I'm getting conflicting advice about battery use on the boat. I am in a marina with no electrics so cannot charge battery unless I remove it from the boat.
What do people think are the best options to use and prolong life of battery, so I can use radio, fridge and lights when not running engine? Should I keep one battery for cranking engine only? and use the other for house stuff. Should I also consider fitting a solar panel to recharge?
I always prefer to keep a battery isolated as a starting bank. This will change depending upon whether it’s an odd or even day so that each battery gets exercised with house loads and starting loads equally.
For charging yes you will need some thing besides your engine alternator to replenish the charge fully Particularly if you’re going to keep the fridge on.
Batt 1 - starting batt
Batt 2- Deep Cycle house batt
Start and run on Batt 1 and both batteries are getting charged. Switch to Batt 2 when the motor is not running and on the hook for the night. Back to Batt 1 in the morning to start.
I would use a solar panel and a smart battery combiner like the victron energy citrix-ct.
Solar charger on the starting bank, and both batteries will be charged.
A small generator as backup would also be on my list.
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The older i get, the better i was.
2700 SCR, 7.4l bravo 2
I dont find the fridge works great at cooling , my guess it will consume a lot of power.
I have the same boat, so please let me know how it goes if you dont mind.
Thanks Grant.
Maxum 2500SCR, using 2 batteries
Linear Mode
