Generator for charging trolling motor battery/fish finder battery while camping?

Acton

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2015
Messages
77
I'm going camping up in the adks in a month. I need something to charge my 2 trolling motor batteries during the day since I usually fish the morning and evening bite and chill out with the girlfriend during the day. I've got two12v 100amp deep cycle marine batteries, and a little 12v 9amp battery like this that I use with my fish finder to make it portable. I don't use the trolling motor battery because apparently that causes interference with the fish finder when your using the trolling motor as well.

http://bigtimebattery.com/store/ps12...6_QaAju98P8HAQ

I'll be using this to charge to charge each trolling motor battery one at a time in addition to maybe charging the small fish finder battery at the same time if I can. I have a seperate little charger for the fish finder battery.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Minn-Kota-...harger/7966283

Would this little portable generator do the job? I don't know a lot about electronics, I want to make sure the amp output is appropriate. I don't need it for anything else.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Power-Pro...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
Last edited:

Acton

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 15, 2015
Messages
77
So I think I answered my own question. Watts = Amps x Volts. So I could definitely handle 6amps. I actually found a much better shuamer 12v 15amp charger at lowes which should only pull 180 watts right?
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,454
You need to be charging both batteries at the same time or you will have the generator on a long time. I would look for a 30A or larger charger and charge the batteries in parallel. Even with 30A and your batteries down half way, it's going to take 4 or 5 hours to charge.

BTW, that generator is going to be LOUD! Consider getting a Honda, Yamaha or some other inverter generator which is a lot quieter. Since you won't be loading the generator down that much with these chargers during the whole charge cycle, an inverter charger can run at a lower RPM. That is why they are quieter.

BTW, chargers put out over 14V so you have to calculate the power at the higher voltage.
 
Last edited:
Top