Second Battery

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Eric

I want to install a second battery on my 28.5 using a selector switch. I would welcome any suggestions as to where this could be located. The obvious place is in the starboard locker but that adds weight which, in combination with a full fuel tank, increases the list. THanks, eric
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Check out the West Marine Catalog

Eric: Check out the West Marine catalog on how to wire these batteries. If you run is over appox. 6 ft. you will need 2 guage wire if you going to use it for an alternate starting battery. Cannot help you as far as the actual battery location is concerned, but keeping in mind that a shorter cable run is usually better may help you decide where you want to put it. Also if you use a gel or agm you can mount it in a less accessable area than you may if you need to inspect it. The AGM's can be mounted in any position with loss of power too. No leaking or gassing to worry about.
 
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Eric Lorgus

My 28.5 has two batteries

Eric: I bought a used 87H285 that already had 2 batteries installed in the starboard lazarette. They're mounted on the sole, side by side. They're connected to a 1/2/both/off selector switch which is also mounted in the lazarette, on the closet bulkhead. I believe the 28.5's were built new with one battery, which was mounted under the galley sink. If you're concerned about weight and balance, keep the battery mount as close to the lazarette bulkhead as possible, which is itself just inches away from the prop shaft (cenerline). Instead of a selector switch, you might want to consider an isolator. These allow both batteries to be charged simultaneously, but when the charge source is removed, the batteries are isolated so that your house load can't discharge your cranking battery, should you forget to change the switch (which everybody does, sooner or later). Try visiting battmaxx@bytheshore.com for an example of an isolator. The good ones usually come with an override switch, so that if the cranking battery is discharged, the engine can be cranked from the house battery instead. Good luck.
 
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Eric Lorgus

That was an e-mail address, not a URL

Eric: The company is called Wells Marine Technology & they're in Brielle NJ. I can't find their URL, so for more info, try sending him an e-mail using the address I gave. The owner is Jack Wells, and the nice thing about his isolator design is that it doesn't draw any current.
 
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Tom Lukas

28.5 Batteries

My 87' 28.5 also had two batteries installed with a selector switch mounted on the sink wall facing the map desk. One battery is under the sink, lower shelf, other is below the double burner on the shelf above the sink thru-hull. This set up works very for me.
 
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Marc Honey

3- battery set-up

My '87 28.5 came with one under sink and one under the starboard locker. I added another group 30 deep-cycle in parallel to the one in the starboard locker. I use that bank as "house" and the battery under sink as "starting". I night sail a LOT and have never come close to running out of juice. I also have a 20amp Stat charger from West Marine that keeps everything topped off. Great system!!! No problems with list to one side or the other. My boat sits absolutely level.
 
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