Maxxum question

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Got a 54H Minn Kota trolling motor with the maximizer on it.<br />I understand that you have to hook the batteries up in a series to get the 24V to the front.<br /><br />The trolling motor I have on there now is a 12/24V Foot control that has 3 wires coming to the front.<br />2 with 12V each on them and one ground.<br /><br />I have a 2 bank onboard charger for the trolling motor batteries and the question is, how do I hook the onboard charger up now to make it charge both batteries that will now be in a series?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Maxxum question

SBN, this is the exact question I'm confronted with on the installation of the charger, and this is what I've been told/read about...<br />All of the new style onboard chargers have isolation between each bank, and as long as the breaker/breaker switch is in the off position, you install the leads the same as if you were charging 2 separate batts.<br />My concern was when I set the breaker switch for operation, what is keeping the charger protected from back-feed?????<br />I'll be waiting for the correct answer as well!!<br />p.s. my new charger is a 3-bank and is rated for 12/24/36, so I hope I don't have to disconnect the batts before charging...???...

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Maxxum question

After closer inspection and some help from a volt meter it had one wire going to the front with 24V on it and one with 12V, and of course one with ground, so when I checked the batteries again, they were wired in a series already with the jumper going from - to + between the 2. <br />So I guess the charger was already wired up right.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Maxxum question

My manual for my prosport 20 says hook each bank up regardless of wiring between batteries...each bank is protected from reverse current of course, but I didn't understand the 12/24/36, and how it would determine that...I guess it's only the voltage present at each batt that matters....

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Maxxum question

Yes each bank to each battery reguardless of how they are wired.<br />The charger knows and understands this and charges each battery on it's own.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Maxxum question

SBN, hooked up my new charger last night....all appeared well and I checked each batt voltage over about a 30 min. period of time, and just as the manual states, it brought them to 14.55-14.6 (digital). What they call the "condition" mode, which says it desulfates the batteries in this mode and when completion of this mode ends it drops to 13.3 as maintenance/float mode....<br />I been messin' with batts for quite a few years and was taught that if a battery gets low and stays there for a period of time, this causes the sulfation and the battery is considered "no-good" at that point...Is this not really the case anymore??? Because of the new-style chargers..<br />K<br />BTW, I've been charging all 3 group 27s with a 6 amp system, one at a time for about a year, and it usually takes 2 days to fully recover each TM battery-short time on the starter batt. anyway, this new charger was already in the float mode in about 15 hours...that is incredible to me..

 

[DJ]

Re: Maxxum question

Kenny,<br /><br />Most batteries get condemned because of sulfation. That rule still applies, charger differences or not.<br /><br />There is a growing industry reclaiming batteries. The best way, I was taught, to reclaim one is to draw it down completely and slow charge it-several times.<br /><br />Boat batteries tend to get "top charged" meaning that they never get truly cycled.<br /><br />My best performance from trolling (deep cycle) batteries has been when I completely drained them and started over.<br /><br />The same applies to NiCad's in cordless power tools.<br /><br />By the way, you'll never get a good charge in temp's over 80 degrees.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Maxxum question

I know the temp is the controlling feature of available amps for full charge, but this promariner states it "will" fully charge, just at a slower rate in extreme temps...??? This true???

 

[Melvin Hatcher]

Re: Maxxum question

DJ,<br /><br />Do you actually drain your trolling (deep cycle) batteries completely, if so how, or do you just run them to a very low state of charge and then recharge them again? <br /><br />DoferGofer

 

[Melvin Hatcher]

Re: Maxxum question