Hi,
The batteries on my boat are dead and it's time to replace them. There are currently three group 27 Interstate batteries. They are wired in two banks. Batt 1 is bank 1 on my OFF 1 2 Both switch and batt 2 and 3 are connected in parallel and are switch 2 on the switch. The batteries are mounted in a small tray, about 1/2" high, and securely strapped down. The base of the tray is exactly 12 1/4" long and 7 1/8" wide. The height is not a concern as there is no box, just the tray the batteries sit in and the strap to hold them down. There is no more room to add additional batteries and I don't care to add more batts.
My electrical needs are pretty simple. The boat is on a mooring, no shore power. Recharging is by engine alternator. Electrical power is used for instruments (plotter, speed, depth, VHF), etc. I do have 12V refrigeration but that is only used on weekend or longer trips. We do occasionally spend a night or two at anchor, so cabin lights (mostly LED) are used for a few hours and laptops and phones get charged. I would never need battery power to last more than 2 days, as I would either be in a marina or sailing somewhere else.
Anyway, the simplest thing to do would be to buy 3 new group 27 deep cycle batteries, like from Trojan, Crown, etc. However, if I want more power, can i install 1 12V battery for the engine starting and 2 6V batteries for the house bank? Note that the batteries need to be charged by the engine alternator. Will the 12V engine battery and 2 6V batteries (wired in serial for 12V) be charged correctly from alternator?
Thanks for any info you have.
Barry
The batteries on my boat are dead and it's time to replace them. There are currently three group 27 Interstate batteries. They are wired in two banks. Batt 1 is bank 1 on my OFF 1 2 Both switch and batt 2 and 3 are connected in parallel and are switch 2 on the switch. The batteries are mounted in a small tray, about 1/2" high, and securely strapped down. The base of the tray is exactly 12 1/4" long and 7 1/8" wide. The height is not a concern as there is no box, just the tray the batteries sit in and the strap to hold them down. There is no more room to add additional batteries and I don't care to add more batts.
My electrical needs are pretty simple. The boat is on a mooring, no shore power. Recharging is by engine alternator. Electrical power is used for instruments (plotter, speed, depth, VHF), etc. I do have 12V refrigeration but that is only used on weekend or longer trips. We do occasionally spend a night or two at anchor, so cabin lights (mostly LED) are used for a few hours and laptops and phones get charged. I would never need battery power to last more than 2 days, as I would either be in a marina or sailing somewhere else.
Anyway, the simplest thing to do would be to buy 3 new group 27 deep cycle batteries, like from Trojan, Crown, etc. However, if I want more power, can i install 1 12V battery for the engine starting and 2 6V batteries for the house bank? Note that the batteries need to be charged by the engine alternator. Will the 12V engine battery and 2 6V batteries (wired in serial for 12V) be charged correctly from alternator?
Thanks for any info you have.
Barry