Got the boat out on the Pitt River yesterday for the first time this year.
Prior to launch, pulled out my two old/original batteries, replaced with a single higher output AGM battery and modified the disconnect switch to eliminate the 2nd battery connection (my electrical load is pretty minimal and I wanted to ditch the extra weight - I carry a jump pack as a backup). Still need to clean up the wiring a bit and maybe buy a new battery box, but everything worked fine. I bought the boat second hand, and I need to make an electrical schematic - still learning how everything is wired. The auto bilge pump wiring is still a bit of a mystery to me...
Random marine parts gripe:
I was using an automotive battery and needed adapter studs. Standard part and easy to find, but for some reason all adapters studs are sized at 5/16" for negative and 3/8" for positive. Doesn't matter if you buy them as a set or individually - they always come this way and are marked as +/- on on the adapter. Fair enough - I buy the adapters.
Try to install - no dice. The ring connectors for my positive terminal are all 5/16" and won't fit over a 3/8" stud. Have to scramble around on Saturday to find a second 5/16" adapter. In the end no problem, everything worked out.
My question is why they would make adapters with mismatched stud size. You need to carry around a second socket size, and most marine batteries seem to come with either 5/16" or M8 studs on both terminals (on my old battery both terminals were 5/16" and I checked the Rolls catalogue, and every marine battery the sell all the way up to 200ah uses M8 studs on both terminals). Where does the 3/8" size even come from, and why are all kits sold with the mismatched size?
Other weird stuff: Most adapters are just pure lead, but the more expensive ones are lead plated brass. Not sure which is better, but I just went with pure lead.
