I'm thinking of adding a second battery to my 18 foot bowrider. I want to
use one battery for the engine and one for the stereo and lights and air
pump and ...

I don't want to lose my engine starting ability due to a battery that's been
run down using accessories.

My first battery is a Marine/RV Cranking type (I can't read the labeling to
know what it's amp hour rating is).

What type should my second battery be?

Thanks

"Bryan" wrote in message
t...
I'm thinking of adding a second battery to my 18 foot bowrider. I want to
use one battery for the engine and one for the stereo and lights and air
pump and ...

I don't want to lose my engine starting ability due to a battery that's
been run down using accessories.

My first battery is a Marine/RV Cranking type (I can't read the labeling
to know what it's amp hour rating is).

What type should my second battery be?

Thanks


A deep cycle with decent CCA's.

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

"Bryan" wrote in message
t...
I'm thinking of adding a second battery to my 18 foot bowrider. I want
to use one battery for the engine and one for the stereo and lights and
air pump and ...

I don't want to lose my engine starting ability due to a battery that's
been run down using accessories.

My first battery is a Marine/RV Cranking type (I can't read the labeling
to know what it's amp hour rating is).

What type should my second battery be?

Thanks


A deep cycle with decent CCA's.

Care to explain your answer or should I just blindly accept your advice? ; )
Oh yeah, and I don't know what CCA's are or maybe I do, I'm not sure.

"Bryan" wrote in message
et...

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

"Bryan" wrote in message
t...
I'm thinking of adding a second battery to my 18 foot bowrider. I want
to use one battery for the engine and one for the stereo and lights and
air pump and ...

I don't want to lose my engine starting ability due to a battery that's
been run down using accessories.

My first battery is a Marine/RV Cranking type (I can't read the labeling
to know what it's amp hour rating is).

What type should my second battery be?

Thanks


A deep cycle with decent CCA's.

Care to explain your answer or should I just blindly accept your advice?
; ) Oh yeah, and I don't know what CCA's are or maybe I do, I'm not sure.


You said you will be using the second battery for accessories.....that is
what a deep cycle battery is designed for.

You can also combine engine cranking ability with the accessory draw demands
by purchasing a deep cycle battery with a decent CCA (cold cranking amps)
rating.

I would consider a Group 27 deep cycle battery with as high as CCA's (650
minimum) as you can find.

Good links:

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

Unless you maintain them, they will both be dead when you want to use
them. Use a battery switch... start and run on one battery (to charge
it) Then when you stop to play with your toys, switch to the other
battery. When you are ready to go home, try and start on the battery
you used.... if it works.. great... it will charge on the way home... if
not, switch to the other and start the engine to get home and then don't
forget to charge both when you get home.

another option... I have 2 batts on my 17' tender and I use a perm
mounted 2 battery charger so they are both always fresh. They will
last longer and within 2 years, they will have pd for the charger due to
fewer battery replacements.



JimH wrote:
"Bryan" wrote in message
et...

" JimH" jimh_osudad@yahooDOT comREMOVETHIS wrote in message
...

"Bryan" wrote in message
.net...

I'm thinking of adding a second battery to my 18 foot bowrider. I want
to use one battery for the engine and one for the stereo and lights and
air pump and ...

I don't want to lose my engine starting ability due to a battery that's
been run down using accessories.

My first battery is a Marine/RV Cranking type (I can't read the labeling
to know what it's amp hour rating is).

What type should my second battery be?

Thanks


A deep cycle with decent CCA's.


Care to explain your answer or should I just blindly accept your advice?
; ) Oh yeah, and I don't know what CCA's are or maybe I do, I'm not sure.



You said you will be using the second battery for accessories.....that is
what a deep cycle battery is designed for.

You can also combine engine cranking ability with the accessory draw demands
by purchasing a deep cycle battery with a decent CCA (cold cranking amps)
rating.

I would consider a Group 27 deep cycle battery with as high as CCA's (650
minimum) as you can find.

Good links:

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

"Ed" wrote in message
...

Use a battery switch...

The suggestion assumed that. ;-)

"Ed" wrote in message
...
Unless you maintain them, they will both be dead when you want to use
them. Use a battery switch... start and run on one battery (to charge it)
Then when you stop to play with your toys, switch to the other battery.
When you are ready to go home, try and start on the battery you used....
if it works.. great... it will charge on the way home... if not, switch to
the other and start the engine to get home and then don't forget to charge
both when you get home.

another option... I have 2 batts on my 17' tender and I use a perm mounted
2 battery charger so they are both always fresh. They will last longer
and within 2 years, they will have pd for the charger due to fewer battery
replacements.

I plan on a dual switch so I can run 1 for the engine/starting and 2 for
house.

The problem with a switch is that it is up to you to use the switch so that
both batteries get enough charge. Or you need to charge the batteries when
you get home. There are devices that you can put in line with your charging
system so that both batteries always get charged. The most common is simply
a pair of large diodes but unfortunately for them to work really well you
need an adjustable voltage regulator so that you can compensate for the
voltage loss.

When confronted with the same issue I decided that all that complication was
not really worth it. I have a 19 ft boat and we run a lot of electrical
stuff when sitting sometimes. I use one dual purpose group 29 battery and I
replace it every three years. I keep a trickle charger on it in the winter.
It cost a few dollars more than a group 25 or 27. I've never not been able
to start the boat.

If you really want two batteries I would recomend they be the same. That
way they will come close to charging equally when the battery switch is in
the both position.

"Bryan" wrote in message
. net...

"Ed" wrote in message
...
Unless you maintain them, they will both be dead when you want to use
them. Use a battery switch... start and run on one battery (to charge
it) Then when you stop to play with your toys, switch to the other
battery. When you are ready to go home, try and start on the battery you
used.... if it works.. great... it will charge on the way home... if not,
switch to the other and start the engine to get home and then don't
forget to charge both when you get home.

another option... I have 2 batts on my 17' tender and I use a perm
mounted 2 battery charger so they are both always fresh. They will
last longer and within 2 years, they will have pd for the charger due to
fewer battery replacements.

I plan on a dual switch so I can run 1 for the engine/starting and 2 for
house.

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 13:55:11 GMT, "James" wrote:

If you really want two batteries I would recomend they be the same. That
way they will come close to charging equally when the battery switch is in
the both position.

Thats what I do on my 24 footer and it works fine. I usually start up
and run in the "both" position so that everything gets charged up. If
we stop to anchor, I switch to the #2 position until ready to leave.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 13:55:11 GMT, "James" wrote:

If you really want two batteries I would recomend they be the same. That
way they will come close to charging equally when the battery switch is in
the both position.

Thats what I do on my 24 footer and it works fine. I usually start up
and run in the "both" position so that everything gets charged up. If
we stop to anchor, I switch to the #2 position until ready to leave.


Do you have any arrangement to make sure both batteries charge the same or
do you do alright with the practice you described? I didn't realize I would
have to deal with more issues than a second battery and a switch!