Separate accessories Battery Suggestion

[DaveHawkins]

I am finally trying to set up my J16 Carolina Skiff for the electrical needs. My thoughts are to have a single dedicated cranking battery solely for the motor.

Then have a single, hopefully smaller battery stored under the console for running a fish finder, lights, and bilge pump. I have a 3 gang fused switch panel I am going to use, along with a cigarette lighter type accessory socket. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on using an alternative battery for this purpose, instead of a full sized deep cycle battery. Maybe something like a 12 volt sealed gel cell or a motor cycle battery?

The trolling mtr runs off it's own deep cycle battery mounted under the front deck.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Separate accessories Battery Suggestion

if you are proposing using a smaller, non-deep cycle battery as an accessory battery you are wasting money. Leave the stuff hooked up the starting battery. None of those items draws enough power to bother and besides, you then need a separate charger to keep it charged. Carry a $40 jump start unit if you worry about running down the start battery. Or better yet, just replace the starting battery with a large "dual-purpose" (starting/deep cycle). People tend to get way over concerned about this stuff and are determined to overcomplicate their wiring systems in the process. Unless you have a mega-watt stereo system, a trolling motor, or go long distances off-shore you simply don't need a dual battery setup -- especially in a 16 foot skiff. If you still feel the need for separate accessory power, connect them to the troller battery. It won't even know the stuff is there. My suggestion however remains -- do nothing as it's not necessary. Even a set of jumper cables would allow jumping the engine from the troller battery.