Battery Life

[Sean]

OK, Dumbquestion (Why do all of my post start wit that ::) )
I purchased a 2nd battery, and in the near future I will rewire and have them running off of aswitch. For know, I am running one to the engine wich will be charged from the alternator. The other I have in the cuddy and I am only going to run a fish finder and a sonar/GPS unit from. I will charge it from home before going out.
My question is: From a fully charged 12V battery (for argument sake lets just say its the smallest one, but I did run the enitre boat from it last year)I should have plenty of power to run these two units for atleast 6, 7 hours? ???
Thanks!! ;D

[lumberslinger178]

good question ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

[Mac_Attack]

What's the current draw of the two units. *Now whats the amp hour rating of your battery? *Once you have the two figures you should know how long it should last. *If its a good battery I would think you'd be OK. *Billy Mac *;D

At least if it does give out you'll be able to start your motor. *

http://www.vonwentzel.net/Battery/00.Glossary/index.html

[rb437]

Do you know the AH (amp/hour) rating of the battery? A 100 AH battery would allow you to draw 1 amp / hr for 100 hours or 2 amps / hr for 50 hours. So what you need to know is the capacity of your battery and how much current the equipment your running draws. If you know these then the rest is simple math. A marine/RV battery should have an AH rating on it somewhere. Automotive batteries are usually only rated in CCA (cold cranking amps) this is a different rating that tells of the batterys ability to provide alot of current for a short period of time (like when starting the engine) but is not the same as AH.

[tsubaki]

Generally you can get a week out of a battery in the boat without needing recharging. I do this on a bateau, with lights, bilge pump, etc. The more you use the less time it will work. Best case is to hook everything to the charging system of the boat.

[reelapeelin]

OK Sean...is this the battery ya said earlier wouldn't bubble after you'd charged it for a GaZillion hours?...if so all bets are off ;)...and ya need to trash it ;D ...A good group 24 batt w/a full charge oughtta run those two units LONG TIME!!...

[Sean]

The battery has 690 amps with a 140 Reserve, that rating does not mention hours, but maybe those are the figures per hour ???

Reel, that was not me with the dead battery ;D

THanks!

[reelapeelin]

Reel, that was not me with the dead battery ;D





)Oooops :o ...sorry Sean ::) ...

[rb437]

There is another way to determine how long the battery will last. Just do it, then you'll know ;D

[macojoe]

I have one battery in my boat, I use it for starting, GPS, Fish Finder and Radio, I have never had a problem with it dieing!!

But at night it is a different story, you run the lights in the units and lights on the boat, so if you do much night fishing add that 2nd battery ;)

Also I carry one of them jump packs, I have never needed it thank god, but I have started a few others with it, and it will run my eletric reel all day or my live well for 4 hours non stop! ;) Best thing I have ever bought!

[randlemanboater]

I am fixing to put a second battery in my boat too. I am going to put one of those isolators on it that will allow both batteries to charge from the motor but will not allow the electronics powering battery to drain the cranking battery. ;D


Like the first example.

http://www.boatfix.com/how/Ele2.html

[Sean]

I have the new battery running every thing except my GPS/sonar that I ave hooked up by itself to the old battery located in the cuddy.
So I have one sonar attched the the main batter with a voltage meter/reading and the other hoooked up to the other, also with a voltage meter. I figure I am all set charging the single battery nightly, why the other battery is charged by the motor and I will be able to monitor both batteries with the voltage readings on the two sonars. Worse case seniro if the single battery dies I have th old hook ups to the main battery right next to it so it will be a easy trransfer.
I also have a jump pack in case everything goes wrong, and I am planning running the spot light off of that ( for squidding ;D) or any other randomn excerise.
Sooner or later I will rig them together like Randle sugested.
Thanks!!