Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R
If you want a foolproof option, buy and install an automatic charging relay when you add the second battery. I have a Blue Seas ACR on my boat and it's a high quality piece of gear. Blue Seas makes a great "Add a Battery" kit that would by ideal for your needs, IMO. See: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-...caAhwLEALw_wcB
That kit has the switch and ACR in one package and will make installation a breeze.
If you need custom cables made for the installation, www.bestboatwire.com does great work for a great price and they sell real (UL1426) boat wire. See: https://www.bestboatwire.com/product...de-by-the-foot
The ACR will always prioritize the starting battery for charging. Once the starting battery is re-charged, it will combine the starting battery and the extra battery to allow the extra battery to be charged. It will automatically uncombine the batteries when charging is not occuring. The switch will give you the option to combine the batteries manually if you need to for emergency starting. Using this setup correctly will prevent having two dead batteries. |
I find myself going in the wrong direction in terms of simplicity and cost. While I would love to do a second battery and all that jazz, what brought me here seems to be a simple issue of battery replacement (after what appears to be a reasonable lifetime).
I will most likely, then, simply replace the battery next spring.
I do want to do a couple more tests, though: another voltage test to see if it's dropped since my last test (and no use), a parasitic draw test, and a test while running (all as suggested above).
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