[kevster66]

I have a 2008 16 foot lowe stinger.
I am putting a stereo with 2 speakers in . Right now I have 2 batteries.
The cranking battery runs all accesories.( One fishfinder /GPS, another fishfinder up front,lights (dont use really),live well ,bilge )
The other just runs the trolling motor.
Should the stereo be hooked up with the other accesories on the cranking battery?
The trolling motor battery should be kept seperate I am told.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Kev

[DeepV]

I would keep the stereo off the trolling motor battery too.

It takes quite a while to drain a battery with a normal stereo system. I made a small pair of jumper cables from some heavy wire I had laying around. If I ever do drain the cranking battery, I can still jump it to one of my 2 trolling motor batteries.

[bryonthefly]

Originally Posted by DeepV

I would keep the stereo off the trolling motor battery too.

It takes quite a while to drain a battery with a normal stereo system. I made a small pair of jumper cables from some heavy wire I had laying around. If I ever do drain the cranking battery, I can still jump it to one of my 2 trolling motor batteries.

That 60 amp alternator on the optimax keeps the cranking battery in tip-top shape also.

[DeepV]

Great point!

I rarely charge my cranking battery at home but sometimes I have the boat stereo going when I'm messing with the boat in the garage and I have run it down after about of week.

[kevster66]

I only have one trolling motor battery.
So you are saying I can start the motor if i kill the cranking battery by jumping that battery to my trolling motor?
I have an onboard 5 amp charger which charges both batteries at the same time . I just plug it in when i get home.
I only have a 50 mercury on the back.
Does it have an alternator in it?
I am not too familiar with boat motors. This is my first boat.
Any info would help and thanks to you all for your input thus far!

[rouge1]

Yes it should have an alternator but I think that only charges the starting battery, not the deepcycle trolling battery, also you should check the water level of your batteries once a month if you are plugging in the onboard charger when you are not using the boat. Batteries are not big fans of heat, charging and discharging generate quite a bit of heat also with summertime ambient temps your batteries will tend to use a bit more water. With the charger unplugged and the batteries cool, pop the caps and make sure that water (acid) level is visibly above the plates in the battery yet about an inch below where the caps go in the battery, also clean of any corrosion that builds up around the terminals. If your batteries need water added to them use distilled water not tap water, to many unknowns floating around in tap water.

Originally Posted by kevster66

I only have one trolling motor battery.
So you are saying I can start the motor if i kill the cranking battery by jumping that battery to my trolling motor?
I have an onboard 5 amp charger which charges both batteries at the same time . I just plug it in when i get home.
I only have a 50 mercury on the back.
Does it have an alternator in it?
I am not too familiar with boat motors. This is my first boat.
Any info would help and thanks to you all for your input thus far!

[kevster66]

Thanks . I allways check on batteries. An yes distilled water only!!
I have decided to go with cranking battery. I am going to leave the trolling battery alone.
I am getting the stereo put in tommorrow professionally just because it is a new boat and I will have to have around a dozen beers to cut a hole in the deck of my boat for the speakers!!!LOL
And I also don't want to watch!!LOL