one battery or two that is the question

[Rogue Wave]

If you have the room get two batteries 110 amp hours would be fine.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

If you have the room get two batteries 110 amp hours would be fine.

Gets my thumbs up!

The only things I would say is to get a dual purpose battery (good recharge and starting amps at a good price).

And....to do with battery management. I always check the voltage on each battery (seperately) in positions 1 and 2 before start-up and compare voltage. This would give you a very good Idea if one battery is going faulty. As for charging I always run the RIB in the both position (charging both batterys). If I come to a halt and want to use on board electrics with the engine off, like I do during fishing sessions then I select one or the other, this gives me a safety marging over flattening the battery.

By doing this procedure I think you can do away with Automatic electric management systems (VSR) and save on the cost and have increased reliability.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Hightower

By doing this procedure I think you can do away with Automatic electric management systems (VSR) and save on the cost and have increased reliability.

Assuming you remember to actually switch from Both to one or the other, I'd say Hightower is about right. Unfortunately, I cannot (from experience) trust myself to do that.

The VSR is on the short list of additions to my boat.

jky

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Assuming you remember to actually switch from Both to one or the other, I'd say Hightower is about right. Unfortunately, I cannot (from experience) trust myself to do that.

The VSR is on the short list of additions to my boat.

jky

Just be aware that certain members on here run boat hire businesses and have used this type of control. When I was asking several years ago, these said companies PMed me to say that out of all the problems that happened during the season, these VSR's were amungst the worst. Might be different now, but just wanted to get my point across that sometimes it's better to keep things simple.

PS. I always make it procedure to check batt switch position before start-up, having said that I have forgotton to switch to both before start-up, but the engine started on one battery (which it should) anyway.

[stepheneyre]

hi
spent all day on the boat today saturday.

the battery had been fullycharged and put back on the rib

the fault was with the terminal wires on to the battery.
the previous owner must have put a plastic coating on them to stop salt water etc, but the plastic was stopping a good clean contact so have striped both down and re connected to the battery the engine started in 1 second of the key turning ...this i tested about 10 times will re test in a few days,
( engine run with water muffs on. i always do this , as you should not even turn the key without them connected when out of water

as to 2 battrery,s or 1. i have mixed feelings but for now will stick to 1 as less complicated re charging etc.........................

a big thanks to all

steve in sheffield

going to whitby may bank holliday if anybody is interested get intouch ta

[jambo]

Originally Posted by stepheneyre

hi
spent all day on the boat today saturday.

the battery had been fullycharged and put back on the rib

the fault was with the terminal wires on to the battery.
the previous owner must have put a plastic coating on them to stop salt water etc, but the plastic was stopping a good clean contact so have striped both down and re connected to the battery the engine started in 1 second of the key turning ...this i tested about 10 times will re test in a few days,
( engine run with water muffs on. i always do this , as you should not even turn the key without them connected when out of water

as to 2 battrery,s or 1. i have mixed feelings but for now will stick to 1 as less complicated re charging etc.........................

a big thanks to all

steve in sheffield

going to whitby may bank holliday if anybody is interested get intouch ta

Steve
may i suggest if you are going with one you carry a power pack with you as from experience it does help and is there just in case. When I first started I was grateful for it on more than one occasion.

J

[Nasher]

I run with two Halfords 110AH Car batteries which have so far lasted 4 years, even with long periods of non use during the winter.

I think if you have room its a good safety feature, especially if you anchor and listed to music or run the fishfinder and end up running down the battery.

I run a simple - Off, 1, Both, 2 - battery selector switch, and tend to run Batt 1 on the way somewhere, and Batt 2 on the way back, to get even(ish) useage/charging.

Nasher.

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by stepheneyre

as to 2 battrery,s or 1. i have mixed feelings but for now will stick to 1 as less complicated re charging etc.........................

I hope you don't redret that decision. Might I suggest you praxtice a few pull starts on your engine just in case

[IBWET]

On a different but related item,how does everybody secure the battery/box in the consol? the first real run I had I was sure the fuel tank was banging up and down in the hull..until I idntified the battery inside the box banging up and down. The original had been held in place with a section of foam rubber in the box and the box itself screwed to the consol floor. I fitted a new box with terminals on the outside and charging connections for phones etc.

I thought about glassing in two attaching points to put a strap over the whole thing to remove any chance of movement. anybody else had to solve this problem?

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by IBWET

On a different but related item,how does everybody secure the battery/box in the consol? the first real run I had I was sure the fuel tank was banging up and down in the hull..until I idntified the battery inside the box banging up and down. The original had been held in place with a section of foam rubber in the box and the box itself screwed to the consol floor. I fitted a new box with terminals on the outside and charging connections for phones etc.

I thought about glassing in two attaching points to put a strap over the whole thing to remove any chance of movement. anybody else had to solve this problem?

I screwed and glued the boxes down and put foam inside to secure the battery's, then i put a strap around the lot to fix the lid in place.

Just in case this was not any good I also added two bits of stainless angle at either side of the boxes with holes drilled in so that I could fix a frame either over the boxes or top of the batteries but haven't needed this yet

Jim