Mixing batteries

[Neutron]

I am getting ready to replace my 2 oringinal original batteries. Both are currently starting batteries.

Knowing how the batteries charge while running with the ACR.( i have it wired correctly to only work while ignition is running)

Is there harm in running a duel purpose or a deep cycle on the house side and a starting battery on the system side?
Or Should i just get 2 duel purpose

 

[HangOutdoors]

Its fine. That is what i do. I spent extra on a Northstar AGM Tppl for the house and it is outstanding

 

[JBehrens]

Nothing wrong with that setup, just know that it is good to have a shore charger for the house AGM as the engines might not fully recharge the battery depending how much you run it down.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I do. Have the noco gen 5 4 bank, since i also run lithiums for the trolling motor as well.

 

[Texatl]

For Shore Charger... is it wired direct to house terminals? Or is their intermediate point/block it should go to. I've been thinking about this. As its probably battery replacement time. For house to work on mine in need to turn parallel/emergency ON. Start works fine without. So if I'm gonna replace one, might as well upgrade the system at the same time.

So Like @Neutron I was going to mix batteries (thank you for this thread... I was thinking I was going to replace both).

 

[HangOutdoors]

I am wired so that the house is dedicated to the house and starting is just for that and bilge. I use a blue seas switch with ACR, so all i need to do is turn switch to on and everythin works and i dint have to think about it. If i need to i con switch to combine the if i need to.

Each bank that i have for charger is wired ditectly each to a single battery.

 

[Beachbummer]

Our engines are easy to turn. You are indeed better off with two identical batteries for ACR use. Why not use 2 Deep Cycle or 2 Dual Purpose batteries? That way they charge about the same, and will give you better performance if they deep discharge.

 

[Neutron]

I remember reading that with these engines and acr setup that they all link together when the relay activates at charging voltage. Almost like running the parallel switch on only when engine is running. Not sure the reasoning though.
@Beachbummer I was going to do 2 duel purpose but didn't really know if using one for the starting would lower its life expectancy

 

[biffdotorg]

Our engines are easy to turn. You are indeed better off with two identical batteries for ACR use. Why not use 2 Deep Cycle or 2 Dual Purpose batteries? That way they charge about the same, and will give you better performance if they deep discharge.

I've had a pair of matching Group 27 deep cycles in going on the fourth season. You are correct, these waverunner engines take nothing to turn over. I'm about to swap the two around as the starting batteries have hardly ever been drained. But if it ain't broke....

 

[Texatl]

Sorry to revive the thread. But... quick question. If I do mix batteries, and get a Dual Purpose for House Battery... Does it still need the Marine Cranking Amp (MCA) specified? Manual say 675 MCA. But its not used for starting, just house. I'm looking at one, Deep Cycle, Dual Purpose, marine but its has 530 MCA.

Why I'm asking- Spec in the manual was for one battery, even though it also says we have 2 LOL Please advise. Want to make sure I get the right battery to replace the house battery.

Thanks all in advance

 

[biffdotorg]

Sorry to revive the thread. But... quick question. If I do mix batteries, and get a Dual Purpose for House Battery... Does it still need the Marine Cranking Amp (MCA) specified? Manual say 675 MCA. But its not used for starting, just house. I'm looking at one, Deep Cycle, Dual Purpose, marine but its has 530 MCA.

Why I'm asking- Spec in the manual was for one battery, even though it also says we have 2 LOL Please advise. Want to make sure I get the right battery to replace the house battery.

Thanks all in advance

No, it will have a constant load and not the burst load of cranking an engine.

But one would ask, why would you buy a dual purpose battery and not just a deep cycle battery, that would serve the purpose better?

 

[Texatl]

But one would ask, why would you buy a dual purpose battery and not just a deep cycle battery, that would serve the purpose better?

THAT is a fantastic question. I think, mainly because its what I have available locally. But... seeing that I have to wait for a new gas cap anyway, I now have time do a little more looking.

 

[biffdotorg]

THAT is a fantastic question. I think, mainly because its what I have available locally. But... seeing that I have to wait for a new gas cap anyway, I now have time do a little more looking.

Where do you live? Group 27 Deep Cycles are probably the most common marine batteries around. Walmart, Sam's, Costco, Interstate, any auto parts store.

 

[Texatl]

Where do you live? Group 27 Deep Cycles are probably the most common marine batteries around. Walmart, Sam's, Costco, Interstate, any auto parts store.

Nashville. BUT- I am kinda rule and spec follower. My manual says Group 24, so that's all I was looking for. I'll check out 27. And just say no to Walmart/Sam's club. Just saying.

But I will check out the Group 27s now. Thank you sir.

 

[biffdotorg]

Nashville. BUT- I am kinda rule and spec follower. My manual says Group 24, so that's all I was looking for. I'll check out 27. And just say no to Walmart/Sam's club. Just saying.

But I will check out the Group 27s now. Thank you sir.

Please don't go by a quote by me. There is no real spec when you are talking about house batteries or even cranking batteries with waverunner engines. The spec you are looking for is so small, that you will have a tough time finding a battery that doesn't meet this spec.

The house battery is as big as you have space for. The group is literally the physical dimensions. So when you have a boat with a battery box, or tray, you literally put in the biggest battery that will fit in the tray or your wallet. As that is the whole point of a dual battery system is to isolate the engines from the other crap in your boat. I chose Group 27's as they were the largest I could fit in my tray when i replaced them. (BTW, they were Duracell's from Sams Club in 2018, so your a right to avoid them, their life is pretty short, smile)

And also to provide as much duration out of the batteries, not cold cranking or marine cranking amps. Your stereo equipment will want a minimum voltage to operate, that's it. So researching for a certain marine cranking amps is irrelevant. As far as the motors, they will have a minimum spec, but any full sized 12v battery will turn them over, as that amount is tiny. Have you seen a waverunner battery? The batteries in my pair of waverunners are smaller than the one used in my lawn mower! So any single 12v will turn them over.

The kicker is getting something that will last for the way you use them, and each owner is different. Some don't have access to power, so they need them to recover quickly with the small amount of current coming from the stators. Others, want longer run time, but have access to power, so their onboard charger can charge them overnight. So they want duty cycles. This is the difference between deep cycle, cranking, etc, etc.

So back to brand. HangOutdoors probably has the most experience on here with very expensive batteries. I'm sure he can chime in if you want to drop a ton of cash on batteries. But he had a very specific purpose above and beyond 1000w stereos. So your mileage will vary from his experience. And like everyone else, we all have our own experience.

Brand is not as big of a deal for the load we are putting on these. As mentioned above, I put two Duracell Group 27's in my boat, and two of the same on my Floe Lift in 2018. All four are plugging along. The two in my lift have not been charged since I dropped in in the water after ice out this spring. The two in the boat get a full charge with my onboard charger in the boat every other week. I don't think they owe me anything, as I think I paid $80 each at Sams. BTW, they sit in my boat from October - May in the MN cold with no trickle.

Good luck,

 

[Texatl]

Thank you!!! That info is super helpful and informative. Thanks for taking the time- not only for me, but for those that use the search function later. We all thank you.

 

[Bizywk]

Its fine. That is what i do. I spent extra on a Northstar AGM Tppl for the house and it is outstanding

Didn't you buy the Genius brand earlier this year? Did you sent it back?

 

[HangOutdoors]

No. I had a ProMariner. Since it wouldn't do LiFePo4 I sold it to another member. It was past the return period but brand new.

I have this one installed now and it works like a champ. 1 bank on Starter, 1 bank on House, 1 bank on each of the 2 LiFePo4's.

NOCO - 4-Bank 40A On-Board Battery Charger - GENPRO10X4

 

[Bizywk]

No. I had a ProMariner. Since it wouldn't do LiFePo4 I sold it to another member. It was past the return period but brand new.

I have this one installed now and it works like a champ. 1 bank on Starter, 1 bank on House, 1 bank on each of the 2 LiFePo4's.

NOCO - 4-Bank 40A On-Board Battery Charger - GENPRO10X4

Yes. Sorry. I should have been more clear - that's what I meant to say. The NOCO Genius. Somehow I misread your post thinking you were recommending a charger and wondered if you found something objectionable about the NOCO. I see now you were recommending a battery. Spot on with your recommendations. We went the same route with a GenPRO3/and an X2 AGM which I'm told is a rebranded Northstar.

 

[sunbyrned]

Please don't go by a quote by me. There is no real spec when you are talking about house batteries or even cranking batteries with waverunner engines. The spec you are looking for is so small, that you will have a tough time finding a battery that doesn't meet this spec.

The house battery is as big as you have space for. The group is literally the physical dimensions. So when you have a boat with a battery box, or tray, you literally put in the biggest battery that will fit in the tray or your wallet. As that is the whole point of a dual battery system is to isolate the engines from the other crap in your boat. I chose Group 27's as they were the largest I could fit in my tray when i replaced them. (BTW, they were Duracell's from Sams Club in 2018, so your a right to avoid them, their life is pretty short, smile)

And also to provide as much duration out of the batteries, not cold cranking or marine cranking amps. Your stereo equipment will want a minimum voltage to operate, that's it. So researching for a certain marine cranking amps is irrelevant. As far as the motors, they will have a minimum spec, but any full sized 12v battery will turn them over, as that amount is tiny. Have you seen a waverunner battery? The batteries in my pair of waverunners are smaller than the one used in my lawn mower! So any single 12v will turn them over.

The kicker is getting something that will last for the way you use them, and each owner is different. Some don't have access to power, so they need them to recover quickly with the small amount of current coming from the stators. Others, want longer run time, but have access to power, so their onboard charger can charge them overnight. So they want duty cycles. This is the difference between deep cycle, cranking, etc, etc.

So back to brand. HangOutdoors probably has the most experience on here with very expensive batteries. I'm sure he can chime in if you want to drop a ton of cash on batteries. But he had a very specific purpose above and beyond 1000w stereos. So your mileage will vary from his experience. And like everyone else, we all have our own experience.

Brand is not as big of a deal for the load we are putting on these. As mentioned above, I put two Duracell Group 27's in my boat, and two of the same on my Floe Lift in 2018. All four are plugging along. The two in my lift have not been charged since I dropped in in the water after ice out this spring. The two in the boat get a full charge with my onboard charger in the boat every other week. I don't think they owe me anything, as I think I paid $80 each at Sams. BTW, they sit in my boat from October - May in the MN cold with no trickle.

Good luck,

This was very helpful information. I’m returning the 24s I bought yesterday and getting the 27 Deep Cycles. They meet the 675 CCA recommendation too. I moved my batteries back as far as they would go to make room for fatsacs. So my only concern will be if they will fit back there. We’ll see.