Batteries

ErikClotworthy

I replaced my four batteries this off season. I have two subs, an amp, fusion radio etc. can only get around two hour on the battery before I have to fire up the generator for the house power. Does that sound right?

Ian

Measure the amperage being drawn - that will tell you what you need for x period.

MiamiAG

icoultha said:

Measure the amperage being drawn - that will tell you what you need for x period.

How would you measure the amps the system is pulling?

69fastback

I can run my 4000 watt RMS radio, at 80% volume, for hours and hours off of one XS XP3000 battery. I’ve ran it for 5-6 hours without stopping, and the boat cranks up like a brand new battery. 

rasbury

I bought batteries to start my motor without much other consideration...I need to look at what I have to run. I think my anchor is killing my older batteries, that must be a lot of amps.

LaRea

@ErikClotworthy what boat do you have?  What other systems are drawing power?

Ian

MiamiAG said:

icoultha said:

Measure the amperage being drawn - that will tell you what you need for x period.

How would you measure the amps the system is pulling?

With a clamp on meter that will measure amperage.

rasbury

So from some previous discussions..most of the various batteries were 95 amp hour...which I think I read as a rating the battery would supply 95 ampa for one hour...so at a quick search, the windless is pulling 180 amps for a short burst, but, how does that compute? And what happens as the battery gets older?

Ian

Correct although that is really theoretical as you’ll have a curve, they don’t maintain 12v for the hour then drop off. And as you are likely thinking, the older they get they won’t hold that long - but it depends also on battery technology. AGM’s are better than your standard lead acid. My suggestion is a starting point is to determine the load and what he’s pulling; if you don’t know your load (and the battery capacity) you can’t even start to think of time the battery will last. To @LaRea’s point he is angling, you have to look at total load - the fridge is a good size load also - not just think its the noisemaker draining them.

ErikClotworthy

I have an 2007 342, I will put an amp meter on it this weekend and check the draw, good idea, thanks

LaRea

Your biggest consumers are the refrigerators, not the stereo.  Try turning them to a slightly warmer setting when anchored.  You should be able to anchor at least 6-8 hours before the batteries get too low.  

Check the battery cable connections.  Loose, corroded?  

The other possible culprit is that your charger might be failing.  A lot of people have reported failures around the ten year mark, and your boat is 13 years old.  

trip_n

what amp
2 subs = size
how many speakers
2 hours might be a long time

ErikClotworthy

I’ll check the amp type tonight, 2-10’s JL, 6-6’s JL, I had run the radio full on for 4 or 5 hours weeks ago right after I got the new batteries with no problem, last week it only made it two, which makes me question the charger

69fastback

ErikClotworthy said:

I’ll check the amp type tonight, 2-10’s JL, 6-6’s JL, I had run the radio full on for 4 or 5 hours weeks ago right after I got the new batteries with no problem, last week it only made it two, which makes me question the charger

With a decent battery, you should be able to run that for a bit. I have 2 JL 12”W6s, JL 10”, and 8 JL 7.7s with a 2400.1 @ 1 ohm, and a 1800.8 @ 2 ohms. It can run practically all day on one good battery. 

Ian

As @LaRea said and I suggested, it's maybe not even the audio system. Turn it off and see what you draw.

YYZRC

Is anyone running a permanent monitor like this?



https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07KXCF8F8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_j6iiFbS8RZENE

rasbury

I'm not, would not know what to do with the info!

LaRea

Mine monitors battery voltage when the charger is off, and charging amps when it's on.  I really like it. 

Ian

I like that unit, may have to get one.

J3ff

I have this one.. just to make sure levels stay where they should... my analog one has never worked. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088WV4PWN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ian

I put 2 of these in to replace the cig lighter sockets.

aero3113

I put one of these in my 242 and loved it, but how do you know what battery it’s reading off? Do you think the sockets are wired to both batteries?

J3ff

aero3113 said:

I put one of these in my 242 and loved it, but how do you know what battery it’s reading off? Do you think the sockets are wired to both batteries?

I assume that it's reading the battery that is switched to on in the back... I've got 1 starting battery and two batteries wired together for the house batteries.. so if it turned to 1, it shows level for starting, 2 would show house batteries... is that not correct? 

reneechris14

I have the same one in the cigarette lighter @aero3113 it will read your house battery at the helm and it the cabin. Your port and starboard are isolated so on anchor there is no draw. And you can change your phobe to boot.

ErikClotworthy

I’m going to invest in that, looks helpful

trip_n

my jl amp in my van sux juice
mhd 900/5
2 sets of components
w3-8