Where to install second battery

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Sat May 25, 2013 8:53 pm

I have a 2005 210 Horizon and would like to add a second battery with switch. As you can see from the photos, there does not appear to be a nice place to add the battery on either side of the engine. Can any of you with 210's tell me where the second battery was installed if that option was installed when new? I considered installing a composite/plastic platform near where the current battery is that would be large enough to hold two trays. That platform would allow me to install the batteries over the gap beside the motor. My concern is that I might notice the two batteries both being on the starboard side of the boat. If I go with the port side, I will again probably need some sort of platform to bridge the gap on that side since my out drive hydraulic pump is located on that side. Also, where is the battery switch installed on most 210's? Thanks in advance for your help.

LouC · **Posted:** Sun May 26, 2013 9:56 am

You could try just setting it on the area just forward of the first battery but since thats on the side with the helm where you stand it may cause a list. There is room on the other side just forward of the blower hose. Only issue with putting it there, is that you will need to upsize the batt cable because it will wind up being long if you put the switch near the starter. Thats how I did mine, the original battery is where yours is and I put the switch on the coaming panel in the engine compartment. I put the 2nd batt on the other side. What I did was upsize from 2 gauge wire to 1/0 gauge wire and ran a separate ground wire to the stud on the bell housing on that side (thats how the original one is likely set up). That way no list and the batteries are not jammed in the same space. You have the trim pump back there, right so you can't put it right in front of that unless you don't mind moving it to check the oil in it now and then.

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:38 pm

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't even consider putting it on the "beam" in front of the blower hose. I don't mind upgrading the cable if that is what it takes. I will take a look at the width of that beam and see if I can squeeze a battery on there. I was thinking of mounting the switch inside the rear storage compartment on the starboard side. That way I can just open that storage hatch and control the switch from the platform without opening the engine hatch.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:50 pm

That's simple. Get a nice piece of starboard or marine grade plywood that gives you the proper footing to screw in a battery tray. Screw it securely to the "P" beam where the trim motor is (don't use too long of screws to go through the wood and into the hull and out the bottom). Install battery, switch, wires, done.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 04, 2013 8:49 pm

If it was me, the first thing I would do is change how you hold down your battery. http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=2235097

You could put the 2nd one, in front the first one but at 90 deg. You could build a shelf out of starboard over the 1st battery. Its hard to see how much room is really there.

OR

You could build a shelf from were the motor mount is and bridge it across to the left and screw it down. Again out of starboard.

No matter what, I would try to keep the batteries on the same side to make the cables as short as possible.

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:33 pm

Thanks for all of the ideas. I like the idea of installing on the port side to distribute weight. My concern is the longer battery cables. Is the only disadvantage of the longer cables the additional cost, or is there some loss of functionality? If it is only a cost issue, I don't mind coughing up a couple of extra bucks if it is going to make the boat drive/ride better.

90Tiger · **Joined:** Fri Oct 21, 2011 9:23 am **Posts:** 79

I have that exact boat (model and model year) with a second battery installed on the port side outside of the engine compartment in the rear of the boat. One battery is located in the same location as yours. The 2nd battery is accessible by lifting the "angled" hatch door at the rear of the boat near the swim platform. My battery switch is located in the starboard side under the rear cushion on the "wall" separating the compartment from the engine compartment and is accessible by lifting the rear starboard seat. I like that location since it is still accessible but doesn't get in the way of anything and isn't visible unless you lift the seat cushion. I have an electric engine hatch so I didn't want the switch or both batteries installed inside the engine compartment in case I had a problem. I put the second battery in an enclosed box (maybe $15 from Wal-Mart?) since we store our life jackets in that compartment and the compartment on the other side. I didn't think it would be a good idea to put wet life jackets on top of the battery. Even with the battery box, I try not to put wet life jackets on the battery box. Both of my batteries are Sears Diehard Platinum 31M AGM batteries and are heavy (75 lbs each) so I think it would be a mistake to install them both on the starboard side. Putting the first battery in (the one in the engine compartment) was quite a chore since that location isn't readily accessible. The second battery was easy to install. I wish I had pictures to show you which would make this so much easier to understand but does this make sense?

230 Mike · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:28 am

schoolsOut wrote:

Is the only disadvantage of the longer cables the additional cost, or is there some loss of functionality?

Nope, just the cost, and heavier cables can be harder to work with during installation, etc. But once the job is done right, you'll never have to think about it again.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 12:54 pm

As noted there is no down side to putting it on the port side except that the cable will cost more. You might want to switch to the trays that have a top clamp, they hold the battery more securely. I used to have boxes but the do not hold the batteries secure enough. My group 27 dual purpose batteries weigh close to 50 lbs each. I'm not sure if that would cause a list if you put both on the same side.
As far as trays I have the same one Paul linked above.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:16 pm

LouC wrote:

As noted there is no down side to putting it on the port side except that the cable will cost more. You might want to switch to the trays that have a top clamp, they hold the battery more securely. I used to have boxes but the do not hold the batteries secure enough. My group 27 dual purpose batteries weigh close to 50 lbs each. I'm not sure if that would cause a list if you put both on the same side.
As far as trays I have the same one Paul linked above.

Yep, more $$$ and wight. But the wight in minor, 2 or 3 pounds more.

ric · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:48 pm

There's an electronic surplus store here that sells tinned marine wire cheap. Less than $2 a foot for heavy gauges. My whole A/C setup with battery wires, wires to inverter, ends, etc was under $40. See if you have one local.

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:44 pm

90Tiger wrote:

The second battery was easy to install. I wish I had pictures to show you which would make this so much easier to understand but does this make sense?

I totally understand what you mean. Thanks for the reply. I will check that out as a possibility. I do like the idea of it being easier to access.

schoolsOut · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:45 pm

ric wrote:

There's an electronic surplus store here that sells tinned marine wire cheap. Less than $2 a foot for heavy gauges. My whole A/C setup with battery wires, wires to inverter, ends, etc was under $40. See if you have one local.

I will take a look around and see what I can find. Thanks.

www.iFourWinns.com

Where to install second battery

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