lovedr79
Well-known member
Has anyone tried using a motorcycle battery for a starting battery? Would save some weight and room. I have a sportster that is a twin cylinder and pretty sure its got a lot more compression than my 20hp mercury.
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PSG-1
Well-known member
I've actually been thinking of carrying a PWC battery on my jetboat, in addition to the main battery, just in case the main battery ever went dead on the water, I could still be able to crank my engine and get home.
Of course, the engine in my jetboat is a PWC engine to begin with, but I think a PWC battery would crank just about any engine, at least once, as the starters are about the same size as PWC starters.
I don't know about leaving it connected to the battery cables, though, at least not on a regular engine, as the rectifier/charging system may exceed the Ah rating of the battery. But as far as a 'jump pack' it's a great idea, and it's much lighter than a conventional marine battery.
Of course, the engine in my jetboat is a PWC engine to begin with, but I think a PWC battery would crank just about any engine, at least once, as the starters are about the same size as PWC starters.
I don't know about leaving it connected to the battery cables, though, at least not on a regular engine, as the rectifier/charging system may exceed the Ah rating of the battery. But as far as a 'jump pack' it's a great idea, and it's much lighter than a conventional marine battery.
JMichael
Well-known member
Would be interesting to know but I suspect you might find some differences in the gear ratio's used on a motorcycle and outboard (starter to crankshaft ratios).
Your Merc is probably spec'ed in minimum MCA, while the cycle battery is probably CCA? Not sure since not a bike owner, and 0F doesn't make allot sense.
From another forum:
Here is how to convert the cca to mca, and visa versa....
COLD CRANKING AMPS (CCA)
The CCA rating represents in amps the current flow the battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0F. without dropping below 1.2 volts per cell (total of 7.2 volts for a 12-volt battery). The higher the number, the more amps it can deliver to crank an engine.
MARINE CRANKING AMPS (MCA)
Batteries designed for marine use may be rated at MCA instead of CCA. The MCA rating method measures battery output at 32F., not 0F. A battery's MCA rating will be one-third higher than its CCA rating would be.
To compare two batteries when one has an MCA rating and the other has a CCA rating. multiply the CCA rating by 1.3 for the equivalent MCA rating. Or, multiply the MCA rating by 0.77 for the equivalent CCA rating.
Example:
500 CCA x 1.3 = 650 MCA
or
650 MCA x 0.77 = 500 CCA
From another forum:
Here is how to convert the cca to mca, and visa versa....
COLD CRANKING AMPS (CCA)
The CCA rating represents in amps the current flow the battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0F. without dropping below 1.2 volts per cell (total of 7.2 volts for a 12-volt battery). The higher the number, the more amps it can deliver to crank an engine.
MARINE CRANKING AMPS (MCA)
Batteries designed for marine use may be rated at MCA instead of CCA. The MCA rating method measures battery output at 32F., not 0F. A battery's MCA rating will be one-third higher than its CCA rating would be.
To compare two batteries when one has an MCA rating and the other has a CCA rating. multiply the CCA rating by 1.3 for the equivalent MCA rating. Or, multiply the MCA rating by 0.77 for the equivalent CCA rating.
Example:
500 CCA x 1.3 = 650 MCA
or
650 MCA x 0.77 = 500 CCA
PSG-1
Well-known member
Well, I went to Auto Zone today, I was going to buy a PWC battery to carry as a 'jump pack'
But, for the same price, they had a Duralast BP-DL500 jump pack.
So, it was a no-brainer for me, I went ahead and bought the jump pack. It is small enough it will fit in a group 24 battery box, and its height allows for the top to fit on the battery box, too. =D>
Just as with the group 24 battery I had been carrying, this will fit under my console, and it's a LOT lighter, too.
But, for the same price, they had a Duralast BP-DL500 jump pack.
So, it was a no-brainer for me, I went ahead and bought the jump pack. It is small enough it will fit in a group 24 battery box, and its height allows for the top to fit on the battery box, too. =D>
Just as with the group 24 battery I had been carrying, this will fit under my console, and it's a LOT lighter, too.
