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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,110
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,110 |
this is probably a pretty basic question but there are tons of products out there. I have a new pontoon, I have a trolling motor to put on the front. I want to use the engine to charge the trolling motor battery and start battery while its running. but I don't want the trolling motor to run down the start battery. minn kota sells all sorts of chargers etc. but none seem to have the simple capability. what do I need for this. I think most guys with trolling motors are just going out for a day and the trolling motor battery is easily charged back up when they get home. for me we are out 3-4 days on boat camping trips, we need to at least add some charge back into the battery during engine run time.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
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Perko switch. Allows you to use either battery. Hasbeen
hasbeen
(Better a has been than a never was!)
NRA Patron member
Try to live your life where the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,015 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,015 Likes: 1 |
I would think charging capabilities on a boat motor are limited.
Similar to an atv.
Maybe buy extra batteries. Swap as needed.
Charge when you return home.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,273 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,273 Likes: 7 |
Buy yourself a Sportsman 1000 inverter generator and charge your trolling battery up at night. They'll run eight hours on half a gallon of gas and you can't hear them more than 50 feet away. They weight under 30 pounds and cost under $300. LINK Love mine. I can even use it at motels where I can't get to an outdoor outlet. I just chain it to my boat trailer.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,389
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,389 |
Solar charger? I always carry one of these as an emergency starter backup NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12-Volt UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Box, Car Battery Booster Pack, Portable Power Bank Charger, and Jumper Cables For Up To 6-Liter Gasoline and 3-Liter Diesel Engines https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G37VXTYA27HZDFPWSRJ6
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,302 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,302 Likes: 2 |
The alternator on a boat motor is not capable of keep up with the charging needs of two batteries. Never use your cranking battery to run a trolling motor unless you main motor is shot and you are using the trolling motor for power.
If your trolling motor is 24 volt, get two batteries just for it. Install a 3 bank charger to be able to charge all 3 when you return to the dock.
CK
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,416
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
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Buy yourself a Sportsman 1000 inverter generator and charge your trolling battery up at night. They'll run eight hours on half a gallon of gas and you can't hear them more than 50 feet away. They weight under 30 pounds and cost under $300. LINK Love mine. I can even use it at motels where I can't get to an outdoor outlet. I just chain it to my boat trailer. ^This. Set up your boat with a plug in charger with the appropriate number of banks. Then use AC when available and an inverter generator when necessary. I have one of the little Hondas primarily for this purpose. Jerry
Minnesota; Land of 10,000 Taxes
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,110
Campfire Tracker
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OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,110 |
the boat has a mercury 200L outboard, which has an 85 amp alternator on it. thats more than a lot of cars. so I would think a substantial amount of battery charging could be done while the engine is running. I don't want the hassle of an additional generator, I will have too much crap already on board. any ideas how an hour of run time with that kind of amps could do to top off a trolling motor battery?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,885 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,885 Likes: 6 |
There are tons of on/off switches out there.
1Minute
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,462 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,462 Likes: 2 |
It'll charge your batteries, but how long are you planning on running around with the big motor to do it? Your batteries won't last a full day running an electric motor. Gonna leave the Merc idling to charge batteries?
I'd want the main motor charging my cranking battery and the trolling motor batteries completely separate, but that's just me.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,389
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
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Once you get it figured out you can take your learnings to Ranger, Tracker, Lowe, Lund, etc and share with them. There has to be a strong market for this...
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,796
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,796 |
Yandina combiner. Or yandina Trollbridge if the trolling motor runs off more than one batt wired in series.
The combiner will parallel the starter/ trolling (or house) batteries after the starting battery is recharged/topped off so the trolling batteries are charged. When you shut the main engine off, the switch opens so the trolling motor only drains the trolling batteries, the starter battery remains fully charged. Blue seas has an “ACR” which is basically a copy of the yandina.
Sean
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,273 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,273 Likes: 7 |
You said you need this for extended fishing trips. You wouldn't carry your little generator aboard the boat. You'd have it ashore during the day and hook it up to your boat's normal battery charger at night. You'd have a full trolling battery in the morning for the cost of half a gallon of gas. That's WAY more efficient than running your 200-hp main motor to charge the troll battery.
You could certainly come up with a switching system to charge either your starter battery or your troller battery using the big Merc, but whichever way you did it the other battery would be low. Believe me, this is not the best approach.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,528 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,528 Likes: 4 |
Electricity is the weak spot on modern fishing boats but they’ve come a long way in the last few decades. I’ve been using deep cycle AGM batteries for a year or two and I won’t ever go back to flooded. I charged my 2 AGM’s after crabbing in November and decided in March to see how much juice they’d lost during the coldest, snowiest part of winter. I brought them in and put them on the charger. They showed 90% full and were completely topped off inside of 30 minutes. My flooded deep cycle was a year newer and it was almost totally discharged. A Perko switch and at least 2 AGM deep cycle batteries and you are starting from the right position. I use 1 battery for STARTING and my 2nd battery for running electronics and downriggers. Switch to LED for the house lights.
Good luck.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
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~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,796
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Could consider lithium Lifepo4 batteries if you want much longer run times/capacity
Sean
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Joined: Feb 2020
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Is your trolling motor 12v or 24v? You can run your trolling motor battery parallel with your motor battery with a cut off switch in line with the hot which would stop you from burning up any of your motor battery while you are using the trolling motor. When running your motor simply complete the switch and it should work. If 24v of course you'd need another set of wires and another switch.
I agree with others here though, you'll use up a lot of battery running that trolling motor. You'll have to run your main motor a while to get it charged up. A solar solution like suggested here might be your best bet.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,528 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25,528 Likes: 4 |
Could consider lithium Lifepo4 batteries if you want much longer run times/capacity With the number of little piss-ant problems that seem to plague sport boat electrical systems I don’t think I’ll ever go backwards and use flooded batteries again, at least in boats. I’ve been so impressed with the AGM which is most definitely a HUGE improvement over flooded so I’d be looking towards the newer battery technology with great hope. As time goes by the prices are coming down and the products are infinitely. I bought 3 group 27 deep cycle batteries for $67.50 OTD each which was the same exact price as the same flooded battery by Interstate. They have factory seconds and refurbished units for a fraction of the price of new and I’ve never had an issue with them in 20+ years and dozens upon dozens of batteries. For every AGM I’m getting the performance of 2 flooded batteries of equal size. So effectively if I run 2 AGMs it’s about like running 4 flooded….ime.
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
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~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,773
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,773 |
You can use the charging system on the main, however it is unlikely you will fully charge the batteries for the trolling motor. Depends on how long you are running the main, how many amps it puts out and how much you are discharging the troll batteries. If you are running the main for a hour each way it will have some value, if only 15 minutes, not so much. Pontoons usually have a roof, if so why no solar panels? For battery isolation, Blue Seas makes a ACR specifically for that, and often can buy with a large amp capacity switch.
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,773
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Could consider lithium Lifepo4 batteries if you want much longer run times/capacity With the number of little piss-ant problems that seem to plague sport boat electrical systems I don’t think I’ll ever go backwards and use flooded batteries again, at least in boats. I’ve been so impressed with the AGM which is most definitely a HUGE improvement over flooded so I’d be looking towards the newer battery technology with great hope. As time goes by the prices are coming down and the products are infinitely. I bought 3 group 27 deep cycle batteries for $67.50 OTD each which was the same exact price as the same flooded battery by Interstate. They have factory seconds and refurbished units for a fraction of the price of new and I’ve never had an issue with them in 20+ years and dozens upon dozens of batteries. For every AGM I’m getting the performance of 2 flooded batteries of equal size. So effectively if I run 2 AGMs it’s about like running 4 flooded….ime. Do you think your AGMs aren't flooded?
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
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