Low voltage protection system

[Stingrayaxe]

I have a 205 Sport with a single battery. I'm always worried about running the battery down while listening to music while on the hook. I was planning on adding a second battery this spring until I saw the article in the January 2016 Boating magazine on installing a low voltage protection system. They described installing a unit from Blue Sea System model 7635 m-LVD for $70.35. I've seen it even cheaper on line.

Has anyone installed this system? Less weight, cost, space and maintanience seem to be the pro's. Any comments?

 

[Lazy Daze]

While I don't have any personal experience with that particular product, Blue Seas makes quality products and I would have no doubts about it doing what it says it will. However, something to keep in mind is that when that device cuts your power, you're done with your music for the day. Having a second (deep cycle) battery, with a switch, specifically devoted to music (or "house" use as we call it) would give you a MUCH longer time for music. The battery could then be charged up via the engine or back at home with a tender.

 

[northern]

Better to get a Jump Start Battery

 

[NorCal Boater]

I agree with Dennis. You could still do the low voltage device but a second battery with a switch is not very expensive in the big picture. If you use a deep cycle you would have plenty of juice for the tunes. Do you have a big amp for the stereo? If yes, the extra power would really help.

Shawn

 

[Bt Doctur]

Better to add a house battery and leave the engine batteries alone

 

[LawyerMan]

Think of it this way - when you get stranded out there because your battery is dead, how much would you pay to not be there? And how much would you regret not adding that second battery? That's why I had no quibbles when I put around $850 in Interstate batteries in my boat earlier in the year.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Im a big proponent of a boat having dual banks. The one down side to a disconnect system is that you get like 20 minutes of play time, then the voltage drops and your tunes are shut off. You are now either without tunes for the rest of the time you are anchored or you fire and run the engine. This not something i suggest. Sitting still and CO dont go together well. A dual bank setup would allow you to likely run the house loads for much longer, only drawing from the house bank, leaving the main cranking isolated in reserve.

 

[Mike Blake]

Yu could always get a Honda Jenny tie rapped to the back..............................

 

[IanBat]

Yu could always get a Honda Jenny tie rapped to the back..............................

Come on...Mike, keep it safe.

Put the Honda in an inner tube, float it way off the back so you don't get the CO fumes, and run a few extension leads back to the boat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Stingrayaxe]

Thanks guys. I kind thought that a two battery system is the way to go. I was intrigued at thought of saving space weight and money while still having a way to know that it was time to pull up anchor and charge the battery. Now the generator pulled behind the boat in a tube has me thinking........