Dual Battery Setup

[izuizme]

I want to know if its OK to connect an additional battery to my existing battery.As a backup, and to run the accesories seperate from the main battery...?? If its OK how should it be wired. <br />I'm running a 90hp Merc. on a 16'wellcraft.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

Yes, that should be just fine. Just wire the positive to the positive and the negative to the negative.

 

[JB]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

Moving to Boats.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

To do it correctly you should either get a mutil-battery switch (1-2-All) or better yet, get a West Marine Combiner 150. The combiner allows both batteries to charge when the engine is running and isolates them during discharge to prevent you from draining both batteries and not being able to start your engines.<br /><br />The battery you want to use for your accessories (the house battery) should be a deep cycle battery to withstand the deep discharging that will happen when anchored/fishing/camping. The starter battery should be a marine starting battery which is designed to provide higher cranking amps.<br /><br />Be sure to fuse/breaker your accessories to help prevent a fire.<br /><br />Also, check out this post which contains more info:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=003946 <br /><br />Just reply here if you need more info/help

 

[catfish1]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

if i am understanding you correctly you want one battery for starting and another separate battery for accesories. that is the way it should be! the starting battery should be for starting only. just look at the terminals on the battery, the single largest wire on both positive and negative side of the battery are for the motor starting, all the other wires are for the accesories. just connect acc wires to a battery, and connect the starting wires to the other battery. dont connect the two batteries together!

 

[catfish1]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

and like ralph says, if you want to charge both batteries at the same time get the combiner. and use inline fuses for the acc positive connections.

 

[izuizme]

Re: Dual Battery Setup

Thanks alot,I'll check out that combiner at <br />West Marine ..!!