Battery Relocation

[cbaarestad]

As I have my boat half a part here during this ever so long MN winter.... I'm putting the finishing touches on the stereo makeover I've done the last two months, I'm getting an itch to relocate my battery to a more useful location. ie: a rear locker! Has anyone out there in Moomba world done this? I did a little searching on the threads and didn't see anything so I thought I'd pose the question to the ever so knowledgeable clan de moomba. Also real reason I'm wanting to do it is cause I'm more than likely going to add a second battery with a VSR running all the goodies off the second non engine battery! Thoughts anyone???

[MLA]

I have a kind of interesting view on this. A Lot of Tige owners are looking to move their batteries FROM the very spot you want to move yours to, in order to make room for custom surf sacs. So why do you want to move yours? i will say though, that adding a house/stereo bank (extra battery) with an ACR/VSR, will have little to do with the location of the original main/starting battery. Example: i did a stereo bank in an 05 Tige 22V. We left the two original batteries with multi-battery switch as they were in the rear port locker/transom area and added two group 27's in parallel in the starboard mid-ship storage locker dedicated to the stereo. These banks are combined with an ACR and also have an on-board charger for maintenance. You need to account for the length of cable and load it will carry, but yo do not need to move the original batteries just because you are adding a 2nd bank.

[Razzman]

By keeping the battery(s) where they are you will greatly lessen voltage drop to your amplifiers. Also having batteries in the rear lockers can pose a problem if your running ballast sacs. Why would the rear lockers be a more usefull location? You can do it all just as easy up front.

13025

[cbaarestad]

well I installed a custom fit sub in my port locker and I really think If I put an additional battery in there it would take up all the space I have left up there. I run a 750 left rear, a 400 right rear so if I did move it I would look at the back right. I always have everyone sitting on the port side. I dont know, just a thought I figured i'd voice. I figured it I have all the storage I'd ever want if I moved it.

[cbaarestad]

well heres a different maybe partally dumb idea, has anyone stuck one under the port seats say next to the built in cooler? Using a yellow top sealed battery of course

[jmvotto]

I have seen a couple on other brands. You would just have to check the depth when the optima is flipped on its side. I would suggest under the spotters seat. I have the obv 07 . I pushed mine up against. the bow seats to create room. I had two with a vsr. Not alot of room up there.

[zabooda]

Two things to think about is 1) the batteries need to be isolated from any potential gas fumes since there is a potential spark source 2) the batteries need to be ventilated as they generate hydrogen gas. So the batteries need to be isolated from the engine compartment and be ventilated.

[mmandley]

I've tried several ideas to get the batteries where you want and none have panned out very well. Your best option is forward of the dash under the bow seating. Lift the bow seats and there a section half covered by fiberglass. Unless your sub is there this makes a lot of sence. If that doesn't work I'd Contact Newty by PM he moved his battered forward if the drivers side hump.

[sandm]

Two things to think about is 1) the batteries need to be isolated from any potential gas fumes since there is a potential spark source 2) the batteries need to be ventilated as they generate hydrogen gas. So the batteries need to be isolated from the engine compartment and be ventilated.

devils advocate as I've seen towboats with batteries in the engine compartment before. what's the difference in a boat engine compartment with a blower running and your car's engine compartment? I know that cars are "open" from the bottom, but in my last eclipse, there was so much plastic under the front of that compartment to divert air under the car it might as well have been sealed and had the battery a couple of feet from the exhaust manifold/turbo which when pushing the car hard, glow bright red from the heat.

I do agree with mmandley on the locations. I wouldn't place anything permanent in the compartment when using bags for ballast...

[bergermaister]

My batteries were in the rear compartments (from the factory), one on each side, and I really hated it. Especially when it came to ballast bags laying over or bunching up on them. They were easy to get to but how often do you really need to get to your batteries?

And like Razz said it was a long run of wire up to my distro blocks and amp rack. I think I used 40-50' of 0/2 wire just for that. Last spring I gutted everything and moved the batteries up under the glovebox like everyone else has them. I too had thought of adding a second 12" sub on that side, had the box already built and ready to squeeze in but from what I've read/heard, the sub in the enclosed compartment doesn't really produce like one would hope (like one facing out under the drivers cockpit does).

I've seen the sealed optimas sitting on their side and tucked up front as well so that would be an option. I'd just be real careful that the terminals are protected from accidentally arcing from gear being pushed up against them.

[cbaarestad]

See this is why I ask these questions.... to get honest opinions which is awesome thanks! What do you all think average runtime of a 250w amp and hu would last off a plain interstate battery single deep cell? before I could go hours with it turn to a soft rocking decibel, I just don't want to get stuck out on the sand bar after laying around for a few hours relaxing and do the humiliating call for a tow by the pontoon!!!! The more I think about batteries in the rear lockers the mroe i think it would be better hidden under seats somewhere. I do like the idea of up in the bow since that is sort of wasted space on the one side.

[EarmarkMarine]

Okay, how long of a run time with a standard group 24 deep cycle battery with a 250 watt ampliifer?
It can vary by a large degree. Lets say you have a lead acid deep cycle battery with 65 amp/hours.
Is the battery in new condition and fully charged?
Is the amplifier Class AB, G/H or D? It can make for a 60 percent swing.
What load is the amplifier running? The lower the load including bridging the greater the current draw.
Is it just below full volume so the amplifier isn't clipping? Backing off wide open just a bit could double the playtime.
What kind of music? A steady and heavy bass beat or softer stuff? Bass will draw a little more.
How are the tone controls, bass boost or EQ set? Crossover settings and system set-up can make a pretty big difference.
You should get at least a solid two hours play time, just a rough estimate, and perhaps double that if the music is at conversation levels.
Keep in mind that the deeper you cycle a battery (even a deep cycle battery) the fewer cycles you will get. So a little more battery capacity can save you in the long run as long as you have a good restoration/charging plan. Sometimes the alternator is not enough.

David
Earmark Marine