I know this may sound basic, but I have not found anyone at the local boat stores that know. I have a battery that starts the motor on my sail boat. What I am looking for is a battery that I can use to run my lights inside & out. I would like to stay out on the lake all night but I need to have my lights on per Coast Guard regs. The batteries that are used to start the motor wont run the lights that long, says the people at the stores. What kind of battery do I need to stay out over night or even the weekend. I would rather not have to get a generator as my boat is only 20' and not much room for a generator. I know lots of people stay out for days at a time I just can't find out how they do it. Thanks for the help.
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Simple solution
You need to get a deep cycle marine battery and a switch to isolate the two batteries. Perko makes one as well as some others. You will also need to get a battery charger to charge the batteries with. Once you install the second battery you just need to pull off the wiring for your lights and anything else that you might want on that circuit and attach to the deep cycle battery. This battery will be able to keep your lights going for even a long weekend.
You need to get a deep cycle marine battery and a switch to isolate the two batteries. Perko makes one as well as some others. You will also need to get a battery charger to charge the batteries with. Once you install the second battery you just need to pull off the wiring for your lights and anything else that you might want on that circuit and attach to the deep cycle battery. This battery will be able to keep your lights going for even a long weekend.
Alternator?
I am assuming on his 20' boat he has an outboard motor and the alternators they have barely keep up with the draw necessary to start the engine and will NOT charge a battery that is used for anything else. If he happens to have an inboard and runs the battery down with lights or other equipment how would he start the engine to charge the battery??
I am assuming on his 20' boat he has an outboard motor and the alternators they have barely keep up with the draw necessary to start the engine and will NOT charge a battery that is used for anything else. If he happens to have an inboard and runs the battery down with lights or other equipment how would he start the engine to charge the battery??
Dennis
Either get a West Marine catalog or go their website, www.westmarine.com, and read their advisor on electrical systems and types of batteries. You're right, it's a basic question, and the answers are out there. Stu
Either get a West Marine catalog or go their website, www.westmarine.com, and read their advisor on electrical systems and types of batteries. You're right, it's a basic question, and the answers are out there. Stu
battery
captain j, since he said batteries(note the plural)i guessed he had two - one for the engine and the other for the house. what does the length of the hull have to do with the charging system?
captain j, since he said batteries(note the plural)i guessed he had two - one for the engine and the other for the house. what does the length of the hull have to do with the charging system?
juice for lights
I have a Mac 26D with a 9hp outboard and a GOOD deep cycle battery. I make sure the battery is fully charged before going out. It has never run down so low that I could not use my lights, or anything else that I wanted. I do use a solar charger, so that may help alot also.
I have a Mac 26D with a 9hp outboard and a GOOD deep cycle battery. I make sure the battery is fully charged before going out. It has never run down so low that I could not use my lights, or anything else that I wanted. I do use a solar charger, so that may help alot also.
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