Hello all I am a new owner (25' O'Day) and was able to limp through the last month of the season on dead batteries. So I'm in planning for the spring purchase and wanted to find out what set-up you have and what you like/dislike. We have VHF radio, depth gauge, bildge paump as well as a few LED lights and running lights. Have dreams of adding another bildge and a cd player. We have 2 batteries, a house and start (for the 9.9 outboard which has an alternator), seperated using 3 switches, house, start or both. We have a small solar charger (not sure of output). Also, advice on best way to run this set-up, start engine using both, charge in off position, etc would be much appreciated. Thank you very much Mike
Electrical system, battery discussion
- Thread starter renom2
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Same Boat
I run a GPS, music, and 9.9 all off the same battery. I have one flexible solar panel and haven't had a dead battery since I bought the panel. I'm doing mostly day sailing. I think simple is best. Mike
I run a GPS, music, and 9.9 all off the same battery. I have one flexible solar panel and haven't had a dead battery since I bought the panel. I'm doing mostly day sailing. I think simple is best. Mike
Batteries
Mike, I think that the set-up that you have now will work OK for you. It's more than what I'm using on my 222, but I'm not doing much night sailing anymore and the only other things that I'm running off my 100 AH Deep Cell battery are the radio and autopilot. Last year, I replaced my alternator wire from my Johnson Sail Master to the battery with a # 10 copper stranded marine duplex cable. I also added a term block in the lazarette for this wire, so that I could remove the outboard in the fall when I store the engine. This set-up is providing better current and voltage to the battery, I think. One thing that you should do if you aren't doing it right now, is to buy a couple of float mode battery maintainers which will keep your batteries charged all through the winter. These are small 2 Amp battery chargers for deep cycle batteries. They automatically switch on and off as they are needed. I bought mine at Loew's for about $19.95. Joe
Mike, I think that the set-up that you have now will work OK for you. It's more than what I'm using on my 222, but I'm not doing much night sailing anymore and the only other things that I'm running off my 100 AH Deep Cell battery are the radio and autopilot. Last year, I replaced my alternator wire from my Johnson Sail Master to the battery with a # 10 copper stranded marine duplex cable. I also added a term block in the lazarette for this wire, so that I could remove the outboard in the fall when I store the engine. This set-up is providing better current and voltage to the battery, I think. One thing that you should do if you aren't doing it right now, is to buy a couple of float mode battery maintainers which will keep your batteries charged all through the winter. These are small 2 Amp battery chargers for deep cycle batteries. They automatically switch on and off as they are needed. I bought mine at Loew's for about $19.95. Joe
batteries
Thanks much for the thoughts, and I think that is what I figured (that it would be enough). I think I had a couple of batteries that were on their way out and some repeated attempts to start a problem motor was the final straw for the batteries as I did a test on the solar and it looked like we were getting enough juice to fill them up. Have a good winter
Thanks much for the thoughts, and I think that is what I figured (that it would be enough). I think I had a couple of batteries that were on their way out and some repeated attempts to start a problem motor was the final straw for the batteries as I did a test on the solar and it looked like we were getting enough juice to fill them up. Have a good winter
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