Dual Batteries

[Magnum]

Well, I purchased my NR boat new w/ dual batteries. My GPS battery alarm keeps going off & this last week I couldn't start my engine; I switched to #2 and ran off that battery all day. I went to pull my #1 battery to have it tested (I've tried to charge it a couple times with no success). Well, during this process to my surprise, BOTH batteries are Trojan Starting batteries.

My question is, is this correct? Should they both be starting batteries, as installed by NR, or should 1 be a starting, and 1 be a marine deep cycle?

Also ,the #1 battery checked out to be a bad battery so I have to get a new one, so I was just going to get a Trojan Marine Deep Cycle battery & move my #2 starting battery to the #1 spot.

???

[ET]

There isn't a simple answer to your question. A whole lot of information and education is needed to help you make the right choice. Some people have/need/want two starting batteries. Some have/need/want one of each. Some have/need/want two deep cycle. They are all good choices, it really depends on your boat set up and how you use everything.

You're going to get a lot of opinions based on personal experience, but you need to understand your boat's system to make the right choice. Regardless of battery choice, the real key is going to be you knowing your battery system and how to keep it in top shape. Since you didn't understand and/or ignored the GPS warning, it sounds like it is time to hit the books!

Soon after I got my boat, I spent a lot of time studying the electrical system. Knowing how everything works is 3/4 of making sure everything keeps working.

[NewMoon]

Seems to me it depends primarily on how you use the boat. If you anchor out, or if you troll on a kicker that doesn't charge or doesn't charge much, and you want to be able to run lights, pumps, instruments etc with the main engine off, you want to be on a deep cycle battery.

One simple approach is to have one starting and one deep cycle. Start on the starting battery, give it 10-20 minutes to be fully recharged, then switch to the deep cycle until the next time you need to start up (don't go through the OFF position when switching - go through BOTH). Always be on the deep cycle (or OFF) when you're shut down. With this routine, the starting battery will always be charged up and ready to start.

Unless you install a combiner, the two different battery types will generally work better if you charge only one at a time.

It's probably better to have one starting and one deep cycle than two deep cycles, because the starting battery can be a lot lighter than a good deep cycle, so you can make the most effective use of the battery weight you're hauling around.

BTW, make sure the cabling to your batteries is plenty thick, and connections are perfectly clean and tight.

[Beginners luck]

Maybe Chucks Electric will chime in for you. I say he really knows his stuff and turned me on to a system that works great for my set up...Send him a PM. Real helpful guy.

[Hunt'nFish]

Question:
Inboard or outboard?

And..Do you have, or plan to put, an electric trolling motor on the boat?
If so, then yes I'd replace with a Trojon scs225 deep cycle.

Also something to keep in mind.....if you do a lot of trolling with the kicker it may be over charging the battery it's hooked to. Many of the kickers voltage systems don't have voltage regulator to prevent overcharging. Check the manual if it does or doesn't and install one if it doesn't.

I run banks of twin scs225 Trojon deep cycles on my boats, but both have outboards and both have elec bowmounts. The cold cranking amps of the scs225 is equal or higher than many non-deep cycle starting batteries.
Hunt'nFish

[hot wire]

Install a VSR and be done with your issues! :excited: