I hope I didn't...

I hope I didn't mess up my 2 trolling batteries. I have been charging them with a portable battery charger from Walmart that charges at 2, 4 or 6 amps. It is suppose to quit charging them when they are full. The first two trips I got about 6 hours of life out of the Terrova with I-pilot... The last two trips I am only getting 2 hours of life. Guess it is time to either get a Minn Kota portable charger or an on board charger if I have room to mount it somewhere.... Any ideas what could have happened? Could the charger be charging them too long? Should I check the water in them or anything? Man I hope this don't cost me two new batteries....

DoubleG

Sounds like either the charger aint no good or the batteries done went bad. Prolly too late to check the water. And dont skimp and try to buy one battery and put with one old battery. It wont work fer long.

Go to Ryan's Supply and buy 2 Delco Voygers (29) and then go to BPS and buy you a 3 bank (10 amp) Minn Kota on-board charger. You save time, money and batteries for a while.

How much on the 2 Delcos and Ryans Crappiholic. I's got to get some batteries

One thing to check is your extension cord if you use one. I was having a problem of not enough amperage to my charger because of too small of an extention cord. I've got a 3-bank Pro Charger now and love it.

On boards are the only way to charge!

Delco's are around $100.00 each. Well worth the price. I ran 3 for 3 years and should have kept them. Nothing wrong, I just like to change them out every 3 years.

The main thing about the life of a battery is to keep it fully charged. Don't go fishing today and plug up the charger Friday for a Saturday fishing trip. That's why I plug mine as soon as I get home or to the motel. A good on-board charger is also a must. I prefer Minn Kota because they are built by Minn Kota and reasonably priced. The 3 bank 10 amp is my choice.

Well I charged them every time I get home. I have to charge them one at a time with the charger I have. One of the batteries is only about 2 months old. The other one came with the boat but he said they were brand new and it looked brand new. They are both Interstate Marine Trolling batteries 27. They are the exact same battery. Maybe the other one was older than I thought... but it worked like a charm for the first 3-4 trips to the water. The last two trips I have only gotten 2 hours of trolling.

I really want to upgrade to a 3 bank 10 amp per bank Minn Kota.... but getting that into the back of a G3 boat is going to be tough. I can barely fit a quart of oil back there... Take a look:
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/2125de25.jpg

24's and 27's are mainly a cranking battery. 29's, 30's and 31's are your best bet for trolling batteries. Delco made a 31 several years ago for police crusiers and I lucked up on 3 but they are hard to find. Make sure you buy maintenance free (no water) battries.

Hmmm...Check your water. The idea of the small extension cord is a good thought too. Do you have a voltage meter? If so, after 1 hour off the charger, bump the trolling motor on for 5 seconds then check voltage on each battery individually and let me know what it reads. I'm guessing the battery that came with the boat, even though it looked new, wasn't or it wasn't treated properly by the previous owner. If I'm right, the bad battery is pulling amperage from the good battery and robbing you of power. Also, what gauge did you use on the jumper? Doubt that's an issue from your symptoms though.

Wannabe...

Thanks Crappiholic... If I have to buy more I will look at those... If the new battery is bad I am going to exchange that sucker or get some money back. It was $100.

I meant to mention earlier that I don't use an extension cord. I plug my portable charger straight to the wall. So that rules that one out...

Yeah I got a voltage meter. I will give that a try and see what it says. I used a 6 gauge marine grade jumper from academy. It was fine strand and tin coated copper wire. Also I ran 6 gauge marine grade wire from back of boat to trolling motor.

The reason I was convinced the battery was new... was because the guy that sold me the boat owned a car dealership and had several pallets of interstate batteries at his shop. He said he just put two brand new ones from the shop in the boat... Made perfect since to me especially since they didn't have a speck of dirt on em...

Only thing I could think of is that i charged them on 2 amps the last two times.... and before I charged them on 6 amps... Could that make a difference?

DoubleG

Wannabe... Was you able to mount an on board charger on your G3 boat that you owned? There is some room over the gas tank but that would be a hard place to mount it... Or maybe on the lid on the back...

DoubleG

I say you got one bad battry. How old is the one you replaced? Nevermind that, just go buy you 2 new 29's or better and be done wif it. Make sure they'll fit before you buy em tho or youre gonna be whizzed on when you get home. Also, buy you that 3 bank charger you've always wanted and mount it to the underside of the storage compartment lid. Seent it done and it werks fine.

I had a 2 bank mounted on the transom between the transom braces and screwed into the transom. I used a portable Minn Kota to top off my cranking battery. If it turns out that you have to get new batteries, go ahead and step up to 29s while you're at it. 31s would be better, but you'll need a sawzall and the jaws of life to get 'em in the G3.

I'm really thinking you've got one weak battery or that 2 amp charge is not bringing them to full state or your charger is toast.

I wouldn't be scared to buy a used, quality charger if you're on a budget.

Wannabe...

Thanks fellas.. I got a bday coming up and now got a couple things on the list. I charged the batteries this time at 6 amp. We will see how they do Saturday. Gonna get them both tested also and see what the deal is... Overwise replace with 29s and upgrade to on board charger I been wanting.

Doubleg

Zack, the on-board charger will be one of the best investments you'll ever make on your boat, and, it's not written in stone that it has to be hidden, as you can see on my boat. It's exposed but not in the way.
http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/y...r/DSC01408.jpg

I run two gp 31 Exides and get 7hrs pulling cranks easy with the 24v terrova.

Maj's charger is definitely not in the way. I have fished out of it and it fishes just FINE!

Good idea Major... I am going to do some measuring on the boat tonight and look for alternative spots to put the on board charger... Thanks!

Well I ran some test last night on the batteries Wannabe. First I measured the voltage.

New battery = 12.98 volts
Older Battery = 12.78 volts

Then I ran the trolling motor for a few minutes and checked the batteries immediately after running it
New battery = 12.76
Older battery = 12.63

I ran the trolling motor again and check the batteries while the trolling motor was going
New battery = 12.76
Older battery = 12.58

Then after I stopped the trolling motor I checked them one last time
New battery = 12.81
Older battery = 12.61

It seems that there is a consistant difference of around 0.20 volts. Which in my opinion is not very much. I don't have much to compare to though. What are your thoughts? Maybe charging them a 6 amps got them back up to speed... Who knows.. We will see Saturday.

DoubleG

Don't think that is enough difference to say the old one is bad. 6 amps is best for sure. Get the on board charger and be done with it. You'll be glad you did.

.2 ain't much. I'm thinking your 6 amp charge just might have done the trick. I'd like to see the fully charged reading be a little higher, but you're right in there. You did check the water right? Only fill with DISTILLED WATER!!!!

Wannabe...

And DON'T overfill like I did. Will eat right through your metal boat.

Thanks fellas.. Yeah I am definitely getting the onboard charger. Either moving the water filter and mounting it there or just mounting it somewhere on the back of the boat.

I checked the water in both of the batteries.... They seemed full to me. I am not real sure how much water is suppose to be in the batteries but the water was about 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the top of the battery. It didn't look like it could hold any more water. So I didn't add anything to it. Just put the top back on the battery and left it alone.

DoubleG

Wannabe... What is the normal reading for a 12 volt battery on full charge? I was thinking it should have been a little higher also.

DoubleG

This is what you (and I) need to get. NAPA probably has them, Torch?
Battery Water Filler Jug - Army Surplus Warehouse - Army Surplus Warehouse

DG, you should really be between 13 and 14 on a full charge.

Pretty niffty jug there major... I like that...

Triton - that makes sense. I know that the voltage on my cranking battery will be up around 14 right after turn the motor off. That is according to my 898. I thought that might be a little low for a full charge. That might be why I am not getting 6 hours like I use to get. I think my charger is a piece of crap. Hope to by the on board one this week.

DoubleG

From Memory, I think it's 13.4 Volts according to what I've read, but in all honesty, I've NEVER gotten that reading on any battery I've ever owned whether new or old. Best I've ever gotten was 13.0.

Wannabe...

That volt reading also does not necceasarily mean a battery is any good. Check your specific gravity readings with a hyrdrometer on each cell....if one is a good bit different than the others then you have a bad cell. The best test is to test with a load tester.

Good idea G3.. I might have to do that...

The load tester... is that the same thing places like autozone use to check your batteries? I thought about bringing them up there for a check.

DoubleG