battery/charger questioin

Champion Jon · Post by **Champion Jon** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:23 pm

I have 3 batteries in my boat. 2 for the trolling motor, and one for starting/accessories.
I have a 2 bank onboard charger. One bank is hooked up to one of the trolling batteries, and the other bank is hooked up to the cranking battery.
In order to charge all three batteries i have been hooking up the trolling batteries parallel when i get home to plug it in.

Just wondering if this is how I should be doing it? Or if I should have a three bank charger......or get another single bank on board charger or what?

Not sure why the boat came with a 2 bank charger....maybe i'm missing somthing......seems like i should just be able to plug it in when i get home and not have to switch any cables over.

Thanks for the help!

Jon

pb1967 · Post by **pb1967** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 10:01 pm

I have the same set up as you do. I let my outboard charge my starting battery. My dual bank charger is attached to both of my trolling batteries, one bank on each battery.

Top'r · Post by **Top'r** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:48 pm

My '95 Champion 190 Elite has the same set up. I have a dual charge that is hooked for the 2 trolling motor batteries. The starting battery is charged by my main engine alternator. When I bought the boat 2 years ago it had been sitting in the garage for quite some time. I replaced the starting battery, and the water pump, and I was on the water. I've not had ANY battery issues what so ever to date....Clay

Jim PAyne · Post by **Jim PAyne** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:09 am

If you have a regular battery charger in the garage you can leave the onboard hooked to the trolling batteries and use the regular one on the start battery and that would work fine. You can just use a two way plug and let them run at the same time.

Greg_Cornish · Post by **Greg_Cornish** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:42 am

I have 4 batteries on my boat and a two bank system (5 year old basspro) hooked only to the trolling motors. I've had 3 different motors on the boat throughout the years. a 40, 70 and 150. The 70 and the 150 always kept the starting batteries up as long as the cells are covered which I now check every third trip. Any modern motor should keep them up if you go fishing once every couple months. Just keep a pair of short Jumpers. JMHO

185vsfrog · Post by **185vsfrog** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:41 pm

Jon, to do it correctly, you should have a 3 bank system. You should have one bank connected to each battery.

jim eaton · Post by **jim eaton** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:48 pm

Your boat should have a regulator rectifier (kinda like a alternator) that runs off the motor. That should keep your cranking, acc, battery charged. So all you would need is a two bank for your trolling motor. If you feel that your motor is not keeping your battery charged, get a three bank for the piece of mind. good luck.

Champion Jon · Post by **Champion Jon** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:20 pm

Thanks guys! I will switch my connectioins over and keep an eye out for a 3 bank charger.

Jon

kb · Post by kb » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:41 pm

Jon:

dual pro sells a 10 amp single bank charger that you can add to your boat and hook up both of them on a splitter. If you run all your electronics, cranking battery and pumps you will need to charge that battery.

kb

Jim PAyne · Post by **Jim PAyne** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm

As kb said you can go by another charger or if you have a regular charger in the garage for your vehicles you can use it on the boat starting battery just as well.