What Size Battery For My Boat

Associations With Amp Hours

If you compare a group 24 battery and group 27 deep cycle battery together, youll notice that the mp hours are slightly higher on the group-27 product. This specification difference is made on purpose by the manufacturers.

In general, a group size with a higher number has more amp hours than lower values. This fact translates to more power in your battery as the day goes on. You shouldnt have to drag your boat into the dock because of inadequate amp hours on the battery.

Get What You Need Ahead Of Time

As youre shopping for a boat battery you will see Amp hours come up a lot. If you dont already know what you will need, now is the time to find out. An amp-hour is the amount of charge that will allow the battery to provide one amp to flow for one hour.

In order to understand how much youll need, youll need to understand how much you use. While its unlikely that you will use every electrical device on your boat at once, there is still the underlying draw that each device places on the battery. Check out this handy chart to help you determine exactly what youll need.

Think About The Design And Upkeep

Another important aspect that you have to consider in picking a marine battery is the design and maintenance demand of the power cell. Ideally, you want to go for the maintenance-free batteries with durable design. They are more convenient to use, and they will also help you save a lot of money in the long run by reducing the maintenance expenses and by providing longer service life. Considering the design of the power cell will also make it easier for you to install the battery itself.

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Think About The Warranties Included

You also have to think about the included warranties when purchasing the power cell. Aside from it can keep you from buying incompetent batteries that wont be able to keep up with your needs. It will also help you save a lot of money in the future because it can reduce the maintenance cost and then it can provide a lot of benefits like manufacturers support, free repairs, and even replacements.

Following this guide will help you come up with a smart decision and pick an excellent investment for your boating needs. It will make sure the battery you are going to purchase can keep up with the demands of your boat as well as its applications. It will also make sure that you are going to get the best suitable power cell for your boat which you can consider as an excellent investment. So keep these significant aspects in mind because it will help you a lot if you are going to look for a new power cell for your boat or fishing vessel.

The Abcs Of Marine Batteries

You need to know the differences between battery types before you can pick the right setup for your boat.

I recently received an e-mail from a reader who said that while he liked this column and looked forward to it every month, he also viewed it with trepidation because every time he finished one task he found he had more things to add to his to-do list. For his benefit and that of other harried readers I offer this column as a Christmas present. I promise it will be informational only and contain no maintenance tasks whatsoever.

The subject is marine batteries. This may not seem terribly exciting at first glance. Most of us give little thought to our batteries until they dont work. Fortunately thats rare. Marine batteries are remarkably durable and reliable, but like old soldiers, they eventually fade away. When they do, knowing some battery basics can help you pick the best replacement.

A batterys ability to crank an engine is indicated by its cold cranking amps , the amount of juice delivered at a specific temperature, usually 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Since few pleasure boats operate near freezing, CCA is valuable mainly for comparison, and most people just use the amp-hour rating. Diesel engines require batteries with more amp-hours because they have much higher compression ratios, which make them harder to crank.

This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.

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Group Size Considerations When Buying New Batteries

For deep cycle marine batteries, the rule of thumb is the larger the group size, the higher the Amp Hour capacity. If youre finding your trolling motor to be very weak at the end of a day of fishing in the wind, you could benefit by upgrading the group size of your deep cycle trolling motor batteries.

Cranking batteries and group size are a little different. You need a battery with enough cold cranking amps to start your outboard engine, and enough reserve amps to power your fish finders, pumps, and accessories. Do not put those items on your deep cycle circuits, those should be reserved for trolling motors only.

Here are some things to remember when shopping for new batteries:

What Size Battery Do I Need For My Jon Boat

Jon boats dont require too much power butthey certainly do need some from time to time. Whether youre powering it tomove around, to start up your motor, or to power your accessories, you may bewondering what size battery you need for your jon boat.

So, what size battery do I need for my jonboat? Choosing the right size batteryfor your jon boat depends on the weight of your boat, how youll be using it,what accessories youll be powering, and the available space on your boat.Generally speaking, the bigger the battery you can get, the better.

Putting a marine-specific battery in your jonboat could be done for any number of reasons. Its good to have some extrapower on your boat even if you dont plan on using it very often since itsnice to have when you need it. However, batteries can be expensive, so its notuncommon to find a battery of just the right size when powering jon boats.

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What Is A Marine Battery

A marine battery uses a special design specific for to maximize powering a boat and its accessories. Invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté the flooded lead-acid battery was the first rechargeable unit for boats. Unlike the unit you use in a car, the marine version comes with heavier robust internal construction. This special design helps withstand the abrupt vibrations vessels experience out on the water.

Wet Cell Gel Or Agm Boat Battery

Batteries can be further categorized as wet cell, gel or AGM , depending on the configuration of the electrolyte, or conducting medium, inside the battery. Each type has pros and cons you should know before making a purchase.

About Wet-Cell Boat Batteries: The traditional lead-acid batteries we all are familiar with are wet-cell or “flooded-cell” batteries. Each wet-cell battery contains a liquid mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water . This is the most popular battery type, primarily because the price is generally less than other types, but also because these batteries have a number of inherent advantages. For example, a properly charged and maintained, premium wet-cell battery is capable of as many as 1,000 discharge/recharge cycles. This can translate to many years of dependable service at an initial cost substantially less than comparable capacity gel or AGM batteries. Wet-cell batteries also are less likely to be damaged by overcharging and tend to weigh less than comparable gel or AGM batteries.

In Conclusion

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Customizing The Boats Power

You might discover that an enhanced battery might help your progress on the water. The batterys tray, however, limits the marketplace sizes. You can change battery sizes by upgrading your tray. Pay careful attention to the surrounding items so that nothing is pinched or hindered otherwise.

Remember that there are two different batteries for marine applications, reports Bass Pro Shops. These products include:

• Cranking
• Deep cycle

Always replace each battery with the same type. The new battery might be enhanced with additional amp hours, but it contains the same functionality as the previous product.

Should I Get A Deep Cyclebattery

If you plan on powering various accessories inyour jon boat, you want to get yourself a marine deep cycle battery. However,there are several other types of batteries to consider, including starting anddual-purpose batteries.

Deep cycle batteries are specifically designedto slowly trickly current out over an elongated period of time. When runningaccessories on a jon boat, this is exactly what you should be looking for whenit comes to your next jon boat battery. They also offer great performance whenit comes to lasting a long time and providing necessary power when there aresurges.

You can also look at starting batteries anddual-purpose batteries, but the former is less necessary than the latter.Consider getting a dual-purpose battery if you think youll need that extrapower when starting up your motor, but its likely a deep cycle battery canhandle that surge.

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Is There A Difference Between Deep Cycle And Marine Battery

So what does deep cycle mean?

Youve heard the term thrown around when talking about marine batteries. Youve probably also heard terms like starting, cranking, and dual purpose.

Why should you care?

All of these terms refer to different types of batteries that your boat may use.

So no, there isnt exactly a difference between the terms deep cycle and marine battery. A deep cycle battery is a type of battery, and a deep cycle marine battery is a specific type of marine battery.

Lets take a closer look at deep cycle, starting or cranking, and dual purpose batteries as they apply to marine batteries.

First Time Boat Owners

So, if you know nothing at all about your boats battery type. Say you are a first time boat owner. In that case, what you have to do is to identify amount of power that you will be requiring. For example a water pump uses about 5 Amps in an half hour period. Another one, is the TV they can use 4 Amps for a period of say 4 hrs. So, there are many guides for this information online. Including the excellent information on sailboat-cruising .com.

So the other big important thing for novice boat owners is choosing the ideal dimensions of batteries for your watercraft. Specifically, you will be looking for a battery that first of all will fit into the space allotted for the battery . Secondly, you have to take into consideration the fact that the battery of your choice will have to start the boats engine as well supplying all the other electrical gadgets on-board.

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Six Advantages Of An Agm Boat Battery:

Direct replacement for flooded battery An AGM uses near the same voltage set points as flooded batteries. Therefore, it is a direct drop-in replacement for flooded cells. Ergo it is a way to spend less money for upgrading your boat.

Vertical or horizontal orientation Like the Gel cell, the AGM battery is a sealed battery. As a result, you can use it and store it in any orientation. This can be a great advantage in tight spaces.

Maintenance free AGM batteries have much less terminal corrosion, compared to flooded batteries. In turn, this means less maintenance. Also like Gel cells, the container is spill proof. So with an AGM, you dont need special safety gear onboard for hazardous acid spills.

No venting needed An AGM battery doesnt produce or expel hydrogen/oxygen gases. So these batteries are easy to store and you avoid having to worry about electrolyte loss.

Larger plate surface area When compared to batteries of the same size, an AGM has a larger plate surface area. A larger plate surface area equals higher ratings. This is vital for cold cranking amps and reserve capacity measurements.

Fast recharge The AGM battery has a lower internal resistance than a flooded lead-acid battery. This allows for better starting power, quicker recharge and slower discharge. Thus, this battery lasts much longer than other types.

Permanently Mounted Or Temporary

Larger rigid panels can be permanently mounted in a custom-made bracket, especially when used aboard a cruising vessel. Rollable panels are made for the marine environment, and can be permanently mounted using their corner grommets. Theyre also very easy to remove and store compactly. Foldable panels are generally made for temporary use, since theyre less weatherproof than the other types.

This 90-watt Rigid Monocrystalline Solar Panel is about 34″ long and weighs about 15 pounds. Requiring a charge controller, it can generate almost 5 amps under optimum conditions.

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What Size Battery Cable Do I Need For My Boat

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Herein, what size battery cables do I need?

Battery Cable Amperage Capacity Chart

Beside above, how do you determine wire size? To calculate the gauge of stranded wire, you’ll need to double the diameter. So, if you’ve measured a wire’s diameter to be 0.005 inches , multiply this value by itself. The result will be 0.000025 in . Multiply the result by the number of strands in the wire.

Similarly, it is asked, what size wire should I use to wire my boat?

The ABYC recommends wire conductors of at least 16-AWG for lights and other similar equipment. That’s minimum, and heavier gauge isn’t much more expensive and generally no more trouble to install. We suggest you use 12- or 14-AWG to minimize your voltage drops, or more if the manufacturer suggests it.

What is the proper battery cable connection?

The proper battery cable connection when jumping two automotive batteries is : negative to negative / positive to positive. Connect the red cable from the car with the bad battery to the red on the good battery.

How Does A Wet Cell Work

The wet cell boat battery uses a rechargeable lead-acid reaction to store energy. The inside of the battery has reservoirs or cells between unlike lead plates. Between the plates is an electrolyte fluid made up of distilled water and sulfuric acid. As the fluid flows through the unlike plates, it creates a chemical reaction. The battery stores this chemical reaction until a load request power.

When a load connects to the battery terminals, the circuit closes, creating power. As well as producing hydrogen and oxygen, that must vent out. So it makes sense having an unsealed container with vented portions. The rechargeable action is that the electrolyte fluid is refillable . Therefore, as long as the battery gets maintenance recharging can happen for a long time.

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West Marine And Solar Power

As part of our company Mission Statement and our commitment through our BlueFuture initiative to reduce our impact on the environment, West Marine has embraced photovoltaic technology. We constructed our own sizable 57,600W array on the roof of our Santa Cruz, CA, store . According to the EPA, a 57.6W solar power system like West Marine’s can eliminate 4.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be produced by a power plant over 30 years. As a clean, renewable energy source, it can save more than 400 million cubic feet of natural gas over the same 30-year period.

Prolonging The Batterys Lifespan

Every deep cycle battery that you own can have a long life if you give it a full charge each time. The batterys internal construction doesnt respond well to short bursts of power.

If you take the marine battery off the boat, the charging session should last between 14 and 16 hours, reports Battery University. This time period allows the battery to saturate with the electrical power so that decline is largely avoided. Its impossible to avoid all possibilities of decline, however. Batteries must eventually wear down.

Visit Northeast Batterytoday for your battery needs. Try a group 27 deep cycle battery or other model to meet your marine needs. Our team can help you make an educated decision about power options, which will get you out on the water in no time at all.

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Out Of Sight Cant Mean Out Of Mind

Despite the claims of maintenance free that you might see from the different battery companies, no battery is fully maintenance free. Not unless you just want to keep replacing it that is. As all true boaters know, boat stands for Bring On Another Thousand, so of course, youll want to look for as many ways to cut costs as you can.

Pro tip: instead of cutting back on expense by way of cutting back on quality, try creating a maintenance plan that keeps all the components of your investment working longer.

Simple battery maintenance can be fast and go a long way in keeping your battery at peak performance levels.

• Charge it up! After a long day on the water, dont wait until next time to charge your battery. Charge it before you walk away. Letting your battery sit undercharged for a period of time will cause performance level drops sooner than necessary.
• Give it a scrub! Dirt and sulfate build up on the outer casing causing the battery to continue to discharge at a faster rate than if it were clean. This build-up can also create a resistance to charging which will just add to its early life cycle failure.

Interstate Marine Deep Cycle

My first interstate battery was one I put in my car while in college. My battery died on a Sunday while I was visiting a buddy, and his dad happened to work in the county road commission garage. He went down and grabbed a new Interstate battery that they used for the plow trucks. I paid him back for the battery and never had to worry about starting that car, even when it was well below zero.

These are great deep cycle batteries and pretty hard to beat for the price. No, theyre not the absolute cheapest batteries out there, but they are less expensive than many other mid-level batteries and are still under $100. A nice feature are the insert terminals that give you more options in how you attach your wires, while reducing the extra terminal space you find on other batteries.

ProsConsBottom Line

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