Battery Charger?

Dave A · Post by **Dave A** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:29 am

Would there be any problem with having two seperate on board chargers. I am upgrading my trolling motor from a 12v to 24v and will need to add a battery. I was thinking of buying a single bank charger for the cranking battery and using the existing two bank charger for the trolling motor. Would that work?

Scott D. · Post by **Scott D.** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 11:51 am

Something you might want to consider is availability of plugs when you are traveling on the road. Sometimes I travel with a friend and we both have our boats. We'll share a campsite if it's big enough, and sometimes it only has two plugs. You could use a power strip and be able to use two plugs, but I think you would be better off jumping up now to a 3-bank.

Rob D · Post by **Rob D** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:23 pm

My boat is set up that way, there is a short 3 way plug in the boats battery compartment with the Dual charger and the single charger plugged into that so you only have one plug to plug into charge it. If one goes out I will replace it with a 3 bank, but why fix what's not broke.

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:53 pm

Kragrens had onboard chargers on sale for $30. I bought 2 of them.

Dave A · Post by **Dave A** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:10 pm

Thanks guys. I am going to buy a new trolling motor and don't want to spend the money on a new three bank charger. I was planning to set it up just like yours Rob D with the three prong extension.

Ralph Harkins · Post by **Ralph Harkins** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:52 pm

Make sure the charger that you get is a 15 amp per side charger and not a 10 amp per side charger or you will be saying bad things about what ever battery you have in a few months.

Topwater All Day · Post by **Topwater All Day** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:16 pm

This may be a stupid question, but I have never dealt with this before. Why do you need to charge your cranking battery? Shouldn't it be the same as a car battery and charge while it's running? So if you use your boat 3-4 times a month, wouldn't this be enough to keep the battery charged? Like I said, might be a stupid question...

Fishin' dave...What kind of chargers does Kragen have? I just bought a single bank Minn Kota from Wally World for $35. Since I have 2 trolling motor batteries, my thought was to just charge one and then switch the connections to charge the other. For another $30, may be I should just by a second charger...

Rob

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:07 pm

I dont charge my big motor battery either, the charging system takes care of that one!

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 9:56 pm

Kragens has the little trickle chargers, I forgot to look at the brand.

I always charged my cranking battery. Too many variables and what ifs to rish the big motor not starting tournament morning. Lets list them:

Cold weather can require a fully charged battery to fire the motor
We all know outboards don't always fire the first time
Optis require a minimum voltage to fire up the computer and crank longer to charge the compressor
Did you make a long run at the end of the day? Or did you fish your way in running pumps, depth finders, and a radio?
Did you drive all the way home and leave the areator on?
Leave the stereo on?
Lights?

Anyway, in my oppinion, if I am spending time and $$ to fish a tournamnet, specifically if it is a draw and someone else is depending on my boat, I will arrive with ALL batteries charged. I hope if I am your back seater you will charge yours too.