batteries, retail stuff.....

Everlong · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007

what is the best, is optima blue top the best....?i mean good? i have a Johnson 9.9, two batteries right now, no too much time for deck lights, navigation lights etc... most of the time these batteries will be used will be GPS/chartplotter, or stereo, with two 6x9s.
The engine is electric start, and manual, and it has a charger. How good is the charger do you think:?
how long would it take to charge batteries with it? the boat sits numb mon-fri.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007

You should probably get a small solar panel, since the batteries are self-discharging while the boat is just sitting at the dock, depending on the battery type, with wet-cell being the worst, and AGM being the best.

Five days of solar charging would at least offset the self-discharge, and if you got a large enough panel, you could probably top-off the batteries with it.

USCGRET1990 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007

The engine charger is not a whole lot more than a trickle charge.

Everlong · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007

Got two 30W Solar panels and a blue Optima, replaced one Dead Interstate Deep Cycle crap box(3 year old).

Quesion, Deep Cycle is for Starting, right? So, Should i get a Red one for the house lights???

Charging, i have a charge controller connected to my solar panels, and it charges my Optima whenever im away from the boat, I have no shore power, so AC 3 stage is out of the question. Will that simple charge controller screw up my Optima? Does it charge it approprietly?

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007

Deep cycle is not for starting...starting batteries or dual purpose batteries are for starting.

As for the charge controller...can't really say without knowing which charge controller it is. A BlueSky MPPT or Outback would be fine...as for something else....can't say without more information.

haffiman37 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007

The 9.9 Johnson does not have a regulator, just a simple diode rectifier. At the best It might maintain one simple 60Ah lead/acid of cheapest type providing You run it above 1/2 throtle atleast 1 hr after start to re-fill start consumption. Then comes whatever You use of GPS, lights etc! You need something to 'add' to the Johnson!

Everlong · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2007

well, i only have a sony dvd deck(no screen), 15" daytek tv:P that i use for watching dvds, and LED lighting throughout my boat... :P) I also use a laptop-wifi, but that runs off my portable battery/starter gizmo, thats charged by a 10w solar panel during the week. The small charge controller that i use has only two led lights/levels, charging, and charged and it was designed for solar panels, but i think that only prevents overcharging.

Everlong · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2007

This is what i have

and i probably use this one.... will look into it tommorow

Everlong · #9 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007

wrong post, but pics are nice

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 07-21-2007

NIce photos, if a bit off topic...

I think the second charge controller is probably better than the first. The LCD display is always nice, as it gives you something to worry about...when you see strange (extremely high or low) numbers on it..

. the fact that it is larger than the first charger means you can add to the solar panel array without having to get a new controller immediately.