Battery draw and electronics question?

[mnm99]

Question..I have 2 banks of batteries in parallel. One bank for my Starboard motor/House and one bank for my Port Motor with a 40A 3 bank ProMariner charger using 2 banks. I have to replace 2 of my Starboard batteries ( 5 years old). My starboard batteries carry the load of the house, Large stereo system and now my CCTV system. Here's my problem. Before I installed my CCTV system I never had a problem, but could just be this pushed them over the edge. When the boat is off there was never a draw with everything off. With the CCTV I get a 1.8 Amp continuous draw due to Camera, DVR, WIFI and router being on. What I was thinking was to add another battery Just for the CCTV setup so it's all off the Starboard setup. I can use the 3rd bank on the charger for this battery also. The other question is will the charger not like a load of 1.8 amps all the time on it and also the battery will not be charging when the engine is running..Thanks

 

[Creekwood]

I would get a separate deep cycle battery for the CCTV, WIFI and router systems and put it on the unused 3rd bank of the charger. The charger is a continuous duty and designed to run 12v systems so no issue there. If that is the old style big black box charger, you should consider replacing it with a ProNautic 1240p. Much better charger/converter and your batteries will last longer.

 

[mnm99]

I would get a separate deep cycle battery for the CCTV, WIFI and router systems and put it on the unused 3rd bank of the charger. The charger is a continuous duty and designed to run 12v systems so no issue there. If that is the old style big black box charger, you should consider replacing it with a ProNautic 1240p. Much better charger/converter and your batteries will last longer.

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I wasn’t sure if it was ok to have that amp draw on it constantly. Yes it’s a brand new 1240p

 

[Creekwood]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I wasn’t sure if it was ok to have that amp draw on it constantly. Yes it’s a brand new 1240p

Totally fine. That one is designed for that use as well as charging. Other types of chargers are not, but that is a good one. I have had mine for about 5 years now and the same batteries too, so it does its job.

 

[markrsimon]

..Before I installed my CCTV system I never had a problem

Curious what problem you are having. With your current setup, the charger should be more than enough to cover the amp draw your referencing. Are you docked with shore power and do you leave the charger on - or is your situation different?

 

[mnm99]

Curious what problem you are having. With your current setup, the charger should be more than enough to cover the amp draw your referencing. Are you docked with shore power and do you leave the charger on - or is your situation different?

All my batteries are on there 5th season. Port batteries are all good. Starboard won't charge and are dead.
I have shore power always plugged in and leave the charger on. Check the battery levels a couple times a year also.
I'll give you a little of what I'm thinking. Looking to move the CCTV to a separate battery. This way it won't affect battery draw of the Starboard battery starting the engine. I'd like to keep the port bank empty in case of emergency start. I have the cross over switch. This way at the dock on shore power the only battery that will be getting the wear all the time is the CCTV one

Bank 1 = 2 Starboard batteries in Parallel = Engine charging
-Starboard Motor
-House
-1500W stereo system
-4 LED speaker rings along with 4 underwater LED lights- (pulls 13A)
-CCTV system, always a 1.8a draw all the time ( move to bank 3 )

Bank 2 = 2 Port batteries in Parallel = Engine charging
-Port Motor
-Nothing= Possible Generator, haven't checked

Proposed Bank 3= Additional Battery
-CCTV system, always a 1.8a draw all the time. No engine charging

 

[markrsimon]

I didnt know if your correlating the dead batteries with the additional 1.8a draw. I would just make sure the charger is truly charging the new stbd side batteries. Perhaps a fuse went somewhere, and the 1.8a took the stbd batteries down. I just would not expect you to kill a set of batteries given the configuration - perhaps just coincidence.

 

[KevinC]

Bank 1 = 2 Starboard batteries in Parallel = Engine charging
-Starboard Motor
-House
-1500W stereo system
-4 LED speaker rings along with 4 underwater LED lights- (pulls 13A)
-CCTV system, always a 1.8a draw all the time ( move to bank 3 )

Bank 2 = 2 Port batteries in Parallel = Engine charging
-Port Motor
-Nothing= Possible Generator, haven't checked

Are you sure? I could have sworn that our "house" batteries were the port battery bank. I will have to check next time at the boat.

-Kevin

 

[mnm99]

Are you sure? I could have sworn that our "house" batteries were the port battery bank. I will have to check next time at the boat.

-Kevin

Thanks Kevin, I'll double check also, but I thought they were. If so that would be good. Hey..The generator has a separate switch, but the 2 banks are in parallel. What battery/bank starts the genny?

 

[mnm99]

I didnt know if your correlating the dead batteries with the additional 1.8a draw. I would just make sure the charger is truly charging the new stbd side batteries. Perhaps a fuse went somewhere, and the 1.8a took the stbd batteries down. I just would not expect you to kill a set of batteries given the configuration - perhaps just coincidence.

It could be a coincidence. I have a pretty big stereo on those batteries also. Put it this way a 2/0 Aug cable feeding 4 amps in the cabin. Over the past 4 years I could have took a toll. My friend is a Mechanic and he let me use his expensive snap on tester. They showed like 25% life with 65cca. They put out 12.6v and the charger was charging them at 14.2, so testing them voltage wise they looked good, but CCA wise they were dead. The port side passed with flying colors.

 

[Creekwood]

Thanks Kevin, I'll double check also, but I thought they were. If so that would be good. Hey..The generator has a separate switch, but the 2 banks are in parallel. What battery/bank starts the genny?

On my 330 the OEM setup was that the house bank shares the starboard engine starting. I reconfigured mine so that the port is the house bank so I could use the space in the bilge for a golf cart battery bank. The starboard batteries are under a seat in the cockpit and not enough space for the golf cart batteries. (FYI that is a simple change. The house system feed wire comes off the back of the battery switch. Just move it over to the other switch and the house is now on the other bank)