Second battery

[Darryl]

OK, got my system charging working, had to install a new stator as the old one was fried. Now, what is the best way to charge a second battery which is just used for the trolling motor. What I have in mind is to run some 14 gauge, or smaller, wire with a diode in the positive side. The diode should protect the wire from any current draw while starting the engine. Probably put a fuse in the circuit also. Has anyone done this?<br /><br />Thanks, Darryl

 

[rolmops]

Re: Second battery

Hello.<br />How about a nice paralel setup with cable the same thickness as jumper cables?Or maybe even better just run your troller straight of the main battery and every few hours start up your engine to let the battery charge? I run my 42 pound power troller for up to 8 hours on a cheapo K-mart deep cycle battery and in the end it will still start my 35 horse with no trouble.<br />

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Second battery

one burnt stator....shame on merc!<br />two burnt stators...shame on you!<br /><br />Only rely on the charging system to replenish the battery after routine starts...Recharge the troller battery on shore at the end of the day...<br /><br />my paranoid opinion on O/B charging systems...

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Second battery

Don't use smaller than 14Ga, 10 or 8Ga. would be better. The smaller the No. the larger the Ga.

 

[Darryl]

Re: Second battery

Only one smoked stator. I just bought the boat and motor and it had the original stator which was burnt when I boutht it. For charging purposes only 16 gauge would be plenty big.<br /><br />Darryl

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Second battery

Hi Darryl<br /><br />Some interesting facts....<br />>odds are good you have a 10 amp system<br />>this 10 amps will be shared between your 2 batteries(maybe even less to the troller battery if you use 16 gauge wire, plus a diode)<br />>30amps of troller draw for 3hours = 90amp/hours<br />>5amps X 18hours = 90amp/hours<br />>its going to take 18hours of WOT operation to recharge the troller battery if used for 3 hours. Do you think your charging system likes putting out maximum for this long? Anything under this is going to result in undercharged battery = low battery life.<br /><br />Recharge the deep cycle at shore on a slow charge overnight. The charging system may even last, and your battery will be good to you.....<br /><br />remember...."two burnt stators.....shame on you"...LOL

 

[jwhite]

Re: Second battery

The charging system is not a battery charge. It is used to keep the battery charged. It only puts out enough charge to compensate for what little power is used to start the motor and run gauges, accessories, etc. while running.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Second battery

DITTO Mr.White's Marine

 

[mike_v2v98]

Re: Second battery

charging the trolling battery at the same tiem as your main battery doesnt work<br />i have a 36 lbs thrust powerdrive with the biggest deep cycle i could find and i can troll for about 5 hours in calm waters (does anyone elses powerdrive eat up the battery with the remote steering)<br />as you know 5 hours just isnt enough time to put back a few have a nap and catch fish<br />so i decided i would use my main outboard an 85 horse to charge my troller battery the same way an rv trailor battery setup works<br />i used a solanoid on the positive that worked off the ignition<br />when i turned the key i was charging the troller battery<br />i used 6 gauge wire for negative and positive with an inline fuse<br />thought it would work great but the charging system just doesnt put out the power<br />id have to drive the boat at full throttle for an hour to get another 30 minutes out of my troller battery<br />just isnt worth it<br />so now im using a battery switch like you would find in a piece of heavy machinery or an ambulance<br />it works great just switch it over from time to time and put the boat on the charger when you get home <br />with the battery switch your able to charge both batteries at the same time too<br />if anyone has a better method let me know

 

[Darryl]

Re: Second battery

Thanks for all of the input. I am going to take everything said here into consideration. I didn't know the capacity of the system but figured that it was in the neighborhood of 10 amps or so. The main problem I have is that I don't take the boat home when not using it. I live in a restricted community that doesn't allow boats in the driveway. I keep it at a storage facility about a mile away and there is no power available. I do bring it home for maintainance tho. I was just trying to get around bringing it home just to charge the battery. Perhaps I will just have to bring the battery home when done fishing.<br /><br />Thanks, Darryl

 

[MGuckin]

Re: Second battery

Darryl,<br />Have you looked into solar chargers? There are some out now that supposedly will give a trickle charge. Obviously not designed for charging dead battery but should maintain a charge and require nothing but the sun. I charge my deep cycle after every trip. Cranking battery is charged by the motor. Just my thoughts.<br />Not relevant to this post but, I noticed you live in the Villages. I am about 3 miles north of you. Where do you fish?<br />mikehomeservice@aol.com

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Second battery

There are 15Watt solar panels that will charge enough to replenish the low battery. $100-150 Canadian. <br />You could also run a temporary harness and some isolation that would charge the boat batteries while you are towing the boat to the storage facility.(providing its a reasonably long drive)<br />

 

[Darryl]

Re: Second battery

I had not considered solar charging but will look into it. I mostly fish at Lake Weir although it is getting might low. I can still launch there but fear that they will soon close that ramp as they did the others because of low water. Fished there this morning until we got rained out. I also did consider charging while driving, just have to install a plug off the tail light circuit. It is very close to the lake but some charge would be better than none.<br /><br />Thanks for all of the suggestions from everyone.<br /><br />Darryl

 

[DaveM]

Re: Second battery

Another option might be one of those waterproof battery chargers that mount in the boat. I have not used one, but it seems like a good idea if you park your boat near a power source.<br /><br />As for charging a trolling motor battery with the outboard stater, I can't see it working. I installed a dual battery switch on my dad's fishing boat. He now runs the troller and motor off the same battery until it runs down, then switches to the other. Bottom line, though, is his 80 hp Merc. does not put out enough to charge a depleted battery.