Suggestion for small low cost battery?
- Thread starter Ward H
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I've used them before.. actually kept two on board; one as a backup just in case. I've also used small motorcycle batteries which seem to last a bit longer. If you switch out your bulbs with the newer LED types, they would last even longer.
Cheers,
Brad
Cheers,
Brad
Get one of those rechargable battery booster's. Then it can multi task for you and you don't have to mess with a charger.
The battery size you have in mind is about 17 Amp hour capacity so you will get about 4 hours with just conventional bow + stern lights and double that with just one cabin bulb.
The idea is not to discharge it below 50% and it will last for many recharges.
They are cheap and light enough to carry two.
I presume you keep the boat at home or can easily take the battery home so recharging would not be a problem.
BTW I ride an electric scooter that runs on 4 batteries of this size and it is rated for 25 miles.
The idea is not to discharge it below 50% and it will last for many recharges.
They are cheap and light enough to carry two.
I presume you keep the boat at home or can easily take the battery home so recharging would not be a problem.
BTW I ride an electric scooter that runs on 4 batteries of this size and it is rated for 25 miles.
- Dec 25, 2009
- 269
I bought my boat after it had sat for 26 years in a garage. All the wiring was poor and the bulbs were corroded. I pulled all my mast wires out and replaced them with Marine tinned wire 9 pairs in one cable. I ran a new anchor lite for the top mast, from this company. Very bright. http://www.bebi-electronics.com/masina.html
I also put on a new steaming light as well as two spreader lights all of which can be switched to strobe if I really want to make sure that I am seen in the night. I used the white one of these: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...ory=TRUCK&Page2Disp=/specs/strb-4w.htm#photos
I also changed the interior cabin lights out most of my lights have a dual switch so I can switch from one bulb to two, On those, I installed one bulb red and the other white. That way we can have interior red light and go on deck and still have night vision. Pretty cool.
I also changed out all my cruising light. Bow, Stern, etc. All told, it was a little over $200. I didn't scrimp on the battery, I got the Best Marine slow discharge battery that I could find. For running these kind of lights, you don't want a starter battery.
Another nice thing that I found out about my boat was that the Honda motor that came with the boat has an internal charger built in and when the wire is hooked up to the battery, it charges the battery as we motor.
I also put on a new steaming light as well as two spreader lights all of which can be switched to strobe if I really want to make sure that I am seen in the night. I used the white one of these: http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...ory=TRUCK&Page2Disp=/specs/strb-4w.htm#photos
I also changed the interior cabin lights out most of my lights have a dual switch so I can switch from one bulb to two, On those, I installed one bulb red and the other white. That way we can have interior red light and go on deck and still have night vision. Pretty cool.
I also changed out all my cruising light. Bow, Stern, etc. All told, it was a little over $200. I didn't scrimp on the battery, I got the Best Marine slow discharge battery that I could find. For running these kind of lights, you don't want a starter battery.
Another nice thing that I found out about my boat was that the Honda motor that came with the boat has an internal charger built in and when the wire is hooked up to the battery, it charges the battery as we motor.
You might check here---
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/...-SLA?dsNavigation=Ns~product+Type|101|1|,N~44
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/...-SLA?dsNavigation=Ns~product+Type|101|1|,N~44
Exactly what I did..... not very cheap tho. Try the auto wreckers too. They usually garantee them for full replacement within 1 year. Just get one from a sub compact car. They're bigger than atv batteries but not as big as the marine deep cycles.
If you want cheap and expendable buy two of those six volt square lantern batteries and connect them in series joining them with duct tape. You know those batteries with a coiled spring in one of the terminals that sell for under $5 each. If you desire a rechargeable one, a motorcycle battery would be better than a tractor one. Somehow they sustain deep discharge cycles better than the tractor units and are better sealed to accept motion with spilling acid.
I was at mastup storage working late on my boat a couple of months ago. I noticed that my old boat that I sold had it's stern light on. Being a good neighbor and knowing the combination to the lock, I went over to turn it off so it wouldn't run down his battery.
Apparently the bulb burned out in the old stern light and in its place he strapped to the pushpit one of those solar powered walk way lights that charge all day and glow at night.
The wrecking yard is a good suggestion. You might also try Craigslist.com.
When I was looking for cheap batteries a while back I found quite a few sources for used and refurbished golf cart batteries.
Apparently the bulb burned out in the old stern light and in its place he strapped to the pushpit one of those solar powered walk way lights that charge all day and glow at night.
The wrecking yard is a good suggestion. You might also try Craigslist.com.
When I was looking for cheap batteries a while back I found quite a few sources for used and refurbished golf cart batteries.
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