Advice on Battery Set Up

[augnmike]

I have a 2000 Bass Tracker boat that I use to bow fish from. I currently have a 43 lb thrust Trolling motor (12v) and have two batteries in the compartment for the TM and one to start the 40 hp engine and run the lights etc. What I am doing is trolling for serveral hours and then when it goes dead opening the compartment and switching the cables and off I go. It is kind of a pain but I don't know how to change it or if I should change anything. I should mention that whichever battery is hooked up to the troller I can plug a courd into an extension cord and charge it without removing it. This is very cool but only works for one battery now so the other one I pull out and stick on my charger in the garage.

Oh and I recently added a third battery to increase my fishing time but there is not room in the comparment for another battery so I just carry a plastic battery case and pull one of the dead ones out and replace it with the good one.

How would you guys recommend that I set this up?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

At the least, install a battery switch to eliminate the need to swap cables out on the water.

 

[augnmike]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

Ok the switch makes sense and I assume to use the charger that is currently on the boat (6amp) if I want to charge both batteies at once I will need a new onboard charger?

 

[mAlton]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

A new two bank charger would be best and then be done with it. If I am right (and someone will let us know), I think you could wire the charger to both batteries, but with only 6 amps, it would just take longer to charge. The nice thing about a two bank charger is that it will float between the two batteries and send more current to the one that needs it more. I would also wire in a switch to move from one battery to the other. Good luck.

 

[augnmike]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

Still waiting for someone to let us know, Silvertip?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

I need to understand whether you are running two batteries, three batteries or four batteries. You description is not very specific. But here is what I suggest. Leave your starting battery hooked to the engine so its purpose is solenly to power the starter and the instrument panel. Use the two batteries you have but at a simple dual battery switch. A dual battery switch has OFF, BAT 1, BOTH, and BAT 2 settings so you have the option of powering from BAT 1 until it goes dead, then go the BAT 2, or you can operate on BOTH which simply parallels both batteries. If both batteries are the same exact size, same age, and same condition, it would really make no difference which setting you used since run time would be the same (total run time of BAT 1 + BAT 2 is the same as it would be if set to BOTH. However, if both batteries are different in any way, then using them individually would be preferred since in the BOTH setting, the weaker battery will suck the life from the stronger battery For charging, you can use a bigger single output charger connected to the COM terminal on the switch. Setting the switch to BOTH will charge both batteries Or buy a two bank and wire one bank to the COM terminal and the other to the starting battery. Unless you have an engine with a very high output alternator, forget trying to charge the troller batteries from the engine.

 

[augnmike]

Re: Advice on Battery Set Up

ST, thanks for that. I actually have three batts for just the troller now and one as a starter for the engine. I can't fit the three troller batts in the compartment but carry one in a plastic battery case. One question is what is "Com" on the selector switch? Also in order to charge the batts from a newly bought charger I will need to hook it to the "Com" part of the switch? The three TM batts are all different so I will run them one at a time as recommended.