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Batteries on F30

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 1:27 pm
by lee
So I pulled one of the batteries on my Freedom that was reading Bad and I realized it was a starting battery. Do I need a dedicated starting battery or am i better off with an all purpose battery?
I'm a newbie owner so any direction would be a help.
Lee

Re: Batteries on F30

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:18 pm
by GeoffSchultz
The problem with not having a starter battery is that you may not be able to start the engine should you accidentally run down your house batteries while under way or at anchor. I don't know why you have for a starter battery, but I would just get a car battery to replace it.

-- Geoff

Re: Batteries on F30

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:43 pm
by RonR
It’s not clear if you mean that your battery is a “starting” type battery, of if it is connected to the engine so as to be a dedicated starting battery isolated from the house batteries. The latter is a good plan, as it means that if you run down the house batteries the engine can still be started, and also because the requirements for a starting battery (high short term cranking amps) are different from what you would want for house batteries (deep cycle). Automotive type batteries are starting batteries.

For a new boat owner, Nigel Calder’s recently revised (4th edition) Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual is a go-to reference, well worth the purchase.

Re: Batteries on F30

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:20 pm
by lee
So the starter battery is in the number two position. I'm guessing I should leave it on one to run the boat services (lights/Fans etc) and just turn it to two to start the boat?

Re: Batteries on F30

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 8:00 pm
by Ereiss
That's what I do.

Re: Batteries on F30

Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 9:10 am
by wcwcwc
After starting you need to see that both banks are getting charged. This may be as simple as switching to "both" while the engine is running and going back to "house" when sailing or at anchor. Using this procedure assumes that the battery types (AGM, GEL or conventional) are the same since each type requires different charging voltages.