Trolling Battery in Console

[Jim Sylvan]

Hey everyone, longtime lurker-first time poster. I have a 2000 Sylvan 4-corner toon that already has a dual-battery setup at the rear of the boat. (one for start, one for house). This leaves me no more room for a third battery there. I also have a deep-cycle battery dedicated to the bow mounted trolling motor. My question is: Can I locate the deep cycle battery inside my console? There's plenty of room in there but I was a little concerned about venting the space. There is currently one "vent" in the console near where the horn mounts and also one cupholder with a drain hole in it. I will have the deep cycle hooked up to a solar panel to hopefully keep it topped off between outings. On occasion, I will pull the deep cycle out for shore charging as there is no power at my slip. Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

I wouldn't the vented gas is corrosive and may be very hard on the wiring.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

The vented gas is hydrogen. Not a problem.

A solar panel is pretty much worthless unless it's huge. What size were you thinking of? You need to charge the battery fully after each use. If you don't, it's not going to last very long.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Yeah... I hadn't thought of that. I was more concerned with a spark from something in the console hitting the battery gasses.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Yeah... I hadn't thought of that. I was more concerned with a spark from something in the console hitting the battery gasses.

There isn't enough to worry about. Whatever is vented is gone in an instant.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

I was hoping to keep the panel around twenty watts or so. Boat wont get a ton of use; sometimes weeks between outings. Based on other info I've received I thought this might be enough to keep it topped off between charges.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

20 watts is basically only enough to keep it topped off if its starts fully charged. 20 Watts is only a little more than an 1A and likely less the way they rate solar panels.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

I guess I thought I would monitor the discharge on the deep cycle and pull and re-charge accordingly. I will have it hooked to a voltage meter to gauge its drop and see if it comes up enough between outings. If not, I'll just pull it and re-charge. Back to my original question, if I am understanding you Bruceb58, it will be OK to locate the battery in the console?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Back to my original question, if I am understanding you Bruceb58, it will be OK to locate the battery in the console?

Absolutely.

When you discharge your battery, you want to charge it up as soon as possible. That is why that low power solar charger is not good. The longer it stays in a discharged state, the worse it is for the battery.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Thank you. I will post the results (or lack thereof) of my solar experience. I've lugged a lot of those deep cycle batteries over the years and they don't get any lighter!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

The vented gas is hydrogen. Not a problem.

A solar panel is pretty much worthless unless it's huge. What size were you thinking of? You need to charge the battery fully after each use. If you don't, it's not going to last very long.

Untill a lose wire makes a spark.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Untill a lose wire makes a spark.

Not enough hydrogen to matter and it dissipates almost immediately.

 

[coresuper]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

My dealer installed my trolling motor battery in my console. I have a 2014 Sylvan. I have an onboard charger which charges both batteries.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Thanks coresuper. A little more reassurance. By the way, I completely re-finished the dash panels on this boat. Is that of any interest to anyone? If so, I will start a new thread once I get the pictures loaded.

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

I have a deep cycle battery in my console going on 3 years now. It runs my LED lights on seat bottoms. Got it wired to the accessories switch. I take it out once every 8 trips or so to charge it. Works for me. I do have a 5-watt solar charger attached...I run the wire through the vent, and it may help a little, I'm not sure.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Thanks coresuper. A little more reassurance. By the way, I completely re-finished the dash panels on this boat. Is that of any interest to anyone? If so, I will start a new thread once I get the pictures loaded.View attachment 227607

I would be interested. I need a whole new dash panel on the Wellcraft in my sig.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

While sitting partially discharged is not good for the battery we had a battery to start our 18 Johnson , no charge system.
We mostly used the boat weekends so the battery sat a lot ran lights and starting.we would put it on charge when we noticed
the power down. I'd guess every 4 to 6 weeks.As I recall the battery lasted 2 or 3 years.
Of course we weren't running a troller so the battery was at a fairly good charge for a longer time.
It's possible a larger solar charger may buy you some time.
One of those little $20 solar panels kept my very tired lawn tractor battery up enough it would start the tractor about every week or two.
without its help the battery was useless.

 

[Jim Sylvan]

Re: Trolling Battery in Console

Bruceb58- I am just now finishing up the dash install today. Tomorrow I will try and get the pics up of the dash and explain how I did what I did.