24 volt battery charging help

[racefan2]

I have a question or debate going. I just purchased a Ranger boat with a 24 volt trolling motor. The batteries are wired together but the boat only has a Duel pro brand onboard charger. It there duel pro series not the se, xl or others but the 15 amp per bank duel bank charger. One is wired to starting battery and one is wired to one of the 24 volt batteries. My question is are both batteries charging on the 24 volt setup. This is a Ranger dealer install I have been told. I know it is not the factory charger but was installed when the previous owner bought the boat. I beleive both are not charging but don't want to get to the lake and fine a dead battery on the first outing.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

[colour=blue]Just to clarify - you have 2 x 12v batteries wired in series to make 24V, right? And a seperate 12v starting batt?

Does the second bank on the charger actually put out 24, or 12V?

If it's 24, it's connected incorrectly (and dangerous). If it's 12, only one batt is being charged.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

This is the way it should look for the trolling batteries. If you also want the starting battery in the system you'll need a three bank charger. Read the warning!!!!

 

[racefan2]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

Silvertip That is how the batteries are wired but the charger is charging the starting battery and is connected to only one of the batteries in the 24 volt system. One person said the charger should be connected to the positive on one battery and the neg on the other to charge both.

 

[jtexas]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

no! a 12-volt charger will not charge a 24-volt battery (which your trolling batts are the equivalent of, as they are wired).

unless your charger has one "24-volt" charger and one "12-volt" charger, it will not charge all three batteries at the same time, the way they are wired now.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

12V out of one bank of the charger will not charge both batteries in a 24V system. It needs to be done as shown. Otherwise, only one troller battery and the start battery are getting charged. What you can do is install a charging switch that disconnects the cable between the two batteries and reconnects them in parallel so you now have a 12V system. A single bank will charge both batteries but it will take twice as long. It also involves some extra wiring and a switch with contacts rated higher than the charger output. If your system was mine, I'd disconnect the charger output that from the start battery and connect it to the other troller battery. Install a Schumacher battery maintainer (1.5 - 2A output) at the start battery. Its a smart charger and will keep the start battery topped off. Those chargers can be bought at any store that sells auto parts and are about 20 bucks or so.

 

[racefan2]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

Your all all right I called duel pro and they told me the same thing. It will only charg one battery..

Thank you all for the imput.

I am going to wire them to just the trolling motor batteries and just hit the start battery every so often with a charger.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 24 volt battery charging help

If you aren't using too much power (stereo, VHF, Radar, etc.) , and not starting very often accompanied by short runs, your engine's alternator should keep your starting battery at full charge.

If you are talking about charging the engine after long periods of nonuse, then buy another (portable) charger for that.

Mark