Best type of battery for custom boombox?

[PuZo 10+ year member]

Long story short, doing a DIY boombox. I have a small amp and currently just have a small car battery(20ah). It is not deep cycle... Since this will be portable... Is it better for it to be deep cycle? Any specific suggestions for which battery? 20ah will last me maybe 2 hours, looking for something more.

Also, looking at the numbers, what does the "reserve capacity" mean? For some it shows like 120 minutes, what does that mean exactly? I plan on charging after using it, so not as it's playing.

I found some marine batteries that are 70ah and 120minute reserve. Is that good?

Thanks.

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[GAMEOVERCCA 10+ year member]

go get a diehard agm from sears.. best warranty and will work good for what your doing

 

[PuZo 10+ year member]

It can't be too big, I don't have all that much room to work with.

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

Stinger Electronics | Product Details

check these out.

 

[PuZo 10+ year member]

Stinger Electronics | Product Details
check these out.

I have one like that, but it's only 20ah. Are car batteries the best way to go? If I can get a battery that's 12v and 9800mah, does that mean it's 9.8ah?

 

[JayDubb757 10+ year member]

The DeWalt worksite radios run on 7.2v - 18v battery packs. DC011 Worksite Radio/Charger | DEWALT Tools

Maybe you could wire up a few of those. Wire up some lithium-ion batteries...they last longer

I seen a guy make a boombox with a car radio, some 6.5's and a pc power supply, unless you're set on going cordless.

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

I have one like that, but it's only 20ah. Are car batteries the best way to go? If I can get a battery that's 12v and 9800mah, does that mean it's 9.8ah?

yep thats what it means.

car or marine batt is going to be the best. Pretty sure the sting batt comes from the same company that produces odyssey marine batt's. They look exactly the same. I have 5 of those stinger batt's wired in my shop truck because of space restrictions and they work great.

 

[PuZo 10+ year member]

yep thats what it means.
car or marine batt is going to be the best. Pretty sure the sting batt comes from the same company that produces odyssey marine batt's. They look exactly the same. I have 5 of those stinger batt's wired in my shop truck because of space restrictions and they work great.

I will be discharging the battery to most likely almost "dead". If I do that with a regular car battery, won't that really screw it up?

Also trying to keep it somewhat cheap.

 

[Serpent710 10+ year member]

this what your looking at doing? not my choice of music but seems pretty cool and pretty **** loud.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

I will be discharging the battery to most likely almost "dead". If I do that with a regular car battery, won't that really screw it up?Also trying to keep it somewhat cheap.

Yes. They are a "starting battery" you need a deep cycle battery. Like a marine or golf cart battery.

 

[PuZo 10+ year member]

Yes. They are a "starting battery" you need a deep cycle battery. Like a marine or golf cart battery.

What if I did get a deep cycle battery and connected it in series with the one I currently have. Would it drain equally? Is there a way to make it so it drains the deep cycle one first?

There is one I can get locally, but it's a combination of starting and deep cycle... Would that still be okay?

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

US Battery 31DCXC 12 Volt 130Ah Deep Cycle Marine Battery

 

[Julian 10+ year member]

I would use some 12v ups batteries (the smaller ones) IMO.. they're cheap.

 

[PuZo 10+ year member]

I was looking at this one:

12 Volt, 10 Amp Sealed Lead Acid Battery - F2 Terminal: BatteryMart.com

If I get 4 of them and wiring them accordingly, I'm assuming that's my best option? What ga wire can I use to connect them together? I'll be using 4ga for the charging element, but what about connecting them together? 4ga is gonna be really hard to connect, since some will have 2 of them per terminal and the terminals don't look that large or even strong.

 

[chargdbassbuick 10+ year member]

I will be discharging the battery to most likely almost "dead". If I do that with a regular car battery, won't that really screw it up?
Also trying to keep it somewhat cheap.

screw it up yes maybe , i know that its life span would be cut shorter then usual . agm deep-cycle battery would be your best bet i would think for your given application