Run Down Battery

G

Gene&Mary

New member
When I ordered Linnea I got a single battery and no shore power. Jeff Messmer suggested that I get a portable jump starter if the battery ever ran low due to overuse at anchor (link below). I have since been told about a Battery Brain (link below) which cuts off battery draw when there is just enough remaining to start the engine.

What does everybody think? Does anybody have any better ideas?
Hope I managed to get the URLs in right.

Portable Jump Starter-
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/CatalogOrderSearch?sku=jump+starter&storeId=10101&catalogId=10101

Battery Brain-
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-2349/c-10101
 
On my 22 I have two batteries. Always run with one and if you wake up in the morning with a dead battery switch to the other. I also have an automatic trikle charger about 1.5 amps if I remember which I installed and plug in to 110 when I am in the garage.

I would think about a second battery. I know Pat on Daydream (also with two batteries) has one of those emergency starter packs.
 
I don't know if Battery Brain is USGC-approved. I know that Priority Start has an approved marine version. I have the "road" version on my Explorer which always has stuff connecting and will kill the battery if I leave it a couple of days.

-- Chuck
 
I think Jeff Messmer is right. Get the Jump Start - I carry one, and have used it once for myself (to run the house, when I had some kind of switch problem) and once for a "cute little logo boat " aka Bambina (to start the outboard motor). I was glad I had it, and I am pretty sure Catman is glad I had it too. I never go out without it, even though Daydream has two batteries (and the new Daydream will have three). I would want the Jump Start even if I had the Battery Brain...
Gene&Mary":tqzq68se said:
Jeff Messmer suggested that I get a portable jump starter if the battery ever ran low due to overuse at anchor (link below). What does everybody think?
Portable Jump Starter-
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/CatalogOrderSearch?sku=jump+starter&storeId=10101&catalogId=10101

Battery Brain-
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-2349/c-10101
Click to expand...
 
My experience with a Jump Start is that they don't hold a charge worth beans. So if you get one, plan on recharging it before every outing.
Al
 
Dan,

What you said! "If you have a Yamaha you might want to just leave the engine idling all night to play it safe."

Keep your doors locked. RF will get you fer sure. And he ain't bringing Injun Candy...

Dusty
 
Yep, buy the Honda if you want an "Old Technology" carbureted automobile engine stood on end! Kind of like turning a Volkswagen Bug engine up on its tail and hoping against hope that no one will notice you've got a 35 year old (for Honda) automotive engine design that cries out for modernization if not total replacement!!! WHEN, OH WHEN, will Honda add Electronic Fuel Injection to these smaller (90 hp and below) engines to meet the newer upcoming EPA requirements??? Also, what's this 3 valve per cylinder business about anyway???

Incidentally, as far as battery charging goes, the Honda 90/75 have a 16 a amp alternator, the Yamaha 90/75 a 25 amp, and the Suzuki 90/75 a 40 amp! Better plan on running your Honda a few extra hurs at idle just to keep your batteries charged or buying an EU 1000 or EU 2000 generator ($900-$1000) to make up the difference! Now who's up running the putt-putt all night?

More to come, but I'll let Red Fox do some of the sharpshooting on this sitting duck!

Filling in for R/F for now, (with the new 2005 Yamaha EFI 90), Joe.
 
Heck Joe,

I've had several EFI engines (even Hondas). They start when I turn the key and stop when I turn it off, just like the others. The best warranty in the world (as Dan tells me) is one you don't have to use.

It's true that carb engines have been around a long time, and I know of some with well over 5,000 warrantee-free hours. Not bad. EFI is okay with me, and my next engine has it, but I'm hard to convince that newer is necessarily better. The carb Hondas meet everything required for a few years, and you are right that they will go EFI. The EFI 135/150 with its lean-burn capability is a real jewel. Quiet, smooth, and super economical. No doubt the 75/90 replacement will be EFI too. With thousands of hours on Hondas I'll admit a bias because I've never had a warrantee issue. The only problems I've had have been owner induced - like leaving fuel in the carbs too long, or making them run on water.

I do like Honda's way of marketing. Millions of highway miles, debug, debug, debug, and finally go to market after lots of testing. Wish all manufacturers did that. And I like Yamaha too. Great motors, and I wouldn't hesitate to put one on my new 22 if the Honda and Johnson were not available so close to home.

I have a VERY friendly dealer! :wink:

Dusty
 
Adeline,

That 6 amp charger on my 70 hp Evinrude has saved me a lot of money! :wink

When I think about adding any electrical device like radar, TV,stereo, etc. I don't do it because my alternator won't keep up. :amgry

Dusty,

I too am waiting for your new boat so you can let us know how the Evinrude E-TEC 90 works out.
 
Not necessarily my experience, but I do charge it before going out just to be safe, and after using it, I also put it on the 12v socket to recharge while underway. All said and done, I would much rather have a Jump Start that I don't need than not have one when I DO need it!
MOOSE":ip3939ic said:
My experience with a Jump Start is that they don't hold a charge worth beans. So if you get one, plan on recharging it before every outing.
Al
Click to expand...
 
Red Fox will be with us on this topic a little later so as not to disappoint his fans!!! Hope I wasn't too rude in commenting on the Honda vs Yamaha vs everybody else issue, but this has been a source of a lot of fun and good natured rivalry in the past and livens up the Pub a little! Now, to be a little more constructive.......

I'm thinking that one of the reasons Honda hasn't gone to fuel injection on the 75 and 90 hp engines might just be the Civic engine's 3 valve head which was designed to produce a stratified charge system. The engine has three valves per cylinder, one large exhaust, one large intake, and a small intake in a special chamber above the main combustion chamber that draws a richer fuel / air mixture from a separate part of the carburetor. The spark plug is in this chamber, and the richer mixture is ignited there and the combustion fire moves down into the main chamber to the leaner mixture, which results in an overall learner and cleaner burn. Pretty clever, but adding fuel injection to this set up might be pretty tricky, perhaps so much so that a whole new cylinder head and valve train arrangement might be required. I honestly don't know if this same head is still in production and being used on the outboards, but if it is, this could be the source of the delay. The 115 and up Hondas already have EFI, some with variable valve timing as well, and of course, 4 valves per cylinder. Anybody know any more about this? Joe.
 
Joe,

Wish I knew more about Honda engineering decisions. Your take is probably a good one. I've owned the EFI 130 and 225, and both work great. Of course, being of the old 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' school -- don't see a huge rush. Honda meets all the specs for a few years with carbs and has time to do a lot of home work. Of course they are able to sell all the carbs they can make, so...

Because I've run both Yami and Honda at the same h.p. for many hours on similar boats, don't really see an immediate need to go EFI. More economical? No. Quieter? No. More reliable? No. More powerful? No. Less maintenance? No. More amps? Yep, if that matters. Has never been a problem for me.

On down the EPA highway there will be a need, no doubt. One of the reasons I'm getting the E-TEC is to take a hard look at the latest technology. Less oil in the pristine lakes than any 4-stroke, much less maintenance, and hopefully better longevity - And that's a questionmark for sure.

Hope I can hang around until the E-TEC breaks!!

Dusty
 
Dusty- Thanks for the comments and very well taken points! Not trying to be argumentative, but just jostling about with friends. Hope Les gets your new CD-22 and E-TEC together soon. Too bad it couldn't have been ready for your birthday! Joe.
 
Joe -

Agree totally with you. If buying for long term :wink:, and my long term is different, I'd surely consider EFI as an option. Sooner or later they all will be there. At the moment having good dealer support is IMO more important than brands or gadgets... and I've had so little trouble with carbs that I'm definitely biased. Some folks have had starting problems with the carbs because the newer ones are set so danged lean - but as I check folks out with their new rigs, it doesn't take long to learn how to get the carb motors started quickly.

Duster
 
I have two batteries with a switch, to isolate one bank for starting. I also got a small solar charger (about $85) at West Marine that is mounted on the cabin top, and the trickle charge keeps them at full charge when the boat is just sitting.
 
I put a charging rectifier on my 15H.P. with alligator clip leads. When not using the kicker the leads stay cliped to the steering cable. If I ever end up dead I can charge either battery from the kicker and still use the other battery for cabin needs. And get good fuel economy doing it.
 
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