I currently have a Helix G3N 10”, a Helix G3N 9”, a Garmin 106 10”, and an LVS34. I haven’t experienced any battery issues so far, but I’ve been considering switching to three 9” Xplore units and removing the Helix units altogether. That would leave my setup as the Garmin 106 with LVS34, plus three 9” Xplore units with MEGA SI and Down Imaging.

 

Right now, I have two Interstate Group 31 AGM batteries wired in parallel. One is dedicated to the motor, and the other runs the bilge, livewell, and all electronics. Do you think I’ll run into battery issues?

If you have the two batteries wired in parallel then both batteries are running everything and are being charged by the motor.

 

Under normal circumstances  I don't think you will have battery issues as long as both batteries are in good shape. 

41 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

If you have the two batteries wired in parallel then both batteries are running everything and are being charged by the motor.

 

Under normal circumstances  I don't think you will have battery issues as long as both batteries are in good shape. 

Both are brand new I was reading they don’t want to go under 50 percent 

 

 

• Garmin 106sv (10”) → ~2.5 amps
• Garmin LVS34 (Livescope) → ~1.0–1.3 amps
• Three Xplore 9” units → ~2.8–3 amps each → ~8.5–9 amps

 

 

 Estimated Total Draw: ~11.8–12.8 amps/hour

 

that’s not counting pumps and live wells 

38 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Both are brand new I was reading they don’t want to go under 50 percent 

The 50 percent number seems to be something dreamed up by the Lithium industry.  Depth of discharge shortens the life of all batteries.  20% discharge is worse than 10%. There is nothing magical about 50 percent.    One study in the solar industry - where adding more batteries is always an option - said it was cost effective to add more battery capacity when depth of discharge was more than 70%.

 

The fish finders will not always draw the maximum.  Your motor will charge the batteries when it's running.  14 hours of night fishing with lights and the live well running might push the limits.  In those cases you might want to put the console unit to sleep while you're fishing and take one of those jump starter battery packs to start the motor in case you deplete the batteries.

8 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

The 50 percent number seems to be something dreamed up by the Lithium industry.  Depth of discharge shortens the life of all batteries.  20% discharge is worse than 10%. There is nothing magical about 50 percent.    One study in the solar industry - where adding more batteries is always an option - said it was cost effective to add more battery capacity when depth of discharge was more than 70%.

 

The fish finders will not always draw the maximum.  Your motor will charge the batteries when it's running.  I think you're good.

I really appreciate your help thank you 

I had all kinds of trouble with units killing batteries.  At first it was Lowrance hds units.  Later I switched to Humminbird Solix units and the same thing happened.  I was using 2 series 31 agm batteries parallel and only having the sonar units hooked to them.  I charged the batteries with an onboard unit after every trip.  Within 11 months they killed both batteries grave yard dead.  They were replaced and 11 months later those were dead.  I now have a 100 ah lithium hooked to them and all has been good for over a year.

 

 I am mentioning this only as a heads up to pay careful attention to the batteries.