I want to install a second battery in my 28.5. Does anyone have experince locating a second battery and switch? What gauge wire was used? I would prefer to keep it center or on the port side of the boat to offset the weight of the fuel. Thanks
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
R
Ray Pollard
Second battery
I put mine on the shelf under the stove (port side on my '87 28.5). it is out of the way, but the negative is that it is hard to check the water level. I put the switch under the sink above the first battery. Not sure about the wire, but it is some of those pre-packaged battery wires from West Marine. I hope someone has a better suggestion. I can easily move this one if there is a better suggestion.
I put mine on the shelf under the stove (port side on my '87 28.5). it is out of the way, but the negative is that it is hard to check the water level. I put the switch under the sink above the first battery. Not sure about the wire, but it is some of those pre-packaged battery wires from West Marine. I hope someone has a better suggestion. I can easily move this one if there is a better suggestion.
S
Stephen Ostrander
I did it
On my previous boat h28.5 I put both batteries and the switch in the stbd lazarette. I bought the cables from a battery store much cheaper than the "marine" cables from West.
On my previous boat h28.5 I put both batteries and the switch in the stbd lazarette. I bought the cables from a battery store much cheaper than the "marine" cables from West.
M
Marc Honey
Third-Combination!!!
My set-up is a combination of the other two. One under the sink is "cranking" battery (dual-purpose) and I have two batteries (one dual-purpose and one deep-cycle) inside the starboard lazarette hooked up in parallel as "house" bank. I night sail quite a bit and prefer not to run out of juice. That margarita blender run off an inverter will sap some power!!! Switch is just inside the entrance to aft cabin on bulkhead next to the Yanmar.
My set-up is a combination of the other two. One under the sink is "cranking" battery (dual-purpose) and I have two batteries (one dual-purpose and one deep-cycle) inside the starboard lazarette hooked up in parallel as "house" bank. I night sail quite a bit and prefer not to run out of juice. That margarita blender run off an inverter will sap some power!!! Switch is just inside the entrance to aft cabin on bulkhead next to the Yanmar.
T
Tom Lukas
2nd Battery
When I bought my 87' 28.5 two years ago, it had 2 batteries installed. One under the sink on a shelf and the other under the 2 burner stove on the shelf. A 4 position switch (off, 1 on, 2 on or both) was installed on the sink cabinet side facing the map desk, works fine for me, no problems. Cables are 6 maybe 8 gauge.
When I bought my 87' 28.5 two years ago, it had 2 batteries installed. One under the sink on a shelf and the other under the 2 burner stove on the shelf. A 4 position switch (off, 1 on, 2 on or both) was installed on the sink cabinet side facing the map desk, works fine for me, no problems. Cables are 6 maybe 8 gauge.
E
Ed Schenck
Use 4- gauge though.
Lots of good ideas but use real battery cables. They should be red for positive and black for negative. Both should be 4-gauge.
Lots of good ideas but use real battery cables. They should be red for positive and black for negative. Both should be 4-gauge.
D
Doug Gould
2nd Battery - '86 28.5
The 86 version of the Hunter 28.5 has one 72 amp battery under the shelf below galley sink and a second (larger) battery in the starboard cockpit locker, between the engine compartment and the wet locker. The battery switch was mounted in aft cabin (port side), wall, in close proximity to the starter solenoid on the Yanmar. This position is equal (cable) distances between the galley battery and the one in the cockpit locker. After seeing the question and reviewing my owners manual, it is now apparent that my two battery system was an add-on. To compliment the system, I just added a TrueCharge20 in the cockpit locker to keep the batteries maintained while dockside. I used 4 gauge wiring (Marine Grade!) to connect the charger to the battery switch. It is important to use only marine grade electrical wiring on your boat. The wiring used in automotive and home building environments does not standup to the harsh environments aboard boats.
The 86 version of the Hunter 28.5 has one 72 amp battery under the shelf below galley sink and a second (larger) battery in the starboard cockpit locker, between the engine compartment and the wet locker. The battery switch was mounted in aft cabin (port side), wall, in close proximity to the starter solenoid on the Yanmar. This position is equal (cable) distances between the galley battery and the one in the cockpit locker. After seeing the question and reviewing my owners manual, it is now apparent that my two battery system was an add-on. To compliment the system, I just added a TrueCharge20 in the cockpit locker to keep the batteries maintained while dockside. I used 4 gauge wiring (Marine Grade!) to connect the charger to the battery switch. It is important to use only marine grade electrical wiring on your boat. The wiring used in automotive and home building environments does not standup to the harsh environments aboard boats.
S
Stephen Ostrander
battery cables
Certainly only heavy guage battry cables should be used. But in some cases the "marine grade" tag means morre $$ for the same product. What is better about marine grade cables? 4-guage is 4-guage isn't it? Does the marine grade cable have more copper in it? Here in MI we have rain, snow, ice, road salt, and temps from -25 to +100 (F) and they stand up to that harsh environment. I'm not trying to be argumentitive here, I'm just going on info from people I know in the industry who tell me that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. In some cases substitutions should absolutely be avoided--automotive alternators should never be used on boats, for example.
Certainly only heavy guage battry cables should be used. But in some cases the "marine grade" tag means morre $$ for the same product. What is better about marine grade cables? 4-guage is 4-guage isn't it? Does the marine grade cable have more copper in it? Here in MI we have rain, snow, ice, road salt, and temps from -25 to +100 (F) and they stand up to that harsh environment. I'm not trying to be argumentitive here, I'm just going on info from people I know in the industry who tell me that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. In some cases substitutions should absolutely be avoided--automotive alternators should never be used on boats, for example.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.