 4 x 4. What it does it is split the current from the altinator and send it to the two battery's. By doing this it stops the Auxillery Batt with all your gizmo's draining the juice from your engine battery ( which is what would happen if setup on parralell circuit)

When charging it will also send a little bit more charge to the engine battery then the Aux then once thats at full charge send everything to the AUX batt.

Try searching for Duel battery setup or duel battery isolator unit.

You guys have got heaps of cool shissa over in the states that we dont get here so there might be something better then that.

 

[scooper77515]

That sounds like just what I need! I will look that up and see what the kit runs me :cheers:

 

[RFoster130]

You could esentially do that with a $30 switch. It really isnt a big deal to use it that way.

 

[scooper77515]

I should be able to charge both but designate one just for radio/gps cig lighter...

 

[seadooya]

You could esentially do that with a $30 switch. It really isnt a big deal to use it that way.

:agree: Scoop.....sounds more work to bother with trickle charger every night, then to just add a perko switch? just my 2 pennies...:cheers:

 

[RFoster130]

I think somehow there is a way to charge both and still isolate that battery for just accessories, i am just not sure how. I do know that it worked fine for me to add a 2nd battery and a new switch. I pick what battery I wanna use. Its really not a hassle.

 

[seadooya]

you get the dual batt. perko switch, wire what you want to each post, then while running, set it to ALL, that way, both batteries are charging, then while chill'n, switch to batt post that runs the radio..etc.

 

[RFoster130]

That is exactly what i did and it works awesome.

 

[scooper77515]

Sounds simple enough!

 

[jabroni1m]

Simple as long as your smart on where you put ur switch. On my pontoon, unrelated of course, I practically have to get in the water to switch it cause some idiot mounted it wrong and I haven't changed it yet.

 

[seadooya]

Simple as long as your smart on where you put ur switch. On my pontoon, unrelated of course, I practically have to get in the water to switch it cause some idiot mounted it wrong and I haven't changed it yet.

:lols:, sorry man, but that was funny

 

[scooper77515]

I am thinking that the smart place to mount the switch would be VERY close to where I store the beer...:cheers:

 

[RFoster130]

For me it was easy. i just swapped out the original factory switch inside the rear storage area.

 

[FrankyJ87]

I think somehow there is a way to charge both and still isolate that battery for just accessories, i am just not sure how..

R Foster,

For that you may have to Jack onto the wires running from the altinator to the engine batt. which is what the duel batt kit does essentially.

Is there something between the alti and the battery that stops the charge once it hits full? Some sort of chip?

If not and you were super keen you could do something like this... (PIC)

 

[scooper77515]

Will charging 2 batteries hurt my charging system at all?

It sounds like a pretty common upgrade. But I don't want to do it if there is any chance of hurting something down the road.

 

[RFoster130]

I ran mine half of last season this way and plan to again this year. I have had no problems with it at all. Hook it up!!

 

[Sako7STW]

If you want to make it hands free and simple. I recommend installing one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/90-A...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

One like this is what i am putting in my boat.

 

[scooper77515]

I like the hands free option.

So this would make it so I wouldn't need the switch, right?

 

[jabroni1m]

Yes it is completely hands free. How it works is when the motor is started and putting off enough power to charge both, it charges both. When the motor is at idle and not putting off enough power to charge both, it just charges the number 1 battery. When the motor isn't running, the starting battery isn't used at all, and your number 2 battery, a deep cycle is what all power is pulled from. If I got this wrong, someone correct me.

 

[Sako7STW]

jabroni1m 1m is correct except if the #1 batteries voltage is higher than #2 by a certain amount, it will then apply charge to the #2 battery even at idle.

I will be keeping my main battery exactly the same just the charge wire will be coming from the isolator. That way I keep my switch so I can cut all draw from the battery. My second battery will only power my amps for the stereo and any other components that won't draw power except when powered on. Any additional items I put in that could draw power all the time will be put on the #1 battery. So they will be switched off with the switch.I am thinking about installing a switch on my stereo memory lead that will allow me to maintain memory while I am out for the weekend but will cut it off when it is stored for any amount of time.mayBE I hate having to reset all my settings every time.mayBE

 

[RFoster130]

If that is how it works, then that sounds like a good thing. I just personally liked being able to cut off everything on the boat with 1 switch and having the ability to keep one battery totally isolated and then use it when I want.

 

[scooper77515]

This sounds PERFECT! :hurray: