adding a 2nd starting battery

[nicko]

Go to SAMs club and buy the group 31 AGM Duracell. It's made in the USA by Deka in Penn. great battery and not much more than the lead acid. $166 plus core. I have the batteries plus brand of the same model. Will be adding 2more when I replace trolling motor batteries at end of year.

[Burr]

Hale, with that motor setup, I'm inclined to feel you don't need a second starting battery. That's coming from a guy who has put a second starting battery with a voltage sensitive switch, or automatic relay.

At 12-12.1 volts, your HDS should not be powering down when strained by the starter. I'd focus on load testing your existing battery to make sure it's good, and digging into your wiring that feeds your HDS.

At 11.6 volts, I have no issues like that. There is something else wrong, that will still be wrong if you added another battery. At least that's my feeling on what you've described.

[Box]

Re: night fishing, swap your normal lights out for LEDs, they draw virtually nothing and are quite bright too. You can also add in some LEDs used for ice fishing for indirect lighting inside the boat - I got some Clam brand on sale some time ago and they work awesome for lighting both the inside of the boat, and we put some in clear tubing for outside, attached under gunwale for unhooking muskies at night without taking them out of the water. Works great. Good luck.

[bigbear40]

My boat has three new batteries. Two for the trolling motors and one for the engine start and electronics and pumps. Also have a three bank charger. My insurance policy is a pair of jumper cables that are long enough to reach from my starting battery to the trolling motor batteries.

[Drifty4]

On my boat, I run two batteries fot the trolling motor, one for starting and one for everything else. No matter how much I use the accessory battery, I always have a good starting battery, and the trilling motor is not on with my depth finder.

[GreatWhiteNorth517]

My alumacraft came rigged such that everything (start, aerator, lights, accessory) were all on one batt. First thing I did was fix that so start was only thing connected to starting batt. (Too much potential for lights, etc to drain batt and not get home) Added second batt for aerator, lights and electronics (accessory). Added third batt for trolling motor.

To eliminate power drains or surges that could cause malfunctions or even damage to your delicate electronics, as well as eliminate electrical interference, I would suggest that you NEVER connect your electronics to your starting battery.

[1860Angler]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteNorth517

To eliminate power drains or surges that could cause malfunctions or even damage to your delicate electronics, as well as eliminate electrical interference, I would suggest that you NEVER connect your electronics to your starting battery.

I've been doing it for years along with just about everyone I know with no issues, none, zippo, zilch!! I guess all the manufacturers and dealers have been doing wrong for years then also!! I carry a pair of jumper cables that will reach my trolling batteries for my insurance policy and am yet to have to use them (knock on wood!!).

[HaleDamage]

I have an older Guest 2613 3 bank charger. (Bought in 2003)
Works great.
Will this charge work for AGM Batteries?

The Cabela's Advanced Angler AGM Batteries are on sale right now.
I thinking of getting the Group 30 size-- has 1525-MCC ..1205-CCA.. 205-RC.
for my starting battery.

Thanks,
Rick

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabel...h-All+Products

[perchjerker]

Originally Posted by GreatWhiteNorth517

My alumacraft came rigged such that everything (start, aerator, lights, accessory) were all on one batt. First thing I did was fix that so start was only thing connected to starting batt. (Too much potential for lights, etc to drain batt and not get home) Added second batt for aerator, lights and electronics (accessory). Added third batt for trolling motor.

To eliminate power drains or surges that could cause malfunctions or even damage to your delicate electronics, as well as eliminate electrical interference, I would suggest that you NEVER connect your electronics to your starting battery.

so do you do this with your car too???

my current boat has 2 starting batteries connected with a selector switch that allows me to choose either battery or both. No electric trolling motor on this boat.

I rotate between batteries every trip

I bought my first boat in 1978 and have always had my accessories on my starting battery.

Never an issue.

[HaleDamage]

Thanks.
The guest charger I have is an older one then on their web page.
The customer rep ( she no longer works for Guest) I bought it from in 2003 said it will work.

I Sent 2 e-mails to Guest ..No reply

Thanks,
Rick

PS: I ordered the Cabela's AGM battery tonight.