re-thinking dual battery placement

Illogikal99 · #1 03-01-2012, 06:28 AM

Greetings! I'm a long time V-20 owner and a brand new member. I have been planning to move both my batteries from the transom to a set of storage seat risers up forward under the captains and passenger seating. My reasoning for doing this is that this boat has been rebuilt with a custom heavy duty full transom, large Bracket with a 225 mounted on it and a 15hp kicker... Needless to say, this boat is stern heavy. 120 lbs off the stern would definitely help my situation! Ok here's the question, has anyone wired starting batteries that far from the motor and what if any negative issues may arise from this setup? Would the longer run of cable mess with the voltage output while starting or the motors ability to charge the batts? Any thoughts/ideas are always appreciated,
Thanks,
-J

spareparts · #2 03-01-2012, 06:58 AM

you will need to step up on the size of battery cables, and copper is getting expensive. There are a lot of manufactures that mount the batteries further fwd on boats. Here's a couple of topics on it.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=16960

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/communit...ad.php?t=17246

tsubaki · #3 03-01-2012, 07:06 AM

Welcome to the site!
Dang spare you beat me to it.
One fly in the ointment could be the larger cables connecting to the engine.
Lets suppose you found out for the distance ran that the wire size was just too big to connect to the engine, you could mount a terminal block at the rear and use the existing engine cables.

RidgeRunner · #4 03-01-2012, 08:26 AM

I second that Tsubaki. It makes stuffing all the rigging into the rigging tube much easier. I went 14' with some 00 marine cable on my V that terminated at the transom with power posts. Then stepped down to a 2GA. It is still very tight. 2GA is still on the large side for a 6' run back to the motor. I will downsize when/if I ever need another wire to go through the rigging tube.

Welcome to the sight Illogikal99. Full transom w/bracket. I likey. For all new members, pictures are manditory on your second post. LOL. But seriously, we do love pictures.

Destroyer · #5 03-01-2012, 10:42 AM

You shouldn't have any problems providing you use the right size wire. I have 2/0 gauge stranded copper wire running from the battery to the engine. The engine is a 225 Johnson on the back of my V20 and a single battery almost under my pilots seat. I've never had a problem with starting it as far as power to the starter is concerned.

reelapeelin · #6 03-02-2012, 08:16 AM

Welcome to the site...as mentioned by my esteamed colleauges above, pictures of your boat are always appreciated...and I can tell ya the good, the bad and the down-right UGLY show up here!!...

I'm in the process of doing what you're about to do...my engine wiring will remain as is...the positive lead will remain to the battery SWITCH(thanks for turnin' on the light, Pete) which will remain in the transom...and the negative will be to a post in the transom, then from switch and post to batteries up front w/#2 gauge...the 00 Ridge mentions above will certainly work as well...as mentioned, the cost of copper is high these days...I dropped about $80 on 22' of #2 and $35 on some smaller stuff for the elec motor...and I got a couple of other things to cover cuz I'm making a new hatch thru the floor to hold the 3 batteries...will be postin' pics soon!!...might today if the rain holds off down here...

I agree w/Ridge on the bracket & full tranny combo!!...