Concerned about draining Starter Battery

[amxgilligan]

I just bought a 1996 Stratos 201XLDC and it has two Humminbird 959 fish finders as well as dual live wells wired to the starter battery.   I keep both fish finders on the entire time I am on the water and if I catch any fish I need to keep the live well running constantly in the summer.  Both trolling batteries and the starter battery are only a year old and I keep them maintained when in the garage.  Should I be concerned about draining my starter battery or do these items drain so little that I should not be concerned.

[Bud Kennedy]

Certainly is a concern.  It all depends upon what size battery you are using.  If you want to stay with a single battery then a group 29 to 31 would be better then 27.  Many folks that have room decide to run the fourth battery just to accommodate the accessories you speak of.  8 to 10 hours on the water with everything running can take its toll on a battery especially one that has a couple years on it.  Can you tell us what you are currently running for a start battery?

[amxgilligan]

I've got an Interstate 24M-XHD  800CCA/1000MCA

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/p/interstate-batteries/interstate-batteries-24m-xhd-24m-xhd?dsNav=N~2147384903

I also thought about putting a solar panel on the top of the motor to maybe offset some of the drain but most of the "cigarette lighter" solar panels put out about 10-14w is all.

[Bud Kennedy]

A 24 is a standard starting battery.  Do you have room for anything bigger? or even an additional battery?

A new 24 should be just fine is does charge when you are running the big motor,  An older 24 might cause you some problems and maybe even make your sonars inoperable due to the voltage drop during the day. Bigger is better if you can find room.

[Mike Cork]

I run a group 31. My big motor requires at least a 29 I think.

I run three electronics, two aerator pumps, two power poles and usually have something (phone, go pro) charging. With a fresh battery I have no problems. If I'm on a lake that I do a lot of running, I've pushed it to two days between charges and no problems.

I would recommended a larger battery as Bud has suggested, just to make sure.

I have a sense of security because I have a Perko switch installed - should I kill my cranking battery, with a flip of the switch it isolates a trolling motor battery and fires up the big motor. I highly recommend it to every boater. Carrying jumper cables is cumbersome and you have to make sure you isolate a single battery (if you have a 24 or 36 volt system) or you'll fry your big motors computer.

Another good option is a jump pack. Technology has reduced the size of these jump starters tremendously. It will jump start the big motor and get you home, and take up very little space in the boat. You just have to remember to charge it. They are cheap insurance, that no matter what battery you have in the future, you are sure to have at least one more start.

If I was in your situation (and my current cranking battery was serviceable) if spent the money on a Perko switch or Jump Pack. No matter what, they will get you home.

[Oldfart9999]

You may want to consider another battery added to your cranking system also, as mentioned, run 4 instead of 3.
Rodney

[Princeton_Man]

I run a group 31. My big motor requires at least a 29 I think.

I run three electronics, two aerator pumps, two power poles and usually have something (phone, go pro) charging. With a fresh battery I have no problems. If I'm on a lake that I do a lot of running, I've pushed it to two days between charges and no problems.

I would recommended a larger battery as Bud has suggested, just to make sure.

I have a sense of security because I have a Perko switch installed - should I kill my cranking battery, with a flip of the switch it isolates a trolling motor battery and fires up the big motor. I highly recommend it to every boater. Carrying jumper cables is cumbersome and you have to make sure you isolate a single battery (if you have a 24 or 36 volt system) or you'll fry your big motors computer.

Another good option is a jump pack. Technology has reduced the size of these jump starters tremendously. It will jump start the big motor and get you home, and take up very little space in the boat. You just have to remember to charge it. They are cheap insurance, that no matter what battery you have in the future, you are sure to have at least one more start.

If I was in your situation (and my current cranking battery was serviceable) if spent the money on a Perko switch or Jump Pack. No matter what, they will get you home.

X2

I just upgraded to a group 31 Duracell (Deka). My group 27 Interstate did a fine job running all the same things. The group 27 was starting to show less than 12.5 volts when the charger was disconnected so I upgraded to the 31 as a little extra insurance.