dual battery setup

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

I have never done this before, so I am looking for some help in setting up a dual battery setup in a boat. How do you connect the leads and the wires so that you can use both batteries? Also do you have to get a bigger alternator in order to charge both batteries, or can the stock one handle the dual battery setup?

Any diagrams someone might be able to whip up would be appreciated.

Thanks

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

There are a ton of threads on it. Do a search.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

I did a search, but came up with over 26 pages of posts. If you can point me to a post already done that would be fine too.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

When you search make sure you use the "And" checkbox instead of the "Or." I just did a search for dual battery and came up with one page. Here are a couple highlights

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=53930&highlight=dual+battery
http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=43528&highlight=isolator

A couple points:
Easiest: hook the batteries in parallel but the batteries must be the exact same.
Better: Use a perco switch. Again make sure the batteries are the same.
Better: Use an isolator. Hook up your starter to one battery and your accessories up to the other (make sure this one's a deep cycle battery). The isolator will charge both but won't allow the batteries to drain themselves and you don't have to worry about your stereo draining your starting battery.
Best: Use an isolator and a switch so that you can charge both and run off either battery.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

Thanks Wakebrad - I did not catch the and checkbox...I will remember that for next time

T2Ride · Posted: Feb 14, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject:

I was running two batteries on a Perko switch last year but have found a better way of doing it. Buy a battery Isolater instead that way you can run one battery for engine and one for stereo seperately. Read this page in the link for full detail....

http://www.bcae1.com/battiso.htm

This is a much better way to go and this is what I will be wiring this spring. No more flipping switches all of the time.

toannn · Newbie Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

I found using an isolater will not fully charge your batteries. I opt'd to use a Perko Switch and a combiner. You can have a Starter Battery and a Deep Cycle (AGM or Standard).

www.yandina.com has on for $60 and it carries a unconditional lifetime warrantee.

joedirt00 · Posted: Mar 05, 2007 7:48 am Post subject:

I am a fan of the Isolator. I have always used them on my trucks when I put a winch on. I have a isolator set up on my boat and have not had a single issue with it. Its fully automatic and a don't have to do a thing with it.

Dees · Posted: Mar 05, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

Don't know if I did mine the right way but I took a 4 or 6 gage wire from the Main battery +, connected it to a switch, then from the switch to the 2nd +. Then I went from the main battery - to the 2nd -. When were done for the night, I just switch the switch off.