installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

[shwoop_soobie]

so i have been doing some searching and have not been able to find a definate answer...

i have a 1970 hull with what i believe is a late 60's mercury outboard (950ss).

i have been thinking it would be nice to have a stereo installed, but im not sure what kind of charging system the motor has... from what i have found it uses a simple rectifier, but i am an electrical dummy, so i dont know exactly where that puts me... from what i have read, it does not put out enough juice to keep a battery charged if that same battery is running a stereo... (by stereo i mean a small amp with ipod connection running 2 6x9's)

so what should/can i do? i was thinking of just running a second battery designated for a stereo and using something like a solar charger to keep it up while i was camping... or is there something i can upgrade too to charge a single battery more effectively so i can just run the stereo from it...

any help or personal experiences shared would be great!
Thanks guys!

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

The motor may have the beef to keep it charged, but if not and you only have one batt then your hit. 2 or a spare is always a good idea.
As for the solar charger, i highly doubt it will keep up with the power draw.

Next is why do you need a seperate amp? most stereos have have 50x4 amps in them. A good charge on a good deep cycle batt should last all day. then you also have a back-up batt too

 

[shwoop_soobie]

Re: installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

^^^^^^
well i was thinking it would use less juice if i just used a small amp with no stereo deck... the ipod can hook straight into an amp and i was kind of thinking it would use less draw since i could use a smaller wattage amp (like a 100watt amp versus a deck putting out 50x4 and running all the lights and features etc. of a deck....)

i have a good deep cycle battery but i need it to last for at least 10 days without going on a charger (for being out camping)

there was a super nice optima blue top at the swap meet this morning for 100bucks... i should have bought it for a spare... i guess on a boat a spare anything is never a bad idea...

 

[shwoop_soobie]

Re: installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

nobody can point me in the right direction?

 

[cr2k]

Re: installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

The motors of that vintage usually had low output charging systems.
I would not count on it to keep your battery up if using a stereo.

Second battery good idea. I had a 100 stereo watt amp my son found on eBay NIB for $15. I used it with my iPod and it worked very well. I agree if you just need an amp just get an amp, no tuner, etc, to power.

Also the Blue top Ultimas have a short warranty. Use a Red top and if you have a problem tell them it was in your car. However a few of my friends and my son used Ultimas and all had problems. Get a sealed gelcell, check with a wheelchair dealer, they may have replaced batteries for free or very little and these should last a few weeks between charges.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: installing stereo with old merc outboard... battery charge ability?

Get a second seep cell battery, and connect the grounds with an isolator between so the deep cell gets some charge as well. Don't run on a deep cell alone as your starting battery.