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What Battery?

boatman4021

boatman4021

Well-known member
Ok, I am sick of the Wal Mart battery game. This time I am getting my money back for the junk battery. What would be a good battery to use with the Optimax? How many cca are needed? I know I just need a cranking or starting battery, but would like some specs.
 
Gary, I went through this when picking the battery for the enchanter. The top rated ones were the delco batteries. I used them for 3 years and they never needed a charge till I had a bad alt. Even over winter, they were fine without a trickle charger.
 
boatman4021 said:
Ok, I am sick of the Wal Mart battery game. This time I am getting my money back for the junk battery. What would be a good battery to use with the Optimax? How many cca are needed? I know I just need a cranking or starting battery, but would like some specs.
Click to expand...

Mercury actually reccomends AGM batts for any smatrcraft OB. And unplug that fuse I mentioned after long idle periods of not using your boat.
I have used Optima starting batts for years and never put a charger on them until.............the smartcraft parasitic draw issue. But since I resolved that no more issues.
 
I think part of the problem aside from the battery coming from WalMart, it is a dual purpose battery cranking/deep cycle. It appears that they are being over charged to the point of shorting inside. I put the battery on 10amp charge yesterday for about 90 min. the charger kept kicking on and off. Took the boat out on the river and set the smartcrap tach to volts, at idle it showed 13.3, the more throttle I applied the lower the voltage. When it drops below 11 volts, the beeper goes off and it goes into gaurdian mode. I could be wrong, but I don't think it is a problem with the alternator, I think the battery is robbing all of the voltage. I say this because I have seen it happen in cars before. This could be totally different, I don't know. Any advice?
 
boatman4021 said:
at idle it showed 13.3, the more throttle I applied the lower the voltage. When it drops below 11 volts, the beeper goes off and it goes into gaurdian mode.
Click to expand...
Sounds to me like it is not charging. The more rpm, the more draw on the battery to spark more times per minute. When my alt went bad on my boat, it acted the same minus that smart crap......I don't like anything that can outsmart the average bear:lol: However, my gauge acted the same!

How hard is the alt to remove? You could take it off and go to autozone and have it tested for free! That would remove all doubt of that aspect of the puzzle.
 
I am going to get the alternator tested, but I also need a battery, for sure. The old one was junk after 2 months. Took it back just a little bit ago and got a full refund!
 
They should be both on while motor is running. I only switch to one when motor is off and just running accesorys. Leaving the other fully charged to start up again. The one is for starting and the other a deep cycle that can be drained and recharged without damage of draining. Just what I do!
 
Boatman,

Get a Mercury Battery. I think they are 1000CA amd 160hr.

Optimax motors need a starting battery not a deep cycle as you previously mentioned.

Also, if you get dual batteries you shouldn't run with both on. Just switch from 1 to 2 half way through the day and you will never have a problem. I ran this way with good size stereo systems too. Running the switch on "both" is a great way to burn up an alternator on an O/B motor.

Let the bashing begin.

HD
 
HotDaddy
Your also correct. I guess my statement was left unclear that it depends on your setup. How your wired and what components you use in your wiring make a difference in how you run your switch.
 
For 20 yrs, I've always run a Dynamic Tournament 1010 CCA 146 hr reserve (approx $100) starting battery that was recommended by some merc hi-perf mechanics around here. At least on my 2.5's', they've insisted LOTS of juice for motor to perform.

Then have a cheap Auto Zone deep cycle ($75) that's switched over for stereo when parked. Has never gone dead in a full day, even cranking 2 amps LOUD. I've never charged this battery on 1+2 while driving, choose to pull it and trickle charge before next time out.

Usually replace each battery about every 4-5 yrs.
 
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