I have a 17' Vagabond Day sailor, There is no power on the boat currently. I want to wire an old car stereo (Alpine CDE 7870 45watt max) to a marine battery. I would also like to rig running lights. I have several questions about this procedure: -What type of battery to get? I want to be able to run the stereo with 2 speakers for about 15 hours without recharge. Some people say a Deep Cell, some say a Starting battery, which one? And I'm guessing at least 650 CCAs - I have a 5hp Mercury Sail Power outboard with the option for a 56 watt battery charging Alternator kit. What battery would best be compatible and what wiring method would be most appropriate when I get this upgrade in the future? - I am also assuming that I would run the ground back to the battery... - Are fuses necessary for this? If so how would they fit into the circuit? - What type of AC trickle charger do you recommend for the battery? If anyone has any tips, hints, or pictures, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Wireing questions: Stereo and lights to battery.
- Thread starter Nevermind530
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deep cycle aye
Deep cycle, or at least "dual purpose" is the way to go. Starting batteries have all of their ooomph right up front; a starting battery would work, but that's not really what it's designed for. Starting batteries are usually rated in marine Cranking amps (mca), deep cycles are rated in Amp hours. The more amp hours the merrier. Two 6v, "golf cart" batteries tied together gives you the most amp hours, but a group 27 12v should be adequate. A small solar, trickle charger would be good too! A Guest 10amp charger, 110v for dockside charging is good. Most marine charger's these days are "smart" and won't cook your batteries. Ideally, you would go to a 12v breaker panel, but an inline fuse is fine on small daysailors if you intend to go direct to the battery. If it's an old stereo, you really don't have to have a fuse. The Nigel Caulder book on marine wiring (available here on this site) is an exceptional resource: http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?fno=400&cart=1184283622506004&sku=35802&cat=1306 Dave Groshong Customer Service SailboatOwners.com
Deep cycle, or at least "dual purpose" is the way to go. Starting batteries have all of their ooomph right up front; a starting battery would work, but that's not really what it's designed for. Starting batteries are usually rated in marine Cranking amps (mca), deep cycles are rated in Amp hours. The more amp hours the merrier. Two 6v, "golf cart" batteries tied together gives you the most amp hours, but a group 27 12v should be adequate. A small solar, trickle charger would be good too! A Guest 10amp charger, 110v for dockside charging is good. Most marine charger's these days are "smart" and won't cook your batteries. Ideally, you would go to a 12v breaker panel, but an inline fuse is fine on small daysailors if you intend to go direct to the battery. If it's an old stereo, you really don't have to have a fuse. The Nigel Caulder book on marine wiring (available here on this site) is an exceptional resource: http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?fno=400&cart=1184283622506004&sku=35802&cat=1306 Dave Groshong Customer Service SailboatOwners.com
Just cause its rated 45 watts, doesnt mean
that it will draw 45 watts. Stereos consume more power the louder you turn it up so, you may only need 5 to 10 watts to listen to most music and if you really like the tune, then up to 30 or 40. The lights will probably cosume more than the stereo. Go cheap and get a battery from Sams or Wall Mart and get a small 10 amp charger. Put a connector on the battery so you can take it home with you and charge it up. A 65 AH should be fine to start with - it will weigh about 50 pounds. If you find you need more capacity, get another one and parallel it. You should have no problem starting your small motor with a battery that size irrespective of what type it is. Keep it simple - and cheap. Have fun.
that it will draw 45 watts. Stereos consume more power the louder you turn it up so, you may only need 5 to 10 watts to listen to most music and if you really like the tune, then up to 30 or 40. The lights will probably cosume more than the stereo. Go cheap and get a battery from Sams or Wall Mart and get a small 10 amp charger. Put a connector on the battery so you can take it home with you and charge it up. A 65 AH should be fine to start with - it will weigh about 50 pounds. If you find you need more capacity, get another one and parallel it. You should have no problem starting your small motor with a battery that size irrespective of what type it is. Keep it simple - and cheap. Have fun.
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
I have a similar sized boat
I run two circuits on mine. Off the neg pole of the gp 27 deep cycle, I have a master switch that shuts the battery off from everything. That wire goes to a neg bus. The pos lead goes through a fuse to a 2 switch panel. One switch is for a dome light the other for a cig lighter. The pos also goes to the nav light switch which then leads to a pos bus panel. On the pos bus panel, I have my bow and stern nav lights and my compass light. Its that simple... 2 circuits, three switches, two fuses, three lights, and a cig lighter. On my boat I used 14 guage wire.
I run two circuits on mine. Off the neg pole of the gp 27 deep cycle, I have a master switch that shuts the battery off from everything. That wire goes to a neg bus. The pos lead goes through a fuse to a 2 switch panel. One switch is for a dome light the other for a cig lighter. The pos also goes to the nav light switch which then leads to a pos bus panel. On the pos bus panel, I have my bow and stern nav lights and my compass light. Its that simple... 2 circuits, three switches, two fuses, three lights, and a cig lighter. On my boat I used 14 guage wire.
Thanks, can i get some more specific info?
Thanks guys, I think this should be enough to get me started. Roger, can you give me name and type battery used, also where you got the other components. Do you have a picture or diagram of how you have that wired? Because that is pretty much the same circuit I want to run and it would help alot.
Thanks guys, I think this should be enough to get me started. Roger, can you give me name and type battery used, also where you got the other components. Do you have a picture or diagram of how you have that wired? Because that is pretty much the same circuit I want to run and it would help alot.
ABYC "E-11"
Check out ABYC Standard E-11, AC & DC Electrical Systems, linked (with a few other ABYC Standards) at: cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/abyc-standards-on-line-9140.html http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/abyc-standards-on-line-9140.html
Check out ABYC Standard E-11, AC & DC Electrical Systems, linked (with a few other ABYC Standards) at: cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/abyc-standards-on-line-9140.html http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/abyc-standards-on-line-9140.html
Look at the cost...
Boom box=$40 Charging kit $125 + Boat battery $65 + Battery box $12 + Cheap battery charger(non marine) $29 + Switches, wiring, extension cord and parts = About $280 Then yo'llu want fans and lights and a switch box, and so on. Keep your life simple.
Boom box=$40 Charging kit $125 + Boat battery $65 + Battery box $12 + Cheap battery charger(non marine) $29 + Switches, wiring, extension cord and parts = About $280 Then yo'llu want fans and lights and a switch box, and so on. Keep your life simple.
Or
If you really want a car stereo, you can pick up a cheap jump pack battery from Walmart for around $50-80 (depending on amps). I'm talking about the emergency battery specifically for jumpstarting your car. I run my radio in my 48 Dodge on one of these. I charge it up about once a month. Probably enough to run a stereo for more than 12 hours, probably closer to 18 hours at a moderate level. Could run your running lights off this as well. It comes with an AC and a DC charger so hooking it up to your charging system.
If you really want a car stereo, you can pick up a cheap jump pack battery from Walmart for around $50-80 (depending on amps). I'm talking about the emergency battery specifically for jumpstarting your car. I run my radio in my 48 Dodge on one of these. I charge it up about once a month. Probably enough to run a stereo for more than 12 hours, probably closer to 18 hours at a moderate level. Could run your running lights off this as well. It comes with an AC and a DC charger so hooking it up to your charging system.
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