Recommendations for battery setup...running two helix 7, power poles...

[clemsondds]

Hey everyone, I had a thread going about how to protect against a dead battery.   I have had issues with my crank battery and I have decided I need to revamp my setup.  I have some power poles coming, so I thought now is a good time to do it.  I have a robalo 21' with a yamaha f150 motor.  I am running two humminbird chirp/mega 7 inch units on the crank battery, as well as the power poles.   I have had some issues lately with one of the helix units, and I think it might be due to the low voltage on the crank battery.  So can you recommend what you would do for a crank setup if this was your boat?  Should one battery be able to handle all of this (8 hours on water with power pole use and helix units use).  I just want to not have to worry about any of my batteries.  Right now I have a group 24 marine master 12v battery for crank. Should I get a second crank battery for just the peripheral units?  Should I get a dual charger for the crank batteries?  Thanks again for all the help! 

[Tennessee Boy]

If I had room for another battery for the electronics I would go that route.  An onboard charger to charge all your batteries is worth the money IMO.  Another option would be to get a high end battery like a X2Power/NorthStart that would have enough power to run everything you listed for 8 hours+.

[clemsondds]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

If I had room for another battery for the electronics I would go that route.  An onboard charger to charge all your batteries is worth the money IMO.  Another option would be to get a high end battery like a X2Power/NorthStart that would have enough power to run everything you listed for 8 hours+.

I already have a dual charger up front for my tm batteries.  Should I get a separate dual charger for crank batteries?  Should I go two crank batteries or deep cycle? 

[Tennessee Boy]

2 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

I already have a dual charger up front for my tm batteries.  Should I get a separate dual charger for crank batteries?  Should I go two crank batteries or deep cycle? 

You will want a deep cycle battery for the electronic and other accessories.  These are often called "house batteries".  If you already have a two bank charger then you could get another two bank charger or replace the existing one with a four bank charger.  Whatever works for you,  the batteries won't care either way. ?

[clemsondds]

17 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

You will want a deep cycle battery for the electronic and other accessories.  These are often called "house batteries".  If you already have a two bank charger then you could get another two bank charger or replace the existing one with a four bank charger.  Whatever works for you,  the batteries won't care either way. ?

So are you saying two batteries in back for crank and electronics?  If so, both deep or one deep and one crank? Thanks

[A-Jay]

25 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

So are you saying two batteries in back for crank and electronics?  If so, both deep or one deep and one crank? Thanks

Perhaps consider Optima Blue tops 

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/bluetop-dual-purpose-deep-cycle-and-starting

They are available in dual purpose Deep cycle & Cranking.

I run 4 of them in my rig. (31M's)

3 for the trolling motor and one for cranking & accessories 

 

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

9 hours ago, clemsondds said:

So are you saying two batteries in back for crank and electronics?  If so, both deep or one deep and one crank? Thanks

One cranking battery connected only to your outboard for cranking.  One deep cycle or dual purpose battery as your house battery that will run your electronics,  power polls,  live well, etc.  This battery will not be connected to your outboard.  I would go with an inexpensive  battery or use your existing battery for cranking. Then buy a little better battery as your house battery.  One advantage to buying a dual purpose battery as your house battery is you can make it your cranking battery later.  

[Jig Man]

Your current cranking battery is very minimal.  Instead of putting in 2 more batteries, if it were me, I would get a good dual purpose battery and give it a try.  Your Helix units shouldn’t draw enough juice to give you problems with a good cranker.  Look for a battery with lots of reserve capacity (200+) should do the trick.  Then if you have to you could add a house battery later but I doubt you will need it.

[clemsondds]

Ok so planning to go with adding one deep cycle AGM 31 for the electronics and keeping my current 24 as a crank battery.  That sound like a good idea?  I talked with the local service guy and he recommended a "jump switch" which sounded similar to the blue seas acr...is that correct?  Anyway, can anyone recommend a good agm battery?  Also will install a dual charger...any recommendations on that as well?  I hate to have two separate chargers, but I guess I can just use two separate electrical cords. Thanks again everyone! 

[Jig Man]

You can get a y plug cord and hook two together or get a 4 bank charger.

 

I have had good luck with Optima blue top.

[clemsondds]

Sounds good. Any other recommendations on agm deep cycle batteries?   I saw a few reviews lately on Optima blue top saying that they aren't what they use to be since they got bought out.  Anyone use Northstar?  

[Tennessee Boy]

44 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Sounds good. Any other recommendations on agm deep cycle batteries?   I saw a few reviews lately on Optima blue top saying that they aren't what they use to be since they got bought out.  Anyone use Northstar?  

IMO NorthStar or X2Power (same battery) are the best but they are expensive.  I don’t think you need the best to run two Helix 7 and some power poles.  I would go with a good midrange AGM like a duracell from Sam’s Club.

[iabass8]

You don't need a cranking battery and a battery for electronics. Wire your electronics properly and you won't have any voltage issues. Get the biggest battery you can afford/fit in your boat. The X2 31 AGM is a great battery just make sure your charger you plug in when you get home can handle AGM batteries. Run 10g wire directly from each unit, on it's on wire, back to the cranking battery and fuse each hot wire /w the correct waterproof fuse holder. Solder/heat shrink the connections between wires. This is the cleanest power /w the least amount of interference. Avoid house power for electronics on your boat. I've done it this way for years on every boat. Yes, 10g is "overkill" for 2x 7in graphs but if you decide to upgrade, you won't have to rewire when larger graphs call for it. 

[Gon_fishing51]

Hello,

 

I have a Helix 7. I am looking at connecting it to my 12V marine battery using a 1 gauge copper ring terminal. I am using a 14 gauge wire and plan to solder it to the ring terminal. Can someone tell me if this will affect anything with the fish finder.

 

I spoke to hummingbird and the person I spoke to was not at all helpful. She said that Hummingbird recommends just wrapping it around the terminal. 

 

Thank-you

[MN Fisher]

If I can't solder the connection, I use crimp-on terminals.

 

Ignore the un-helpful woman and put those ring-terminals on.

 

Don't forget the dielectric grease...

[jbsoonerfan]

How far are you running it? Back of the boat to the front? I might go 10 ga into a fuse block or an inline fuse if that far.

[GaryH]

On 2/13/2020 at 5:48 PM, clemsondds said:

Hey everyone, I had a thread going about how to protect against a dead battery.   I have had issues with my crank battery and I have decided I need to revamp my setup.  I have some power poles coming, so I thought now is a good time to do it.  I have a robalo 21' with a yamaha f150 motor.  I am running two humminbird chirp/mega 7 inch units on the crank battery, as well as the power poles.   I have had some issues lately with one of the helix units, and I think it might be due to the low voltage on the crank battery.  So can you recommend what you would do for a crank setup if this was your boat?  Should one battery be able to handle all of this (8 hours on water with power pole use and helix units use).  I just want to not have to worry about any of my batteries.  Right now I have a group 24 marine master 12v battery for crank. Should I get a second crank battery for just the peripheral units?  Should I get a dual charger for the crank batteries?  Thanks again for all the help! 

You don’t need to go through all the changes your talking about. Change out your cranking battery to a good 31M and you’ll be go to go with what your running.

I run two 12” Helix’s, 2 power poles and live well all day on one 31M with no issues. 
 

[J Francho]

Sounds like the current cranking batt is getting long in the tooth. I'd get a new one with more capacity. I've never had any smaller than group 31 in my boats, never had an issue that wasn't self inflicted. Always put your boat on the charger when you get home. 

[InfantryMP]

On 2/15/2020 at 1:13 PM, clemsondds said:

Sounds good. Any other recommendations on agm deep cycle batteries?   I saw a few reviews lately on Optima blue top saying that they aren't what they use to be since they got bought out.  Anyone use Northstar?  

I have Duracell AGM's that I bought from Sam's club on sale. They also at the time had an 18 month warranty on them. I have not had issues in the last two years with mine. They are less than $150 each depending on the size you need. A couple of them are sub $100 as well. 

[mcipinkie]

Gary H has the right idea.  Get rid of the group 24 crank battery.  Go to at least a 27, preferably a 31.  You're home free.

 

WalMart has the group 29's on sale for 79.99.  Should solve your problem. unless your problem is a surplus of cash and an urge to "keep up".

[E-rude dude]

I run 4 humminbirds and 2 power pole micro anchors on a 31m battery all day without issues. 
It is a big power draw and recharge every outing though, so I have to replace it almost yearly. That’s all the room I have in the boat though.

Hooking up 2 batteries usually requires some type of relay charging system if you parallel them to your motor. 
Replacing a battery every year seems costly til you start adding up gas receipts. Then it seems cheap by comparison. My trolling battery was usually every other year, but I went 24v this year.