Windmill boat bettery charging

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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have you looked into on-board chargers? a good noco is only $100. pull boat home, plug in extension chord.
 

That old Mercury

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have you looked into on-board chargers? a good noco is only $100. pull boat home, plug in extension chord.
I keep my boat at a storage yard that does not have power to use.
I have to remove them, bring them home charge and take back.
Thats why i am looking for different options.
Most reliable and capable solution so far is wind generation.
With the Dot approving me towing boat with the wind generator running on it , i am kind of leaning that way.
Thanks for the comment!
 

That old Mercury

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I keep my boat at a storage yard that does not have power to use.
I have to remove them, bring them home charge and take back.
Thats why i am looking for different options.
Most reliable and capable solution so far is wind generation.
With the Dot approving me towing boat with the wind generator running on it , i am kind of leaning that way.
Thanks for the comment!
Let me correct my response
From my post storage yard does have covered spaces with power.
They are just 3 times what i pay per month.
Sorry in my mind they dont have power compared with monthly cost difference.
 
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956
I'll ask the dumb question. What are you running on your boat that consumes so much electricity each trip? All of my onboard electronics (graph, stereo) are run off the marine battery, which is kept charged by the motor's alternator.

Not knowing what boat you have, is there a way to lessen the electrical usage per trip?

I would second the solar charging option.
 

airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
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My battery meter i bought to check battery percentage of my marine lead acid battery after usage on a half day trip shows that its 50% depleted.
I dont use the other battery unless i have to.
Back in my other thread we discussed solar charging with calculations, even with 400 watts it would take too many days to charge, depending on solar hours for every month and cloudy days.
Mine would not be tracking the sun , just laying flat and getting what it could. Then of course removing and reinstalling during trailering.
What do you suggest ?
Thanks
Wow...50% is a lot of battery power. You might try spreading the use over multiple batteries so each will charge faster. Not sure what all your using, but on my boat, the radio, lights, lowrance, and everything but the trolling motor runs off my house battery which gets three days on the water before needing charged. I spent about 4 hrs on the trolling motor which drops the battery about 20% ... Not sure what your using on yours, but what size batteries do you have ? I have group 31 size batteries.
 

That old Mercury

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I'll ask the dumb question. What are you running on your boat that consumes so much electricity each trip? All of my onboard electronics (graph, stereo) are run off the marine battery, which is kept charged by the motor's alternator.

Not knowing what boat you have, is there a way to lessen the electrical usage per trip?

I would second the solar charging option.
I apologize for the long reply,
Just trying to give as much info as i can!
Thats the thing about it!
I lowered everything possible , i even quit using the trolling motor.
When i switch off my motor i even switch off the battery.
I am only running my lowrance full time.
With motor off i did raise and lower my motor 7 times straight i think but i reduced it to 4 times off battery. Loading transporting etc.
Tried 4 different batteries just to rule any weak batteries.
Dont know how many times i crank it up but it always starts when i turn the key and starter engages.
Brand new starter
I was charging my portable oxygen battery but i just bought a second battery for it and keep them topped off with my cigarette adapter on my vehicle.
Motor is charging @ 13.7 volts and 6 amps.
Battery is a marine deep cycle
12 vdc
105 Ah.
Most of my trips are maybe 8 miles round trip.
Maybe stator / rectifier quits at some point ?
Maybe i could go with higher amparge stator rectifier.
I will look up specs johnson 90 hp two stroke.
I do know with marine 10 amp charger it will run 8 to 10 hrs straight before it goes into maintaining mode on every battery i have tried.
Next trip i will hook up my volt meter and amp meter and using my wifi app for both , data log them to verify charging status.
Thanks even if you didnt make it through my whole reply, i truly understand
 

That old Mercury

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Oct 12, 2023
Messages
143
Wow...50% is a lot of battery power. You might try spreading the use over multiple batteries so each will charge faster. Not sure what all your using, but on my boat, the radio, lights, lowrance, and everything but the trolling motor runs off my house battery which gets three days on the water before needing charged. I spent about 4 hrs on the trolling motor which drops the battery about 20% ... Not sure what your using on yours, but what size batteries do you have ? I have group 31 size batteries.
I responded to the first question asking about the power loads.
Its quite longgggggg!
Thanks for taking time to ask and answer
 

alldodge

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I like it and thinks it will be great.
Hope it doesn't turn into something that is real complicated

Look forward to seeing the results
 

That old Mercury

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 12, 2023
Messages
143
I like it and thinks it will be great.
Hope it doesn't turn into something that is real complicated

Look forward to seeing the results
Thanks
Oh I was shocked by the Dot response.
I expected them to ask Was i Crazy LOL
I am still doing a lot of R&D i got time , so i am not rushing into this at all. It might even be a boat issue that is draining my battery so low.
I will post a new thread on what i done.
Thanks
 
Joined
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Messages
956
I am only running my lowrance full time.

Thanks even if you didnt make it through my whole reply, i truly understand
I did make it through to the end. More information is better than less.

The lowrance is the only thing that I can think may be the culprit. 8 miles isn't all that far to charge a battery. How many hours are you running the Lowrance with the motor off? If you're sitting out there fishing and napping for 6-8 hours and then thiking that a 20min boat ride will recharge it....that may be the problem. I don't know how big your Lowarance is or how much power it draws. I was concerned that you were also running your O2 tank off of it, but you said that was run on a different battery.
 

That old Mercury

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Oct 12, 2023
Messages
143
I did make it through to the end. More information is better than less.

The lowrance is the only thing that I can think may be the culprit. 8 miles isn't all that far to charge a battery. How many hours are you running the Lowrance with the motor off? If you're sitting out there fishing and napping for 6-8 hours and then thiking that a 20min boat ride will recharge it....that may be the problem. I don't know how big your Lowarance is or how much power it draws. I was concerned that you were also running your O2 tank off of it, but you said that was run on a different battery.
I only bottom fish and troll for fish we didnt have in Fl.
Burnt out on Bass! Nothing compares in any other place i have fished!
But stipers are Awesome and big blue cats!
Lowrance hook reveal 9, i will look in the manual and check it with my amp meter also 6 hr on time be reasonable if i am drifting or trolling with my little kicker.
Last trip i turned it off when at anchor, but i didnt check battery % this time.
Only stator i can order is 9 amp.
So the 6 amp at idle would probably be right for a 9 amp stator for idle.
I plan to go fishing Wednesday and data log volts and amps , just to verify it.
Yeah i kind of chuckled after the o2 concentrator battery charging.
Poetic justice or an oxy moron.
Using a cigarette charger to charge my o2 concentrator when cigarettes are why i am on oxygen!
No body forced me to smoke them !
Its my own fault.
Should i post a new thread latter in johnson outboard forum ? If i see a charging issue i cant resolve ?
Thanks for the Awesome input!
 

That old Mercury

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Messages
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I only bottom fish and troll for fish we didnt have in Fl.
Burnt out on Bass! Nothing compares in any other place i have fished!
But stipers are Awesome and big blue cats!
Lowrance hook reveal 9, i will look in the manual and check it with my amp meter also 6 hr on time be reasonable if i am drifting or trolling with my little kicker.
Last trip i turned it off when at anchor, but i didnt check battery % this time.
Only stator i can order is 9 amp.
So the 6 amp at idle would probably be right for a 9 amp stator for idle.
I plan to go fishing Wednesday and data log volts and amps , just to verify it.
Yeah i kind of chuckled after the o2 concentrator battery charging.
Poetic justice or an oxy moron.
Using a cigarette charger to charge my o2 concentrator when cigarettes are why i am on oxygen!
No body forced me to smoke them !
Its my own fault.
Should i post a new thread latter in johnson outboard forum ? If i see a charging issue i cant resolve ?
Thanks for the Awesome input!
Looked for amps got tired of searching.
Lowrance fuse is 3 amp , so even going with 2 amps and adding some extra Max should only be a loss of only 14 amp hrs.
By percentage i have lost 45 ah somewhere
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 20, 2001
Messages
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Only stator i can order is 9 amp.
So the 6 amp at idle would probably be right for a 9 amp stator for idle.
Dont expect much….
Unlike alternators that utilize a large gear ratio to generate current at idle rpm, stators operate at engine speed.

My 35 amp charging system will not keep my 50w fish finder up and running at trolling speed….850-950 rpm once the battery is depleted
 

89retta

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Jul 18, 2010
Messages
780
Hi 89retta
I have some questions.
#1-What solar charger are you using?
#2-Are you using lead acid batteries?
#3-Do you know how depleted your batteries are when you are done for the day?
#4-How many days does it take to fully charge them?
I apologize for all the questions.
You might have the setup i need.
I have looked at solar and its still an option.
Thanks for the advice!
 

89retta

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Jul 18, 2010
Messages
780
I use a charger similar to a noma 5 watt charger. Yes I run lead acid batteries and unsure of how much charge I've got at the end of the day. My boat sits weeks at a time at the storage yard and I've never had an issue with low batteries since I started using the solar charger
 

airshot

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Messages
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You have something drawing a lot of power from your battery. I run my Lawrence for 6-8 hrs a day constant, plus radio and aerator for my bait bucket. Battery starts at 12.8 v , after 6 hrs on the water it still shows 12.6-12.7v...My 55 # thrust trolling motor ran for 4 hours on its batteries and only dropped them down to 12.6 from 12.8v. I have Walley World batteries but group 31.
 

That old Mercury

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Dont expect much….
Unlike alternators that utilize a large gear ratio to generate current at idle rpm, stators operate at engine speed.

My 35 amp charging system will not keep my 50w fish finder up and running at trolling speed….850-950 rpm once the battery is depleted
I under stand and have owned a ton of boats in my time pulling some pretty big loads , but i was also running 30 to 50 miles offshore in the gulf which makes a big difference.
I never ever charged a battery except for a john boat that only had a trolling motor that i used on local ponds.
 

That old Mercury

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Oct 12, 2023
Messages
143
You have something drawing a lot of power from your battery. I run my Lawrence for 6-8 hrs a day constant, plus radio and aerator for my bait bucket. Battery starts at 12.8 v , after 6 hrs on the water it still shows 12.6-12.7v...My 55 # thrust trolling motor ran for 4 hours on its batteries and only dropped them down to 12.6 from 12.8v. I have Walley World batteries but group 31.
See i quit all that stuff to cut back on charging , but it aint helped!
If motor is off selector switch is off.
And i put another new one on just to make sure. I always had good luck with the Perko switch.
I even took off cables at night to see if i even had a spark on cables touching it to the post.
Thats why i was just gonna live with it at look at different ways just to charge them.
Any ideas i will try and Thanks
 

That old Mercury

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I use a charger similar to a noma 5 watt charger. Yes I run lead acid batteries and unsure of how much charge I've got at the end of the day. My boat sits weeks at a time at the storage yard and I've never had an issue with low batteries since I started using the solar charger
Thanks
I try to fish at least once a week.
Best i can tell its taking 1,200 watts or more to charge my main battery up.
Based on my 10 amp charger time and i know its not doing 10 amps the whole time.
Thanks for the input
 

That old Mercury

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Oct 12, 2023
Messages
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Thanks
I try to fish at least once a week.
Best i can tell its taking 1,200 watts or more to charge my main battery up.
Based on my 10 amp charger time and i know its not doing 10 amps the whole time.
Thanks for the input
I guess i will also test the amps on my tilt and trim .
It may be killing my battery when i am using it . Lifting motor hauling loading etc. And if brushes are almost worn out it could be drawing high amperage.
Worth it to check it.
Thanks for the Comments
 
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