2017 Scarab 255 Stereo Power

[TX_Scarab 255]

Good Afternoon,

This is my first post here, so please be gentle, I am running into issues with powering my boat stereo over long periods of time, plus I think my stereo installer hooked up my Blue Seas Systems battery switch wrong (another time perhaps). Stereo is stand alone on the below battery. Obviously play time varies depends on volume ect, but I have not been able to get a full day out of it.

Here is what I currently have.

Northstar NSB-AGM31, 2150 CA, 1150 CCA, 220 Reserve, 103 aH.

Head Unit - Kicker KMC2 with KRC11 remote
4x Kicker 6.5" Speakers
1 Set Kicker 45KMTDC65 Towers
1 Kicker KMF-10 Sub
1 Kicker KXMA800.5 amp
1 Pyle PLMRA630BT amp

I have been reading on 6v batteries and thought it may be the way to go, but definitely not my area of expertise. The other issue is space, the 31 series above takes up almost all of the space I have for a second battery. With that being said, would changing out my motor cranking battery and running both banks on 6v one circuit help?

Any help would be appreciated.

Denton

 

[Dean P]

Good Afternoon,

This is my first post here, so please be gentle, I am running into issues with powering my boat stereo over long periods of time, plus I think my stereo installer hooked up my Blue Seas Systems battery switch wrong (another time perhaps). Stereo is stand alone on the below battery. Obviously play time varies depends on volume ect, but I have not been able to get a full day out of it.

Here is what I currently have.

Northstar NSB-AGM31, 2150 CA, 1150 CCA, 220 Reserve, 103 aH.

Head Unit - Kicker KMC2 with KRC11 remote
4x Kicker 6.5" Speakers
1 Set Kicker 45KMTDC65 Towers
1 Kicker KMF-10 Sub
1 Kicker KXMA800.5 amp
1 Pyle PLMRA630BT amp

I have been reading on 6v batteries and thought it may be the way to go, but definitely not my area of expertise. The other issue is space, the 31 series above takes up almost all of the space I have for a second battery. With that being said, would changing out my motor cranking battery and running both banks on 6v one circuit help?

Any help would be appreciated.

Denton

Hi and welcome to the forum !!! Great place to be with lots of good folks and tons of info here to keep you safe and on the water. Nobody will beat you up.

Questions:
How many 12v batteries do you have? I assume 1
How old are they? I assume 3 years
What type are they? I assume starter

You need 2 12v batteries with a dual battery switch. One battery or both needs to be a deep cycle battery. We can get away with 2 deep cycle as our engines do not need a lot of cranking power. Get yourself an on-board battery charge/maintainer.

When you're at the sand bar switch to battery 2 (deep cycle) to play your stuff and when it's time to go home switch to 1 or both (preferable both). When leaving the house/dock/ramp switch to battery 1. When you get home (after you flush) switch to off and plug in your charger. Repeat everytime and you should be fine.

Check out my signature for items I have and mods I've done. Could help you.

 

[Nexus]

When you're at the sand bar switch to battery 2 (deep cycle) to play your stuff and when it's time to go home switch to 1 or both (preferable both). When leaving the house/dock/ramp switch to battery 1.

Unless he has one of these. Then there's no need to switch batteries. The starter battery is reserved for the engine, and the house battery is reserved for the accessories. But the batteries can be combined if needed.

 

[Dean P]

Unless he has one of these. Then there's no need to switch batteries. The starter battery is reserved for the engine, and the house battery is reserved for the accessories. But the batteries can be combined if needed.

Not sure what he has. Sure, you can fancy things up but as a general guideline I believe what I laid out would work for most. Due to these engines not having an alternator to charge batteries up, we don't get much. Definitely not enough to matter. Having an on-board charger really helps maintain battery level. Our boats are very sensitive to battery level. Found that out the hard way.

 

[JDRacing]

Scarabs/BRP engines don't have alternators? They run a total loss ignition system? Do they run magnetos?

Jeff

 

[Dean P]

Scarabs/BRP engines don't have alternators? They run a total loss ignition system? Do they run magnetos?

Jeff

Thank you for asking and making me look at my owners manual. I believed these engines used a different method of recharging. But that is NOT true. There is an engine-driven alternator in these engines. I copied the literature and posted below. Now, I have a Chaparral with BRP Rotax engine. I'm assuming it is the same engines in our boats. Also, my battery switch is an electronic type switch and does not look the same as pictured below but still works on the same principle.

 

[JDRacing]

Thank you for the clarification.

Jeff

 

[Compatico]

Thank you for the clarification.

Just clarify a bit further, Yamaha marine motors use a direct crank driven magneto/stator coil system to feed a water cooled rectifier circuit. Although it's a different design, the end result is identical to an alternator (motor spins coils to generate AC voltage which is then rectified to DC for use by the onboard electrical system). The only notable difference really is an alternator contains the magneto coils and rectifier all in one housing which is why it's called an alternator (produces alternating current) rather than a generator which produces DC voltage.

Another difference is how much current is generated by the system. Both designs are capable of generating large amounts of current, only limited by size and manufacturer designs.. Those who install additional speakers and amps will consume much larger amounts of energy compared to stock systems, and would need additional batteries and charging systems to keep the batteries in optimal condition.

To the OP @TX_Scarab 255 :

Sounds like you have 2800 watts of amps if my google-fu is accurate? If so, you likely need two batteries to get all day play, plus the starting battery (three total). If you're firing up the boat and driving back to the dock for 15mins after a day at the beach, anchor, or sandbar that would not be anywhere near enough time to fully recharge one battery, let alone three. It would be the same as installing speakers and amps in your car, driving to the lake and pumping tunes all day long, then driving 1 mile home and complaining the batteries are not charging.

I would suggest adding another of the same AGM battery and wire the switch to ensure the starting battery is isolated so you're only drawing on the two AGM's to enjoy your tunes, and still have a fresh starting battery. Then install a 3 bank battery charger/maintainer to make sure they're all kept in good shape.

 

[TX_Scarab 255]

Update, went to a local shop today, they are sure I have enough juice, but noticed 2 problems.

1. Added the Blue Sea systems switch with the electronic "reader" that should read, route, and cut power to batteries as selected. Problem 1, incorrectly installed, problem 2 the installed switch/system was for an alternator not starter system. Fix, replace with simple 1, 2, both, off perko switch.

2. Pyle amp is an AB, not efficient at all, (cheap amp purchased to stay in wifes budget), amp had problems overheating from day 1 due to inefficiently, this drawing to much power and causing lack of power issues. Fix will be upgrading to another class D amp like the one currently installed.

One more question, when replacing the battery switch, I would like to find one that just replaces the stock switch and fits as if it was designed for the factory location, does anyone happen to know which, of the thousands there are, that one is?

 

[TX_Scarab 255]

Hi and welcome to the forum !!! Great place to be with lots of good folks and tons of info here to keep you safe and on the water. Nobody will beat you up.

Questions:
How many 12v batteries do you have? I assume 1
How old are they? I assume 3 years
What type are they? I assume starter

You need 2 12v batteries with a dual battery switch. One battery or both needs to be a deep cycle battery. We can get away with 2 deep cycle as our engines do not need a lot of cranking power. Get yourself an on-board battery charge/maintainer.

When you're at the sand bar switch to battery 2 (deep cycle) to play your stuff and when it's time to go home switch to 1 or both (preferable both). When leaving the house/dock/ramp switch to battery 1. When you get home (after you flush) switch to off and plug in your charger. Repeat everytime and you should be fine.

Check out my signature for items I have and mods I've done. Could help you.

2 batteries, one is supposed to be dedicated to the motors and one too Amps. Battery for stereo was new last year. Currently have a "auto" battery selector, its getting changed to a manual. Everything goes on a charger each nighy.

 

[Dean P]

2 batteries, one is supposed to be dedicated to the motors and one too Amps. Battery for stereo was new last year. Currently have a "auto" battery selector, its getting changed to a manual. Everything goes on a charger each nighy.

I guy down the canal from us sits on the sandbar for like 8 hours every weekend. I know he has 3 batteries. If that's your intent, $200 for a 3rd battery is cheaper than calling SeaTow.