Battery type

[frosteeone]

I just bought a used 14' jon boat w/9.8 mercury. The boat came with a battery that I decided to have tested and found it to be dead and unchargeable. Anyway, I replaced it with a "starting" battery model before I thought about other uses I might have for it. There are a serious of switches that come from the battery and lead to the rear (for the electric start motor) and one to what looks to be a "home-made" live well for fish (I'm sure there's a better name for it, but I'm brain dead right now). Anway, since this has another switch tha goes to to bow, I was wondering if this type of battery would be okay to use for a trolling motor (haven't purchased yet). I just don't want to blow anything up. It appears the switch that runs to the front could have been for lights too, but there weren't any on the boat. Any comments or suggestions would help as I am a true novice. I plan to use on small lakes in the south & SW parts of Illinois.

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Battery type

If its a maintenance free battery, it will live a short life. If its a regular or low maintenance, you'll likely be OK for a few years. It'll likely fail because it was left "low in charge", long before using it as a deep cycle. Be sure to charge it up fully after troller useage....

 

[Solittle]

Re: Battery type

frosteeone - You will not hurt anything if you use the battery you bought. There are two types of batteries. One designed for starting - has lotsa power for short periods. The deep cycle, as schematic mentions, is for drawing less power but for longer periods - like trolling motors. There are some that advertise that they do both but me thinks that is more advertising than fact.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Battery type

If you have a multi meter, try not to let the battery voltage drop below 12.4 Volts. This should happen at about 50% charge on the battery, where sulfidation starts damaging the battery. Keep in mind that number is tempurature related, your really looking for a .3 volt drop from charged. This will keep your battery (or any lead acid, including deep cycle and AGM batteries) living a long time.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Battery type

Frosteeone<br />If you get a trolling motor I would recomend you get a true deep cycle battery. Starting batteries do not like to be deep discharged even for a short time. Will last less than one year if you do deep discharge a starting battery. (10.5 volts)<br /><br />If you get a trolling motor use a seperate Deep clyle battery for it and charge as soon as get home.<br /><br />Since you have a small motor that may not have a charger and even if it does I would not try and charge a trolling motor battery with your motor.

 

[frosteeone]

Re: Battery type

thanks for all the answers. I guess I should consider purchasing a different battery for the trolling motor eh? Back to the lights: Should I run those off of the starting battery or the deep cyle type? I assume the same deep cycle battery I'm going to use for the trolling motor.