Aux Battery Low - 1 year old battery

[scottbailie]

Third time out this season, and I got a low voltage alarm (10V) on my house battery after about an hour w/ the stereo on in float mode. I was surprised because the battery is only a year old and sat on a tender all winter. No issues last year. I wondered if it was just a bad reading but to be safe I headed back to the marina and measured it - 11.5V by time we got back, on a meter and the Connext screen. One of the mechanics at the dock said they've had trouble with the Green Interstate Marine batteries and have since stopped using them. Anyone else have trouble with these - I assume they're stock in many of the newer models - mines a 2017 212X. I'm not sure if I should replace them both based on his comments, or assume it'll charge up after a longer ride. I know the house battery only charges after the starting battery is charged. I'm more worried about the longevity of the starter battery. Any suggestions?

In the meantime I picked up a NOCO lithium jump starter - just to be safe!

 

[Seadeals]

It only takes once to screw up a battery and it doesn’t even have to be your fault. I had one on my maintainer and killed it totally dead. I think it was because I did not engage the battery disconnect (still everything off). I have no idea how; but can only figure either the maintainer had a temporary glitch or my new helm circuit with new amp had a static draw greater than my maintainer amperage (huh?). Either way, it happens and not all batteries are manufactured perfectly. I personally grabbed the Wally World Maxx batteries because they are convenient (and cheap), but if I were to splurge I would go Deka, or the Sears group 31 is very similar to batteries twice as expensive (learned from a pro bass fisherman). Everyone will have a favorite.

 

[subysti]

Is it a deep cycle battery or just a starting battery? You can't use a starting battery for the aux as this is what happens. Starting batteries are for fast discharge at high amps, long slow draws kill them and once below 12vdc they are dead. Won't get too many charges out of it that way. Just an idea as I know most dealers don't install deep cycle batteries.

 

[scottbailie]

It’s a deep cycle, Interstate Marine 24M-XHD

 

[Julian]

I just returned an Advance Auto Gold battery (car battery) and got a new replacement as it failed under their warranty (3 years I think). I am going to look into if they have marine batteries when I need a new one.

 

[WildCatFan54]

Pretty sure that the Interstate 24M-XHD are NOT deep cycle batteries. My boat came with 2 of them also and our battery rep ( I'm in the automotive aftermarket business) tells me they are high amp cranking batteries. Not designed for multiple discharges and recharging. I am in the process of replacing mine with a pair of AGM Blue Top Optima (Group 27) after completing the DVSR mod so that they both maintain properly on my 2 bank shore charger.

 

[subysti]

Yea according to the interstate web page that's a starting battery and not a deep cycle. Says cranking right on the front of it.

 

[scottbailie]

Totally correct, I completely missed thanks!

 

[scottbailie]

One more follow-up...talking with one of the mechanics at the marina this weekend and I asked him why they don't install deep cycle batteries for the house / aux battery. His response was because the stator (rather than alternator) in the yamaha setup is not well suited to charge a deep cycle. I'm no battery expert, but I was surprised to hear him say that after so many on the forum use a deep cycle for the house. Thoughts here?

 

[mraz72]

I just ordered a Duracell group 31 agm marine battery from Batteries Plus Bulbs for a little over $200 after the online discount and when I return my core. They ship to the stores for free, pretty good deal....

My OEM house batter also died...

 

[swatski]

I just ordered a Duracell group 31 agm marine battery from Batteries Plus Bulbs for a little over $200 after the online discount and when I return my core. They ship to the stores for free, pretty good deal....

My OEM house batter also died...

Those are great batteries!

--

 

[swatski]

One more follow-up...talking with one of the mechanics at the marina this weekend and I asked him why they don't install deep cycle batteries for the house / aux battery. His response was because the stator (rather than alternator) in the yamaha setup is not well suited to charge a deep cycle. I'm no battery expert, but I was surprised to hear him say that after so many on the forum use a deep cycle for the house. Thoughts here?

They are kind of correct... but usually no one depends on the OEM stator for full recharge.
Shore/garage power and an "intelligent" charger are really a must. Many of us install a charger on board, then you just plug to shore power at the dock.

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[Ronnie]

Ok my turn, during my last trip out after just one full day on the water my boat started throwing a low voltage warning on the aux/house battery. So the alarm went off every few mi utes or so. No biggie just hit the button on the guage which I could have done all day but was also happened is the stereo started to cycle on and off randomly but mostly stayed off and I could not turn it on at will. I just bought matching interstate agm starter batteries a year or two ago and they live on a charger maintainer whenever the boat is not in use. After rereading this thread and others like it I believe I just need to replace my aux/house battery with a deep cycle battery instead.

Is this correct?

I hope so and hope not at the same time because I paid over $400 for my batteries not long ago expecting them to last a lot longer but if I have to spend another $200 to be rid of this problem for more than two seasons so be it. Hopefully the interstate battery store where I got my batteries from will give me some credit towards a new deep cycle battery. If not the full cost of a new deep cycle will simply be the cost of not taking the right advice and insisting on matching batteries just like the boat came with instead.

 

[scottbailie]

Thanks swatski. My problem is that the boat is in dry rack storage, so no opportunity to shore or garage charging.

 

[mraz72]

One more follow-up...talking with one of the mechanics at the marina this weekend and I asked him why they don't install deep cycle batteries for the house / aux battery. His response was because the stator (rather than alternator) in the yamaha setup is not well suited to charge a deep cycle. I'm no battery expert, but I was surprised to hear him say that after so many on the forum use a deep cycle for the house. Thoughts here?

On the X series we also have the solar chargers, not sure if that makes a difference but I know from experience it does charge the batteries to some extent.