Stereo drains accessory battery

[casey344]

I have an AMP and CD player running on a separate Optima deep cycle battery. The night before I plan to use my boat I charge the accessory battery. I usually shut down with 10-11V still left in the battery and always shut the CD player off.

I assume the remote wire would turn the amp off. If the boat sits for a few days it is always completely dead.

How can I improve on this setup? I plan to keep my boat at a marina this year. I will have power at my slip, whatever I add should really be bolted down since I won't be around to keep an eye on it.

I would like something that can be plugged in to charge, or charges while the engine is running. Ideally I would like to run this stereo at moderate volume for 4-5 hours at a time and be ready to roll between uses.

Thank you for your help.

 

[MXer478]

I just installed a second batt on my boat, I also installed the 1/2/1+2 switch so that I could charge both batteries easily.

So, My setup is like this.

Crank batt neg to engine, Positive to terminal 1 on the switch.

Deep Cycle batt neg to crank batt neg. Pos to terminal 2 on switch.

Common positive from switch to the starter.

The lead that went from the alt to the pos terminal on the crank batt is now going to the common terminal on the switch(that way it charges the battery that the switch is set to).

I have my music amp hooked to the deep cycle batt.

Now I can just run the motor to charge both batts, I just need to have the switch on 1+2.:thumbsup:

Negative's about this setup are as follows:
-I cant switch the battery switch from 1 to 2 while the motor is running until I install a fuse on my engines alt. But I dont plan on switching it while the motor is running
-If you leave the switch on the 1+2 setting while the boat is off, the batts will drain each other.

But again, I leave my switch in the "Off" position when I leave the boat.

:grin:

 

[casey344]

Interesting ... thank you for the information.

The sound guy I talked to at the Charlotte boat show last month told me I could not use my stock alternator to charge my deep cycle Optima battery.

Do you have a link to this switch you installed?