how to charge batteries

[leafs]

i have a 14' trihull with a 1976 70hp jonhnston<br />on it (boat,motor and trailer weighs 1960 lbs). i have a starter/deep cycle battery.<br />i'm thinking of buying a 50lb thrust electric motor for trolling and just use the one battery.<br />will the 70hp charging system be able to keep the battery charged

 

[roscoe]

Re: how to charge batteries

NO.<br /><br />The charging system is totally inadequate to maintain a deep cycle battery used for a trolling motor. The Amps of output times the hours of running time equals not enough time to charge the battery.

 

[JB]

Re: how to charge batteries

If you just use the electric for positioning and for short trolling runs, it might do the job, but plan on recharging her after every use with a housepower charger.<br /><br />I use an electric for positioning and maneuvering and my single Everstart yellow dual purpose battery hasn't let me down. My Suzi has a 40 amp alternator, but I always put her on the charger when I get to the camp or home.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[leafs]

Re: how to charge batteries

if i have a seperate battery for trolling motor how do you recharge it when you are at a lake for a week were there is no power for a battery charger

 

[leafs]

Re: how to charge batteries

any ideas,i might go and buy one today.or i can buy a 7.5 hp outboard

 

[leafs]

Re: how to charge batteries

help

 

[SlowlySinking]

Re: how to charge batteries

Hi leafs, here's what I use at hunting camp, I use a power invertor that works off your tow vehicle's battery and a home type battery charger (about 5 to 10 amp) plugged into the invertor's 120 volt output, check the battery chargers label for the wattage rating to determine what size invertor you need, and remember to start the tow vehicle after an hour or so or you might be at camp waiting for a jump. With 2 vehicles and jumper cables it's no problem.

 

[KenOhki]

Re: how to charge batteries

the answere here is simple math,, depending on how many amps you alternater provies, and how much draw your trolling motor has.. Just for argument.. if the trolling motor draws 20 amps and you use it for a hour, thats 20 amp hours, if your alternater provides 10 amps, it will take 2 hours of motor time to replenish the battery, not counting the power required to start the motor, or time spent idleing ( low amp output at idle on most small motors )<br /><br />The alternator on my Johnson 15 claims it outputs 4 amps. I use the troling motor pretty much exclusivley for spot positioning. I use a 1 deep cycle/cranking batt on my boat. The time I spend under power generating 4 amps greatly exceds the draw of my trolling motors usuage. If I used the troller for actual trolling, It would not be adaquate. But for spot positioning use, provided you drive under gas power a bit now and again, its suitable.<br /><br />You should be able to find the outboards amp rateing and your trollers draw from factory specks

 

[KenOhki]

Re: how to charge batteries

One other thing,, On the issue of charging your batteries at camp or other remote locations. <br /><br />Solor?, yeah it works, but is expensive and buky and slow. I recomend making a 12 volt generator out of a standart car alternator with built in regulator, and a small lawn mover engien or large weed eater.I like the weed eater one myself becuse it will run on my outboard mix. a pully, a drive belt, some heavey wire and clips. Walla. Portable battery charger. small enough to carry or even take right out on the boat. only drawback is noise, but hey, its a small price to pay for power.<br /><br /> using a inverter and a charger is another reasonable alternative, but, I think you would have to run your vehical allot more then once a hour, Last I knew battery chargers were Pigs on power. Id recomend idling the motor the entire time the charger was sucking amps.<br /><br />I found a websight called otherpower.com its all about making your own power and stuff, many home made generator pictures. Interesting reading if you have the need, or just want to know.<br /><br />good luck

 

[KenOhki]

Re: how to charge batteries

ok ok one more thing. I dont know what I was thinking,,, Using a inverteer to charge is a terrible idea, think of the loss, converting 12 volt to AC then back to DC,, waste waste waste.. Just put your weak baty in your vehical,, Jump it if neccisairy from the now removed cranking batt and run the vehical til its charged,, thats the most efficent way to use a vehical to charge.. Now, If you are driving to town anyway,, then the inverters waste wouldnt really matter, but if your just sititng in camp and want your batt charged ASAP, direct from the vehicals alternater is the way to go. ( but I still like the weed eater powered alternator the best ) Charging through jumper cables is not really a good idea but possible ( having 2 batteries conected in such a way raises other issues when charging )

 

[Forktail]

Re: how to charge batteries

Just a reminder that if you're using your trolling motor or main engine for charging, the amount it's rated to charge (in amps) only applies when it's running high rpm. Don't expect 20 amps out of the outboard while it's trolling or at a lower rpm.<br /><br />The most practical way to charge in a place where you don't have pole electricity is via generator. Using a vehicle's charging system is very slow and burns lots of fuel. Using an automotive alternator directly puts a fast, heavy charge on the deep cycle, when it really needs a slower charge. Solar sucks. Inverters aren't efficient and they are extremely hard on the vehicle's battery/charging system.<br /><br />I'd get a second battery and have it charging by generator while you're fishing with the other.

 

[Greg22]

Re: how to charge batteries

Hook some jumper cables from your auto battery to the boat battery for about 10 minutes. This will charge up your battery.

 

[d.tro]

Re: how to charge batteries

check this out!<br /> http://fishingmn.com/stay-n-charge/