battery calculator

[MattFX4]

I've done 6v batteries and will not do again. It's not double capacity. You can't add the ah like with 12v because they are in series. If one dies, your done. When my boat batteries die, they're getting agm for sure. The last thing I want to do I'd have to top off the water 4x a year at minimum. Spilling battery acid on carpet is less than ideal, even with the mandatory battery filler (well worth $12) you'll spill sometime.

There is no way to know how much your stereo pulls unless you play some typical music, at typical volume, and measure the amps using a current shunt. Adding peak watts for all channels will represent driving the speakers at max volume continuously during the largest bass hit. You would need a frequency generator to play a ~40hz tone at full volume to even come close to using peek watts.

That's true. Two 150AH 6 volts wired in series does not double the capacity to 300AH. I remember learning this when buying batteries for my golf cart.

 

[FloJet]

The battery debate again. IMO

6v batteries is the best to run your electronics. They are more true deep cycle vs 12v deep cycle. And the reserve capacities are way better. Just research it. I can play my equipment for about days worth of lake time. Truly is amazing.

 

[FloJet]

6v is not double capacity when series. But look at this 2 6v batteries in series paralleled can give you 235 amp hours. I have 2 sets of that. To equal that you will need 2 12v batteries that are rated at 115 amp hours or so to have the same amp hours. In real time those 2 12v batteries will die out way quicker than the 2 6v batteries. Plus you can deep cycle a 6v battery more than a 12v battery due to less cells.

I've tried many other ways and there is no other way better. They may take up more room but you get more play time. I have high power equipment playing all day and my batteries do not even flinch. I Usually start the day out at 12.5-12.4 volts and always leave with about 12.3-12.2 volts reading at the end of the day. You will not get that out of any 12v battery banks that has 4 batteries compared to my 4 6v batteries which gives me 470 amp hours.

I know boats that run $40k stereo equipment that will not spend time and day with 12v systems. It always tickle me when the 12v guys are sitting at the cove with batteries drain, while we jamming hard all day.

 

[FloJet]

Great info @Bruce !
@Kross the one disadvantage I can think of is maintenance - those 6v batteries are not sealed and need to be watered up which - in a boat - can be a hassle.

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I water mine about 2-3 times a year and most of the time they don't need it. Using the batteries on a weekend basis do not drain the water like you might think. It's not like a car being used every day but maybe twice a week on during normal seasons.

 

[FloJet]

Hardly any maintenance for me but to be fair, I have watering system installed on mines too tho.

 

[MattFX4]

@FloJet sounds impressive. The OP is going to be running 1,200 watts from good efficient amps. I had no problem running the same set up as him with OEM dual batteries from Yamaha. I have since upgraded to 3 batteries for the hell of it. I think if you are running a 5,000 watt system, then 6 volts are the way to go.

 

[MattFX4]

Hardly any maintenance for me but to be fair, I have watering system installed on mines too tho.

nice! Does your boat lean to one side haha??

 

[FloJet]

nice! Does your boat lean to one side haha??

Haha you know it!

I do understand budget but it came down to me making a decision for the long run and 6v was the most reasonable way for me. Not much of a weight difference if I had 4 12v bank which is the only other route I would take. But even that the play time is just not feasible without breaking the bank. 2 6v in series will give most people plenty of play time and still be at a reasonable price. $110 each for 6v 235 amp hour battery is great IMO. Plus they can later add more equip. and still be ok. I always try to plan my system for future upgrades. To be honest, I'm kicking my self for not doing 6 6v batteries for peace of mind as I will be adding more things down the road.

My biggest challenge right now is trying to find a way to isolate connext and Polk radio so I can take them off my stereo system house bank. I don't like running anything but amps on my house batteries due to ground loop and other issues like more power drain. Not sure it can be done with the Yammies. Still testing and trying some things in regards to that but not much a priority until I get other mods done.

 

[Bruce]

That's true. Two 150AH 6 volts wired in series does not double the capacity to 300AH. I remember learning this when buying batteries for my golf cart.

Yes but two 225 Ah 6 volt golf cart batteries in series do give you 225 Ah of 12 volts for less than half the price of marine batteries.

 

[MattFX4]

Yes but two 225 Ah 6 volt golf cart batteries in series do give you 225 Ah of 12 volts for less than half the price of marine batteries.

That's true. For some reason I was thinking the 6 volts were the same AH as the 12 volts. I forgot they are usually 200+ AH.

 

[Jgorm]

In real time those 2 12v batteries will die out way quicker than the 2 6v batteries. [\QUOTE]
Not true. AH=AH.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

Hardly any maintenance for me but to be fair, I have watering system installed on mines too tho.

What charger do you use?
When ruining in parallel do you use a dual bank bank charger?
When installing 6v batteries would you then need 2 chargers? one for the 6V and one for your 12v cranking battery?

 

[swatski]

nice! Does your boat lean to one side haha??

Not at all - judging from his pics @FloJet balances it really well with semi clad female friends, don't you @FloJet, lol?

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[FloJet]

Haha you know we just like to have some good eye candy around for the ones that have those special ladies and can't touch

 

[Bruce]

When installing 6v batteries would you then need 2 chargers? one for the 6V and one for your 12v cranking battery?

The easiest method is to charge the batteries in series connecting the charger to the positive of one and the negative of the other. It looks like @FloJet has two series of two 6 volt batteries wired in parallel. He could charge each series separately or charge them in parallel using a single bank of a charger. I would use a dual bank on board charger with one to the starting battery and the other to the 6 volt batteries.

 

[FloJet]

Yes sir, I have them wired in series/parallel. I have a Minn Kota 2 bank charger where one is for my starting bank and the other is for my house bank. My batteries stay charged as when the boat is sitting it's always on the charger. Love the on-board charger. Great investment as you never have to worry about taking those heavy batteries out. If you buy the watering system off amazon makes it alot more easier to maintenance them but that's only if budget can call for that.

 

[swatski]

Haha you know we just like to have some good eye candy around for the ones that have those special ladies and can't touch

Alright, I'm convinced. 6V batteries is the way to go.

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[FloJet]

The great feature I like about this charger is you can use it to equalize your batteries. That is huge for a sound system batteries.

 

[FloJet]

Alright, I'm convinced. 6V batteries is the way to go.

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Geez that didn't take long today

 

[Bruce]

The great feature I like about this charger is you can use it to equalize your batteries. That is huge for a sound system batteries.

I do not understand this part. Can you explain further?