Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

[dwhite1031]

My new Tracker Pro 16 came with an Interstate dual purpose cranking/deep cycle battery. I purchased a Guest 2 bank on board charger to have 2 banks in the event I go separate cranking and trolling motor batteries in the future.

My question is this.

Does it really matter which of the two cable sets I connect to my dual purpose battery?

Whichever, I am going to put "boots" on the unused bank's wires to cover the connector lugs and secure them away to insure they don't accidentally short out by touching the aluminum or each other when the charger is in use.​

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

It's a waste to have one pair of charger outputs doing nothing so attach BOTH pairs to the battery. You now have double the charging capacity of the charger. When/if you add a second battery you can remove one pair and attach it to the newly added battery. Pairing outputs will not damage anything and will charge the battery much quicker than the single output alone.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

Hey Silvertip, will doing this harm the battery? I am no expert, but I thought deep cycle batteries should be charged slowly. Or does this not apply since he has a dual purpose battery?

Just curious for future reference.

Oh, btw, thanks for all of the great knowledge that you share on this site!

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

It's a waste to have one pair of charger outputs doing nothing so attach BOTH pairs to the battery. You now have double the charging capacity of the charger. When/if you add a second battery you can remove one pair and attach it to the newly added battery. Pairing outputs will not damage anything and will charge the battery much quicker than the single output alone.

Thanks Silvertip. I read your post and had one of those "I could have had a V-8" moments...... I'll do that, hook both sets up.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

Blue Crabber -- Go to the battery sites and read about charging batteries. No -- deep cycle batteries should not be charged slowly. This has been discussed to death. Every manufacturer does have a "charge rate spec" for their batteries but a 20A - 30A charge rate is perfectly fine for most batteries -- deep cycle or not, especially if a smart charger is used which most are these days.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Cranking/Deep Cycle Battery Charger Question

Blue Crabber -- Go to the battery sites and read about charging batteries. No -- deep cycle batteries should not be charged slowly. This has been discussed to death. Every manufacturer does have a "charge rate spec" for their batteries but a 20A - 30A charge rate is perfectly fine for most batteries -- deep cycle or not, especially if a smart charger is used which most are these days.

Thanks Silvertip! I will check out the battery sites for my battery just out of curiosity. Appreciate your knowledge on the subject!