Battery question

Mark5795, I also want to hear the answer to your question.I have the same thing happen to my (3) battery setup. The battery to the big engine is far more tapped than the other two used to complete the 36V circuit to the trolling motor. I have watched this for several years. I have replaced the starting battery a couple times, replaced the battery charger (three bank dual pro), and have changed leads for the charger, seeing if anything makes a difference on the cranking battery. Its does not…..as the cranking battery is always tapped for more power. I have even gone to the lake and not used any electronics at all….and no pumps…..just trolling motor and big motor…..same thing, cranking battery is hit pretty hard but others are not hit as hard.I even went up to the great big blue top battery as my cranking battery (cant recall the brand….has the round cells) and use Delco Voyager batteries for two designated trolling batteries. The bottom line that Ive seen is that the cranking battery is going to get hit more than the other two batteries.Expanding on what you guys are asking, I would also ask this: Lets say a man wants to add a voltage cut-off switch at the cranking battery so that phantom draws do not draw down the cranking battery when the boat is not in use. I was experimenting yesterday by taking the positive lead off of the cranking battery, after the batteries are charged, so that the cranking battery has no draw on it……but then I thought to myself……if all my positive leads, taken off the cranking battery, are in contact with each other after removing them from the cranking battery……..will there still be power in the system because the other two trolling batteries are still hooked up? Would I actually have to place a cut-off both at the cranking battery…..and…..in-line with the positive lead of the trolling system to the third battery (cranking battery). I think so, but hadnt gotten any further on thinking thru this.

Looks like Ill be needing ( another )new starting battery. I had 13.5 volts while charging. When all batteries went green i turned off the charger and only had 12.4 .Waited a half hour and was down to 12.1 .Hopefully Ill have some sort of warranty as that one is only 7 months old.Thanks for all the help

Cotton, Based on reviews Ive done of battery reserves, Optima batteries just dont have the staying power to handle a modern Bass boat. Get a Sears PM-1 31 series cranking battery, and you will see a huge difference. I run a 3 battery, 36v system, with a Stealth DC charger in the mix. My trolling batteries are 31 series, US Battery units. Have had no problems at all. Mike Whitten

If the compartment light is on all the time, the alarm wont set at all. Ive had that happen. It sounds like an intermittent connection, but still, the compartment lights themselves do not draw enough power to run your battery down that soon. I would start by removing everything from the battery and checking with a volt meter or amp meter as you add them on to see if something is drawing more than it should. Then fix that. Example, my Beede tach went out and drew enough amps overnight that my alarm dis-armed itself. After I figured it out and unplugged the tach the battery was fine.

BCB is not a fan of Optima batteries on cranking uses. Weight is battery durability in their opinion. The choice of Optima usually has to do with them weighing less. Optima staff once monitored this board and we do not believe they presently do. BCB staff is also not sure how the NOCO chargers work with latest Optima batteries. BCBLast edited by Bass Cat Boats on September 29th, 2013, 2:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

compartment lights automatically go off after being left on five minutes.

When I replaced my cranking battery I did tons of research. Under the Mercury tab on bassboatcentral.com there is a sticky that lists what batteries are acceptable for use with a Mercury Opti XS (which is what I assume you have). The Optima battery is acceptable for CCA and MCA for use however it does not have the Reserve Capacity needed IMHO. RC is 155 on the Blue Top Optima which again IMHO is not enough for PP, stereo, livewells etc. I chose a DieHard Platinum group 31. These batteries are super heavy and have the CCA/MCA needed as well as the RC and they have a 3 year warranty. Now, not sure if you have a Batteries Plus near you however I was in there the other day for a phone battery and was talking with the rep there regarding the Marine batteries they carry. They have super RC and the CCA/MCA a Merc needs and if I remember correctly they had a 5 year warranty but I could be wrong on the warranty. I believe he said they were made by Northstar for them which is a super battery! Good luck and hope this helps.

I will check . That shouldnt have any power draw unless it running.that could be it. Maybe its automatic.previous boat was a 88 crarcal. Boy has boats came a long way. I purchase a 2013 p2 .just happen to notice the wite over there all to its lonesome. Makes sense if it automatic2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury