Battery Brain Marine

jjker · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:18 am

Anybody have any experience with this thing?

http://www.batterybrain.com/Marine.trif ... .03.08.pdf

I just installed a new stereo system, and also have an aftermarket chartplotter, and I'm looking for ways to guarantee my ability to start the boat.

JeffK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:23 am

2 Batteries!!!

jjker · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:26 am

I'd like to avoid that additional weight if possible...

JeffK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:41 am

I understand the weight thing, but the device cuts out at a certain battery level. What if that level is in the middle of your afternoon, No tunes to listen to the rest of your day. Time after time, it would strain your alternator. Just my $ .02.

jjker · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:47 am

OK. Anybody know what the going rate is to add a second battery and switch to a 200SS?

JeffK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:57 am

There was a post a short time back about a second battery installation. Fairly simple installation.

07H200SS · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:05 am

jjker wrote:

OK. Anybody know what the going rate is to add a second battery and switch to a 200SS?

I just did this to mine. $75.00 for battery, $45.00 for switch, $20.00 for battery tray, and about $50.00 spent on 2 ga. weldinig cable and ends. I took the boat out last weekend and noticed no difference in performance due to the extra weight.

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:26 am

Hmm, Battery Brain disconnects the battery when voltage drops to 11.9 volts - guess they forgot about the possible need for bilge pumps? What would you rather have, a drained battery, or a flooded boat? May be a battery brain, but it didn't say it was smart!

BTW - I estimate my cost on adding a second battery with battery box, wiring, BLue Sea Sysstems add a Battery switch and ACR to be about $250. Now I have isolated starting and house batteries, that will combine whenever a charging source is present to keep both batteries fully charged. Only time I use the switch is to turn everything off for storage.

jjker · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:01 pm

OK, I like that solution. So, let me get this right:

1. I can use one battery for music, and keep the other protected for starting, if needed?

2. When running the boat, the switch will charge both batteries all the time?

3. I can turn it "off" in the winter?

Sounds good to me.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:10 pm

1.) Yes

2.) Yes -as long as the switch is on "both"

3.) Yes

07H200SS · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:10 pm

jjker wrote:

OK, I like that solution. So, let me get this right:

1. I can use one battery for music, and keep the other protected for starting, if needed?

2. When running the boat, the switch will charge both batteries all the time?

3. I can turn it "off" in the winter?

Sounds good to me.

Correct. Oh I also added a dual bank charger to plug in when the boat is in the garage. Cost $95.00.

JeffK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:28 pm

"07H200SS
Correct. Oh I also added a dual bank charger to plug in when the boat is in the garage. Cost $95.00."

Where did you get you Dual Bank Charger for $95.00? All I see are ones for $175.00 +

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:50 pm

JeffK wrote:

"07H200SS
Correct. Oh I also added a dual bank charger to plug in when the boat is in the garage. Cost $95.00."

Where did you get you Dual Bank Charger for $95.00? All I see are ones for $175.00 +

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3114

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:59 pm

jjker wrote:

OK, I like that solution. So, let me get this right:

1. I can use one battery for music, and keep the other protected for starting, if needed?

2. When running the boat, the switch will charge both batteries all the time?

3. I can turn it "off" in the winter?

Sounds good to me.

Actually Cap'n s answer to #2 is not correct. The switwch on the add a battery package by Blue Sea Systems has three settings On, Off, and Combine. When On, the acr wrill combine the batteries whenever a charging source is present (e.g. engine on), so you can just leave the switch at on. If somehow the starting battery does get run down, The combine setting lets you manually combine the batbteries to start the engine. I had to do this once after leaving the boat at a dealer. Still haven't figured how they managed to drain my starting motor.

Cap'n Morgan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 1:05 pm

Jim_R wrote:

jjker wrote:

OK, I like that solution. So, let me get this right:

1. I can use one battery for music, and keep the other protected for starting, if needed?

2. When running the boat, the switch will charge both batteries all the time?

3. I can turn it "off" in the winter?

Sounds good to me.

Actually Cap'n s answer to #2 is not correct. The switwch on the add a battery package by Blue Sea Systems has three settings On, Off, and Combine. When On, the acr wrill combine the batteries whenever a charging source is present (e.g. engine on), so you can just leave the switch at on. If somehow the starting battery does get run down, The combine setting lets you manually combine the batbteries to start the engine. I had to do this once after leaving the boat at a dealer. Still haven't figured how they managed to drain my starting motor.

Actually, it is correct on my boat. Different set up than yours, and many if not most of the switches I see in cruisers, the "both" setting allows the batteries to charge at the same time, and to use both batteries for starting.

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