Need Help on Wiring Battery

jme097

Guys - I am adding another amp that is powering four more speakers on my 280. I currently have a 5 channel amp that is wired to my third battery (added by previous owner). I am thinking about adding a fourth battery to solely power my second amp and my under water lights and a couple 12V outlets I plan on powering. Would you recommend adding a fourth or wiring to one of my existings batteries? If I were to add another battery, how would I wire it? Daisy chain it?

Any input would be much appreciated! Not experienced on batteries and such

Dream_Inn

I'm assuming your 3rd battery is set up as a house battery?  If so, I'd wire the 4th battery to that house battery in parallel (pos to pos, neg to neg...with input pos on one battery, input neg on other battery).  Only thing I'd watch doing is if the 3rd battery is very old, adding another battery in parallel to it will shorten the life of the new battery as well.  Always wise to have batteries wired together that are same size and same age.

jme097

House battery is wired in parallel to the second battery and I think it is from 2013. I was thinking about buying 2 new deep cycle batteries for the 3rd and 4th batteries though. By input (to the batteries) you mean the amp and lights and such right? Would you recommend wiring the battery to a block and then wiring everything to that or go right off the battery terminals? I have to go to the battery terminals for the amps as its 4 AWG

Dream_Inn

Yes, input is the main battery terminals (main pos and neg - would power lights and such).  I would recommend wiring the battery to a block and then everything to the block (with separate fuses).  As far as the amps, obviously make sure each one has its own fuse.  You may also want to wire those the same as the rest of the house, pos on one battery and neg on other (when tied in parallel).  Make sense?  I know, a picture is a lot easier.  I think MT posted a pic a while back, maybe he can repost it.  @Michael T ??

ChesapeakeChiller

I believe he is speaking about method 2 in the link (with diagram)

http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html

jme097

@Dream_Inn First thanks for the insight. Secondly, what do you mean when you say "Same as the rest of the house". Each amp definitely has there own fuse. I was going to tie one amp to my existing third battery and then the other the new fourth battery. I don't think the third battery can handle to amps running all day. Pic would definitely be easy!

Cableguy Greg

Where are you going to put the 3rd house battery? I added a second Group 31 AGM house battery and when my water tank is half full, the boat lists to that side when the boat is at rest.

What kind of batteries do you have? I assume deep cycle, but are they AGM batteries? What size? I would go with a Group 31 AGM battery for the house bank. @Michael T even has them for his starting batteries.

jme097

@Cableguy Greg the boat already has a 3rd battery as I think the previous owner installed it. It is installed just starboard of the middle of the boat and it actually sits nicely when at rest. I was thinking about adding the fourth to the port side of the battery which would put at almost dead middle of the boat. Yes they are deep cycle batteries. I don't know the group off the top of my head though but they're big batteries

Dream_Inn

When I stated same as rest of the house, I mean as CC shown in method #2.  Oh, and I would tie all the loads across all of your house batteries this way.  This will provide an equal loading across your entire house battery bank.  I would not wire an amp to different batteries.

jme097

I will leave the one amp to battery three. Will wire in the fourth battery and second amp as shown in method 2