2000 310 DA battery replacement

[Boston-boater]

I just purchased a 200 310 DA. The boat came with four wet cell cranking batteries wired in two banks paralel. I want to replace all of them with AGMs. Can I use two group 27 optima blue deep cycle in one bank and one grip 27 optima blue cranking on the other? I am trying to end up with a house bank and a starting bank. I don't think I need two cranking batteries.

 

[mawyatt]

You can get AGM from Sams for less if they stock them. I replaced my 4 type 31 with AGM from Sams, they were Duracells I recall. No issues and one less thing to worry about (fluid replacement). Mine are wired two each in parallel, so they are starting and running/house batteries.

 

[BigBoysToys]

I did the same on my 330. 4 new group 31 AGM's. Have never had an issue and I have plenty of DC power for lights, pumps, fridges, stereo, etc.



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[Boston-boater]

Thanks for the feedback. Did you consider using a starting battery on one side and the deep cycles on the other? My boat currently has Grp 27s, not sure if the the 31s will fit.

 

[Bugsy24]

I just upgraded also to Sears AGM Platinum 31's this year. They were running a sale 4 for the price of 3. When we first got the Boat it had 27's and we were having all sorts of electrical issues with the Axius and DTS, Merc. replaced the 27's with 31's and it solved the problems we were having.
All are Deep Cycle!!

 

[mawyatt]

When we got the boat new from MarineMax they had 2 deep cycle floaded cell type 31 in parallel, one set for Port and one for Stbd. These were deep cycle not starting batteries. I switched to AGM type 31 without issues. I would think that 2 AGM type 27 in parallel should be fine as starting and house batteries for your boat. Check the rated discharge currents for the batteries you have, if the AGMs are equal or higher then you should be OK. A better solution would be to go with type 31 AGM as mentioned above, if they will fit. You might have to get new battery boxes though. I don't know how your boat is configured but mine has a port set of parallel batteries and a stdb set. Each set is used for starting the port and stbd engine respectively and used for house supply. This configuration works well and allows each battery bank to be recharged by it's respective engine and/or the 120VAC charger, so you don't have to worry about recharging the "house" batteries while underway, the engines do that for you.

 

[mawyatt]

BTW, if you have the emergency start switch, this allows you to start an engine even if the battery bank is low or depleted. You just start the engine with the good battery charge first, then use the emergency switch to help start the engine with the depleted battery bank. With the orginal batteries I had to do this a couple times, just rev the running engine to 1500rpm or so then use the emergency switch to help start the other engine.

Another use for the emergency switch is when starting the stbd engine if you have the Raymarine Sounder. This sounder is known for dropping out when the voltage drops below 10v which can happen when starting, if you start the port engine first then use the emergency switch when starting the stbd engine with the combined port and stbd effect the voltage won't drop below 10v. It's also a good idea to exercise this emergency switch solenoid once in awhile just to be sure it's working properly when you really need it!! Your boat may be different, so you might to see which bank supplies which loads.

 

[Boston-boater]

Thanks. My boat is set up like mawyatt, 2 banks of 2 batteries. I think I will just replace all 4 with grip 27 AGMs. The current batteries are pretty shoehorned in there so I think the 31s would be a tight fit. The boat was originally equipped with three batteries according to the wiring diagram so that's why the space is tight. I need to try the emergency start switch to make sure it works.