G M Ron, What I did when I had a cabin cruiser and added another battery was 
to get a device and I can't remember what it is called but it has two diodes 
back to back leading to each set of bats.  The alternator feeds the center 
between the diodes and then which set of bats are low takes the charge but I 
don't think I would short both of sets of bats together.  That way you never 
get your starter bat run down and have to paddle to shore hi hi.  Thad 
device has cooling fins on it to keep cool.  I use the deep cycle bats in my 
motorhome to run my 590 but I do have solar panels on the roof.  Good luck 
Ron.  73



ED K7UC
-----Original Message----- 
From: Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2014 9:54 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Operating maritime mobile

Howard's hamming in the park brings to my mind a fun hamming event I want to
undergo here, and maybe some of you will have a suggestion for a source of
power that I can use to make it happen. I want to take my TS-590 out in my
24 foot deck boat out on Lake Barkley here where my lake house is and
operate maritime mobile from my boat. The only part that I am uncertain
about is my source of power. I have two deepcycle batteries in the boat in
addition to the cranking battery for the engine. I have considered
connecting a 12-volt DC to 120-volt AC inverter to the deepcycle batteries,
and then, running a jumper cable across from the cranking battery to the
deepcycle batteries. I believe if I keep the engine running, the alternator
will keep all of the batteries charged up, but I don't know if the
alternator puts out that much to handle it, and I don't know if the inverter
puts out enough to power the TS-590. Of course, I can control the power of
the 590 from 100 down to 5 watts. I have a 4-stroke Suzuki engine which
idles very quietly; so, engine noise would not be a problem. I don't know if
the electrical system of the boat would generate any excessive noise in the
TS-590 receiver or not.



The antenna would not be much of a problem since I can stick a length of
pipe in the bottom of the lake and put a vertical on it, using the lake as
my counterpoise.



Now, tell me if you think this if feasible or if it is the craziest, most
ridiculous idea you have ever heard! <lol>



Ron, K8HSY



Dr. Ronald E. Milliman

Retired Professor of Marketing



President: Millitronics, Inc. (millitronics.biz)