24 volt battery setup

I got delivered my new 24v terrova today and I am working on getting all the pieces together.

I understand how to wire 2 12v batteries together to get the 24v, I have a 60 amp breaker to put on hot side, and I understand how to wire the 2 bank charger.

My question is about my existing batteries. I have 2 12v deep cycle batteries I took out of my old boat. One is 2yrs old and the other was new this spring. They are not identical. One has 800 cranking amps and 180 reserve capacity, the other has 550 cranking amps and 140 reserve capacity.

Am I doing myself a huge disservice by trying to use these mismatched batteries? Good to run them through the winter and get new this spring?
I assume it won’t damage the motor, but is there a concern with operation?
Anythimg else I’m missing?

Thanks for any help, or encouragement,
Nater

You can do that ......it wont hurt anything except the batterys...it will bring the best one down to tbe lowest ones level eventually. In the spring get two new batterys same brand...group size...and type....and same mfg date.

:hesaid

X3!!


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As previously explained the best performance will come from using matched batteries. Also use Deep cycle and not dual purpose batteries as many marine batteries are being passed off by the marketing departments of the battery distributors these days.

If money is a concern and in your case the larger of the two batteries is the one purchased this past spring, it is a deep cycle and not dual purpose and you really have no other use for the battery then I would consider buying a "matching" battery to pair with that battery and run them for the next few years.

Yes there will be a mismatch in the number of charging cycles but if you have taken care of the older battery such as charged it up right after getting home each time and kept it maintained there is no reason that you should not be able to get 3 years or better of satisfactory performance out of the batteries.

When I replaced them then I would put in a matched pair as that is the best.

My bigger battery is the older of the 2, and is a dual purpose. I guess the marketing department got me.

What is the actual difference between deep cycle and dual purpose?

Im considering getting a match for the smaller/newer/deep cycle battery.

OK...On battery group size.....How are you going to be fishing will determine your group size....for instance if you plan to pull crankbaits at 1.7 mph all day...you need group 31. If your spider rigging you could get by with group a group 27 or 29. In other words the bigger the battery the longer run time you have. Bigger is better as far as run time...it also keeps you from pulling so much charge out of your battery each trip. Bigger batterys will last longer. I replaced my group 31s back in August....they were 7 years old.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nater

My bigger battery is the older of the 2, and is a dual purpose. I guess the marketing department got me.

What is the actual difference between deep cycle and dual purpose?

Im considering getting a match for the smaller/newer/deep cycle battery.

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The difference if my memory is serving me correctly is the deep cycle uses heavier thicker lead plates than the starting or dual purpose batteries as the Deep cycle batteries are designed to deliver the power draw for a longer time period.

Not knowing anything about your boat, your needs or your type of fishing makes it hard to suggest anything. As far as batteries of course the larger the capacity of the batteries the longer the charge will last. Also for battery longevity the further down you discharge a battery on a regular basis the more you shorten its lifespan and the longer it takes to recharge.

Ideal is to never pull the batteries down below 50% or so charge at maximum and recharge the batteries back to a full charge condition as soon as possible after discharge.

If you have a Sam's club in your area their group 31 Duracell wet cell deep cycle battery is made by Deka (exact same battery as a group 31 from Napa with different stickers) and a very good battery and they are usually put on sale several times a year at heck of a good price of around 80.00 or even a little less.

I would then use the smaller battery you have to power all your accessories such as lights, bilge pumps, live wells and depth finders. Many of the newer larger depth finders pull a fair amount of juice over the course of a fishing day.

We each have what we consider to work best for ourselves and this does not make someone else doing something different wrong in most cases! :cheers2

I have a 20’ center console t-top deep v (bulls bay 200cc)
We fish in the salt quite a bit and I needed a real versatile boat for the lakes as well, I live about 10min from FallsLake NC. Im setting it up to longline for crappie and to slow troll/bottom bounce for big flounder, so an all day draw on the batteries.

After considering all options with the old batteries, I decided to just go get new 31 series deep cycles. I got exides from Home Depot, mainly because I had a gift card. Matched pair with same dates. Happy so far. I figured that after spending out for an 80# terrova, cheaping out on the batteries seemed ridiculous.

Thanks for all your help.

Ya could sell them then get what you want