Connect Batteries or Not on Hunter 30-2

[ChrisHunter]

I need to replace my 2 batteries on my Hunter30-2. Right now, the previous owner had them connected so I never thought about it.

When I replace my batteries, should I connect them or keep them separate. The boat does have a battery charger wired for 3 batteries. The boat is on a fresh water lake, so no long term trips.

Thanks

 

[jssailem]

Reasonable question. Has the way the boat was connected by the previous owner been serving your boat needs?
If yes then put new batteries in like the old ones. If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it.

If you want something different the please explain what and why.

 

[Tally Ho]

One thought is that wiring 2 batteries in parallel provides one larger battery, and hence less discharge on either one.

Another thought is that having 2 batteries wired on separate switch positions, gives some redundancy should one battery get run down or have some sort of internal short.

You don’t mention if you have a separate starting battery either…something we need to know to answer more completely.

For me, I went through several iterations with my batteries…

* Lead acid - 2) 100Ah batteries, on separate switch positions. Then went to
* 6-volt golf-cart batteries. These needed to be wired in series to get 12-volts. On one switch positions and no starter battery.
* Still used the 6-volt golf cart batteries in series, then added a 12-volt battery as a backup starter battery (on B switch terminal).
* Moved to Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries…kept the 12-volt lead acid battery, now wired to the starter with a separate cut-off switch…and 2) 100Ah LFP batteries wired in parallel.
* This coming season, I have a single 314Ah LFZp battery to replace the 2) 100Ah batteries. No paralleling issue to deal with hopefully. And I retained the 12-volt lead acid battery for starting the engine.

Greg