The Outdoor Line Forum

Running charters in Alaska is all fun and games right

I'm already losing sleep over my current battery setup pictured below, This battery system has caused me problems the last couple of years and it's time for to reconfigure everything. It worked for several years but as my electrical load has increased so have the battery problems

I spent a couple of hours with Brad Heacock at Marine Installations in Gig Harbor today and he talked me into running two 6 volt house batteries and a single cranker for the Polar Bear. Brad is a genius when it comes to boat electronics and I'm hoping the new setup will keep me up and running all summer. Brad has been installing a lot of dual 6 volt house systems lately and he tells me they have a lot more amp hours than a double 12 volt system. My fingers are crossed

Good deal. Now, did Brad set you up with all the RIGHT parts?

Roger that Bucket...got the right stuff to make it work at least in theory. You might have to give it the Midas touch when you get up there in June though

So,... two 6-volts in series to give you the 12 volts your system requires but how big a 6 volt?

Are you talking the big, trucker style size 8D and what battery technology? Lead/acid or AGM?

Looks like we have #1 on the set up crew list of to dos! Hope there are a few more or Bucket will be very, upset and might start rebuilding the dock or something!

CM

They are oversize golf cart batteries and you tie two together to make a 12 volt system. Brad tells me you can get a lot more amp hours out of this system and he's been installing them in quite a few boats with no problems. I'll have one cranking battery and two 6 volts that will make up my house system.

Here's a link to the Trojan 6 volt battery's that Brad set me up with Nelly
http://www.trojanbattery.com/products/T-1256V.aspx

Luckily Bucket is flying in early to rescue me Scott...Phew

So when you run your motor does it charge your house battery's along with your cranking one?