I am thinking of installing a second battery on my 240. I thought screwing a peice of 3/4" plywood down to the existing battery platform long enough to accomadate 2 batteries, each in a separate box. The batteries would be approaching the center line of the boat so I don't think wieght would be much of a problem. I don't have a clue how to wire them pos to pos and neg to neg. Suggestions?
2nd Battery
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Two Batteries
It depends...why do you want two batteries? To double voltage, add backup battery, or to separate engine/house functions? Don Casey's "Sailboat Electrics" is a great source for this project. Also West Marine catalog is good. The H240 is very similar to the H260 so you might want to take a look a this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260_web/upgrades/electric1/index.html
It depends...why do you want two batteries? To double voltage, add backup battery, or to separate engine/house functions? Don Casey's "Sailboat Electrics" is a great source for this project. Also West Marine catalog is good. The H240 is very similar to the H260 so you might want to take a look a this link: http://kobernus.com/hunter260_web/upgrades/electric1/index.html
battery jumper
Take a look at a battery Jumper. You can get a small one at Sears for about $40 if you force them to tell you about it. It would start your engine if the main battery died and with a male to male cord you can recharge the Jumper when the engine is running. You can run lots of things off the Jumper by itself. It is not heavy and you can store it where you want it. NAPA can sell you larger one $135 =/-. It may do more for you that a second battery.
Take a look at a battery Jumper. You can get a small one at Sears for about $40 if you force them to tell you about it. It would start your engine if the main battery died and with a male to male cord you can recharge the Jumper when the engine is running. You can run lots of things off the Jumper by itself. It is not heavy and you can store it where you want it. NAPA can sell you larger one $135 =/-. It may do more for you that a second battery.
Engine Battery
George, I was interested on how you made the electrical connection from the engine to the boat wires, and what size cable did you use. I was considering a dual bolt post, thru the cockpit feed. My boat is a Hunter 23.5 which is similar but different, I had considered relocating, my battery from the starboard settee to the stern to minimize the cable run from battery to engine.
George, I was interested on how you made the electrical connection from the engine to the boat wires, and what size cable did you use. I was considering a dual bolt post, thru the cockpit feed. My boat is a Hunter 23.5 which is similar but different, I had considered relocating, my battery from the starboard settee to the stern to minimize the cable run from battery to engine.
240 battery position
When I had a 240 I built and glassed in another battery shelf on the port side behind the aft berthand installed 2 house batteries. This helps to offset the weight of the motor. Wiring it was a snap. I just put both in parallel and used them for house and starting. Do you really need to differentiate between house and start on a boat with a 8-10hp outboard? If the engine won't turn over, I pull the start cord.
When I had a 240 I built and glassed in another battery shelf on the port side behind the aft berthand installed 2 house batteries. This helps to offset the weight of the motor. Wiring it was a snap. I just put both in parallel and used them for house and starting. Do you really need to differentiate between house and start on a boat with a 8-10hp outboard? If the engine won't turn over, I pull the start cord.
receiving emails
This is for George in Traverse City,Mi. I have not figured out how to get your e-mail address to find out about batteries. Mine is bart5008@aol.com
This is for George in Traverse City,Mi. I have not figured out how to get your e-mail address to find out about batteries. Mine is bart5008@aol.com
Ultimate storage batteries
Hi Bart, If you looking for the ultimate storage capacity we put in two Trojan 6 Volt Golf Cart batteries and wired them in series, that is neg to pos, and pos to neg, to come out with 12 volts. We have yet to find the bottom of this incredible power storage system, you can literally go for weeks with just lights and radio. They have ample cranking power to start a small outboard as well.If you decide to do this secure them really well as they are regular lead/acid batteries and not sealed. They are fine at 20 degrees heel, but in a knockdown they will leak acid.
Hi Bart, If you looking for the ultimate storage capacity we put in two Trojan 6 Volt Golf Cart batteries and wired them in series, that is neg to pos, and pos to neg, to come out with 12 volts. We have yet to find the bottom of this incredible power storage system, you can literally go for weeks with just lights and radio. They have ample cranking power to start a small outboard as well.If you decide to do this secure them really well as they are regular lead/acid batteries and not sealed. They are fine at 20 degrees heel, but in a knockdown they will leak acid.
Why two batteries
I have debated adding two batteries to my H22. I have decided against this. Reason being I have been testing the extents of my house battery. Now I don't need a battery to start my engine (which would be a lot of power on the system) but I have a lot of electronics I run. I find that I tend to go into a dock everyother night to use an onboard charger. The hardest test of my battery, so far, was running the autohelm for around 8 hours (over two days), running the GPS about 10 hours, and running the lights and ancor light overnight. I still had power when I got back to the dock. I hope that this helps because adding another battery might be an expensive proposition.
I have debated adding two batteries to my H22. I have decided against this. Reason being I have been testing the extents of my house battery. Now I don't need a battery to start my engine (which would be a lot of power on the system) but I have a lot of electronics I run. I find that I tend to go into a dock everyother night to use an onboard charger. The hardest test of my battery, so far, was running the autohelm for around 8 hours (over two days), running the GPS about 10 hours, and running the lights and ancor light overnight. I still had power when I got back to the dock. I hope that this helps because adding another battery might be an expensive proposition.
Move both
I installed another battery in my 23.5 and moved both batteries to the compartment under the v-berth. I built a plaform and installed a battry switch on the bulkhead near the old battery location, then wired both batteries to the switch. Since the are both on centerline the weight is balanced and the water take on the port side off sets the motor. The added benefit was more storage that easy to access in the old location.
I installed another battery in my 23.5 and moved both batteries to the compartment under the v-berth. I built a plaform and installed a battry switch on the bulkhead near the old battery location, then wired both batteries to the switch. Since the are both on centerline the weight is balanced and the water take on the port side off sets the motor. The added benefit was more storage that easy to access in the old location.
parallel vs. separate
Under normal conditions, I'd have the batteries separated unless you need the added available amps. The reason being that if you have a battery that fails, it will discharge the second battery if wired in parallel. Unless you are willing to test either the voltage of each battery (they have to be separated each time) or the s.g. (if possible) on a regular basis, failure can occur at any time leaving you with two dead batteries (and with Murphy out there) at the worst possible time. So, I'd operate with one battery and have the second in reserve.
Under normal conditions, I'd have the batteries separated unless you need the added available amps. The reason being that if you have a battery that fails, it will discharge the second battery if wired in parallel. Unless you are willing to test either the voltage of each battery (they have to be separated each time) or the s.g. (if possible) on a regular basis, failure can occur at any time leaving you with two dead batteries (and with Murphy out there) at the worst possible time. So, I'd operate with one battery and have the second in reserve.
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