Third Battery ???????

tara11 · Sep-04-2005, 08:22 PM

I am woundering how would I add a third battery, how are they wired ? does the third battery get the positive to the pos post on the house battery and the neg to the neg post of the house battery ? or is there more to it and can my F225 handle three batterys ? I know this is alot of questions, any advise !

Thanks,
Craig
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Halibut Howie · Sep-04-2005, 08:57 PM

I wired 3 GP29 batteries to my 2-way battery switch. Here's how i did it. I wired 2 batteries in parallel to BAT1 and the single battery on BAT2. Parallel mode: wire the + red posts together with a one foot long #4 red marine grade wire with connectors on each end. Wire the - black post the same way but use black wire. Connect the two parallel configured batteries with a red wire to BAT1 of 2-way battery switch. Wire the single battery the same way to BAT2. Connect all the black battery posts from the 3 batteries together and wire them back to system return, usually the motor block.

Configuring 12vdc batteries in parallel keeps the batteries at a 12vdc output. Wiring the 12vdc batteries in series (red-to-black) doubles the battery voltage to 24vdc.

I slip my boat so I added an automatic 2-battery charger with a 5amp output to each battery string. Always start the day with 3 fully charged batteries. Also have a 4th GP29 I keep in center seating storage area for my electric reel and lobster flood lighting. I swap it out occasionally with one of the other 3 charge regulated batteries. I buy 4 new Marine Starting batteries from Walmart @ $63 a piece every three years.

HH

tara11 · Sep-04-2005, 09:28 PM

Thanks, you answered my question and I thank you for your time !

Reel Crazy · Sep-05-2005, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tara11

I am woundering how would I add a third battery, how are they wired ? does the third battery get the positive to the pos post on the house battery and the neg to the neg post of the house battery ? or is there more to it and can my F225 handle three batterys ? I know this is alot of questions, any advise !

Thanks,
Craig
-----

Here is a pic of how I did it. You may not be able to see everything but its like Halibut Howie said above.

tara11 · Sep-06-2005, 03:09 PM

Thanks, I got a battery tray from WM, and bolted it down and got the #4, 12" cables and installed, I have a Guest trickle battery maintainer and the light went from green and red to green only in about 1 1/2 hrs, so I did it just the way both of you guys said and I am happy with the end result, THANKS !