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Another battery topic


InvisibleMask

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So my battery is completely dead and had to buy a new one. Found a replacement (24 group) 1000 cranking amps battery at a marine center. I also have another marine battery so figured I may as well do the 2 battery setup. While at the marine place I bought a switch, cables, box, etc. The mechanic sold me some long postive cables so I can mount the switch somewhere near me but once I thought about it I can only go as far as the existing starter/alternator cable allows me which is probably a few inches from where the battery sits now.

So my options are

1) add some sort of extension cable so I can mount the switch closer.

2) put the switch somewhere where the battery sits now and cut down the 2 cables he sold me. They are like 5 ft long now.

He said just use pliers and crimp the lug and I'm set. But then while reading I see special crimping tools are needed, non-erosion grease, heat shrink tubing and a heat gun are needed to do it right.

Also, I have to put a lug on the existing alternator/starter cable so it can go to the switch and if I'm not mistaken this is 2 or more wires which may be pretty thick. The 3 lugs he sold me may be too small for this one...boat isn't here so I can't just go look.

Any advice on this?

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So my battery is completely dead and had to buy a new one. Found a replacement (24 group) 1000 cranking amps battery at a marine center. I also have another marine battery so figured I may as well do the 2 battery setup. While at the marine place I bought a switch, cables, box, etc. The mechanic sold me some long postive cables so I can mount the switch somewhere near me but once I thought about it I can only go as far as the existing starter/alternator cable allows me which is probably a few inches from where the battery sits now.

So my options are

1) add some sort of extension cable so I can mount the switch closer.

2) put the switch somewhere where the battery sits now and cut down the 2 cables he sold me. They are like 5 ft long now.

He said just use pliers and crimp the lug and I'm set. But then while reading I see special crimping tools are needed, non-erosion grease, heat shrink tubing and a heat gun are needed to do it right.

Also, I have to put a lug on the existing alternator/starter cable so it can go to the switch and if I'm not mistaken this is 2 or more wires which may be pretty thick. The 3 lugs he sold me may be too small for this one...boat isn't here so I can't just go look.

Any advice on this?

No offense but your mechanic is an idiot, crimping battery lugs with a set of pliers is impossible if you want it to last. You are better off soldering them to the cable instead if you can't crimp them right with a set of lug crimpers. There is quite a bit of play in the wire coming off the alternator. I was able to pull mine out about 1' to where I needed it without any trouble. Your batteries should be in the front passenger storage compartment not sure where you are trying to move them to?

Edited by 06vlx
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None taken, he's not my mechanic. Just the local marine mechanic that has worked on my old boat one time years ago. (oil change).

I don't want to move the batteries from where they sit now, I just want the switch closer so I don't have to crawl into the hatch to turn the switch. He told me the long cables he sold me would allow me to put the switch in a better place but then once I realized the existing starter cable is only so long his suggestion didn't make sense because it also has to connect to the switch.

I think what I'll do is mount the 2nd battery and switch and then just order the proper length cables already completed. I'll take what he sold me back for a refund.

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I went to Genuinedealz.com and gave them all of the specifications, length, ends, heat shrink, etc. Then you can pay a minimal cost for them to outfit the cable. I did this when relocating my bateries from the back to the front.

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Any welding supply shop can set you up with cable, lugs, and most likely be able to crimp them properly as well. If they can't crimp them (which I would be surprised) any electric shop that does construction will have a hydraulic crimper and for a few bucks crimp them for you.

Edited by LS-One
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Where are your batteries located now? It would seem more of a hassle in the long run to have them anywhere but in the front passenger compartment. If you're going to all the trouble of wiring up a switch in the front you might as well move the batteries up there too.

Keep in mind if you're wiring a switch all the way up front with your batteries in the back of the boat somewhere you will have some resistance loss of power between the batteries and the switch by the time it makes it back to the starter/boat power supply. That length has got to be somewhere around 30-35 feet on your 23 lsv. Make sure you use AT LEAST a 2 gauge wire to minimize this. Otherwise it would be like using a lower rated battery.

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A hammer and a block of wood work nicely to crimp as well. Seriously. Just needs a solid mechanical connection.

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