Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Recharging trolling motor batteries

Just bought a new boat and need advice. I am having a 70lbs thrust 24 volt Minnkota installed and need to know how to recharge the batteries. Can I just hook up a regular 12 volt charger to the batteries or do I need to take the batteries (two 12 volt) out of series before hooking up the charger? I would also like to know if I can charge the batteries with the motor (115 Honda) I would be very afraid of blowing the charging system on the motor as it is 12 volt and not 24.

I used to have a 3 bank onboard battery charger for my bass boat... It is the only way I would go. All you do is plug the boat in...

You can buy a ProXtra 2 (I think it's called that) and that will charge your trolling batteries from your main motor, but that was designed for guys who fished hard all day on the trolling motor and needed the extra juice to keep fishing.

Spend the loot for the 3 bank onboard charger... You won't be sorry.

Durn walleye fisherman... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You thinkin' of converting the Sunshine over to a walleye boat??

Thanx M.B. I will look in to an onbord charger, did not know there was such a thing. I am glad to hear that one can charge from the cranking battery with the right set up. I do spend much time on the water far away from electrical outlets so this may be an option for me.

Alberta,
The onboard chargers are your best bet, hands down. A regular 12 volt automotive charger is about the last thing that you would want to use. Automotive chargers take a battery to about 12.7 volts, whereas deep cycle batteries are fully charged at closer to 14.2. These batteries when they are at 12.7 are nearly dead when you start out in the morning. Not fully charging a deep cycle battery is guaranteeing it's life will be a short one. At a bare minimum you will need a marine charger (Deep cycle), but you would be farther ahead to spend the extra bucks at the beginning and get the onboard.
Charging deep cycle batteries off the outboards rectifier can be done, but is ill adviced. These batteries are not designed to be continually charged, doing so will also shorten their life drastically. The cranking battery is different, or ought to be. It should charged constantly. Confused yet? Books can be written about batteries, but the easiest course is to buy one of the onboard smart chargers and forget about it. The charger will pay for itself in extended battery life, not to mention the convenience of plugging your boat in and forgetting it. You can leave them plugged in all winter too, they have a maintience function.
Besides, all the fish are on the Saskatchewan side of the line anyways. (Grin)
Model70guy

As a Saskatchewan boy living in Alberta, I have to agree with your fish census Model70...

SS

Sam Steele,
I live in Saskatchewan, yet work in the three western provinces,mostly in Alberta. We don't get many opportunities to feel smug, and must enjoy each to the fullest. I'll take the fishing and hunting in good old Sask. Come to think of it, nothing else matters much does it?
Model 70 guy