Wakeboarder Forum Index

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   StatisticsStats   FavoritesFavorites   RegisterRegister   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages  Log inLog in 
BlogsBlogs   

Power amp question

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> Accessories
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Jul 26, 2010 6:09 am    Post subject: Power amp question Reply with quote

Ok... so this past week I installed a small power amp, sub, and 2 speakers. The "garage" test was great It ran for a long time without draining the battery.. so I felt pretty confident about chilling in the water running it. Well... guess what... Saturday night we were towed in by some good folks. We went back out Sunday... and after about 15 min the power amp stared sounding funny... garbling the signal. I turned it off and the battery barely kicked the motor over... spent the rest of the day with no tunes. I wonder if the amp is getting too hot and pulling the battery down? I have a closed bow boat and have the amp mountd by the driver foot rest.....would a fan blowing on it help?

Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jonyb
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 844
City: Paducah

PostPosted: Jul 26, 2010 6:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The amp is draining the battery, and not because it's getting hot. Those are 2 separate issues. If you want to listen to the stereo without the boat running, you'll need to add a dedicated battery to the stereo. That battery will also need to be charged separately or add a battery switch (like a Perko) to select which battery the alternator is connected to while the boat is running. Batteries' don't recharge themselves.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Jul 26, 2010 6:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahhh... ok.... Does it need to be a full sized battery?
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
browneye253
Outlaw
Outlaw


Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 115
City: Tulsa

PostPosted: Jul 26, 2010 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, and you should look for a deep cycle battery. The larger the battery the longer you can run the tunes. I'd also look into a battery charger you can hook up after you get off the water. It would be tough for the alternator to charge two batteries completely, so when you get off the water just hook up the charger for the evening and you're ready to go the next day.
_________________
My Boat: 2008 Sea Ray 205 Sport w/ Tower
My Ride: 2008 Liquid Force Trip 142 w/ Alpha Bindings

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Jul 26, 2010 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great... thanks!
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
joedirt00
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 2892
City: Baker City

PostPosted: Jul 27, 2010 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This has been discussed before. You need an isolator and a 2nd battery. A perko switch would be a PITA compared to an isolator.
_________________
haugy wrote:
My advice:

-If you grab a girls hair, and it comes off in your hand, don't laugh, that could have been the best sex ever.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Aug 02, 2010 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whoa... slow down there Joedirt... I understand second battery in that reply... the rest is greek.
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Brit Rider
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Posts: 3347
City: Cheshire, England

PostPosted: Aug 02, 2010 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

chawk610, I believe what joeDirt00 is referring to is an auto-split charge relay.

In lay mans terms its a large relay (about 180amp). when the engine is running the relay is closed. this allows a charging current to hit both batteries. as soon as you turn the motor off, the relay snaps open. this isolates the batteries from each other. so say you have your stereo running from battery 2 and starter motor from battery 1... they are kept seperate.
you can flaten one and still start off the other... this will avoid the embaressing situation you found yourself in the otyher day.

Can you gove us details of boat (model and year), amp you installed and ay other auxilleries you have added?

_________________
www.AxisBoats.co.uk | www.Malibu-Boats.co.uk
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website MSN Messenger
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Aug 03, 2010 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sure... it is an '83 Mastercraft Comp. speed slot ski boat, stars and stripes. I have added a 300wJBL marine power amp, 6" bass tube, and (2) 3 way dash mounted speakers to go with the existing 5x7's under the passenger bench. I have also stripped and oiled the teak deack...apparently someone in the past varnished it!!! It is coming along... Smile
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
joedirt00
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 2892
City: Baker City

PostPosted: Aug 07, 2010 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brit Rider, That is one type. There is debate whether that type prematurely kills batteries because of the nature of the way they work. If you kill one battery and then open the relay, supposedly the power rush from the good battery to the dead one is not good. Don't know if I buy into it though.

I prefer and use a solid state isolator which is basicly a big diode. The one I have in the boat is made by Surepower. I've been using these for years on the 4wd's with winch installations. I think its a better way to go myself.

_________________
haugy wrote:
My advice:

-If you grab a girls hair, and it comes off in your hand, don't laugh, that could have been the best sex ever.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Moon
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 29 Oct 2008
Posts: 44
City: Prosser

PostPosted: Aug 07, 2010 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is there really something wrong with just using the perko or are you just to lazy to switch it from one battery to another (question for joedirt)? The reason I ask is cause we run three batteries with a perko. Two batteries in par. for the stereo and one for starting. I have a onboard charger for the two stereo batteries which gets plugged in when we get home. We never drive with the stereo batteries and it's very easy to switch the perko from one bank to the other. I'm just curious why you say it's a pita.
_________________
Moon
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
joedirt00
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 2892
City: Baker City

PostPosted: Aug 08, 2010 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

its just one more thing I NEVER have to mess with. The Surepower isolator automaticly routes the alternators output to the battery that needs it. They are cheap and easy to install.
_________________
haugy wrote:
My advice:

-If you grab a girls hair, and it comes off in your hand, don't laugh, that could have been the best sex ever.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jjaszkow
Wakeboarder.Commie
Wakeboarder.Commie


Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 2124
City: Some Airport

PostPosted: Aug 09, 2010 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One benefit of having the perko is that you can switch over to your house battery if for some reason your starting battery dies without having to move any cables. Might help out in a pinch. I personally am a big fan of a perko and ACR combo.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Aug 10, 2010 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmmm... hard to make a decision with all these point / counter points! But I have to do something... I can't keep giving away all me beers for tows in Smile
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kyle f
Addict
Addict


Joined: 14 Aug 2008
Posts: 835
City: Norris Lake

PostPosted: Aug 10, 2010 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am also a fan of the Perko, but my boat came with it installed. Its easy to acces, and easy to use.
_________________
Always looking for others who ride on Norris Lake in TN

MB Sports B52 V23 with 2750lbs of Ballast Capable Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Aug 12, 2010 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One thing about my boat... there is NOT a lot of storage in her...
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chawk610
Addict
Addict


Joined: 06 Jul 2010
Posts: 668
City: Fort Worth

PostPosted: Sep 14, 2010 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok... I have decided this fall, which is mid to late October for us I am gonna use the Perko and an additional deep cycle battery. Thank yall for the advice, I will make a new post when I get started if I get in a jam.
_________________
'08 Mobius LS
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> Accessories All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Add To Favorites

Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum
             


Copyright © 2012 - Wakeboarding - Wakeboarder.com - All Right Reserved
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group