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I have several questions about the on board chargers. Its time for a new trolling motor battery and I know that maintnance is important in making a battery last. Is the on board charger good for the battery?? Do I still have to charge my battery when I get home or does it charge the battery while the outboard is running like a cranking battery??? As you can see I know absolutely nothing about on board chargers so any help at all will be appreciated!!
The onboard charger will stay hooked to your batteries by being mounted in the boat at all times. One advantage of an onboard is that you don't have to drag out the charger when you get it home. You still have to plug the boat in. For at-home use I don't think they are worth the cost (if you already have a charger), unless you are old or broke-down to where it's hard, and dangerous, to get in and out of the boat to hook your charger up.
I would say the biggest advantage is being on the road, staying at motels or leaving your boat at the dock. A lot harder to walk off with an onboard charger than one sitting on the front deck.
Be sure to get an AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery like an Optima. Cabela's has their brand of AGM batteries on sale right now and I got one a while back for my aluminum boat. Get the biggest that will fit in your boat. I use a Cabela's charger in my big boat but haven't put one in the alumimun boat yet.
I just installed a 330 Minn Kota in my Crestliner this week. I think the biggest advantage of the onboard charger is that you can plug it in when you get home and fprget about it until you are ready to go fishing again and you batteries will have a full charge.
Well this is just what I know about onboard chargers. 1. It is really the only way to go, they are a plug it up and forget about it till you go fishing item. 2. they are great for maintaining a battery, if you use the old style of batteries that you have to add water to, you have to check them more often to keep them from going dry. 3. Onboard chargers only charge to 85% of capacity, so if you want a 100% charge you still need to top the batteries off with a regular charger, I learned this the hard way during a couple of bass tournaments when I ran the batteries dead knowing that they showed a full green light charge. I actually called the manufacter to get the info. They said that at 85% the chargers show full charge and go into a maintanace mode. 4. If you are out fishing and are staying in motels they are nice because they aint easily picked up and walked away with, and it is one less peice of equipment to pack, store, and repack at the end of the trip. 5. They are easy to install, and depending on the number of batteries you have, you can get chargers with multiple charging banks in them so this means you can get multi battery charging from one small unit.Thumbs Up Thumbs Up
I have a double bank Bass Proshop charger. My advantage is the conveinence of charging two batteries at a time. I rigged up a group 27 to compliment my original equipment group 24. With all of the crap my wife stores around my boat, trying to reach the wall receptical one time is nice. I do not plug mine in as soon as I get home; a couple of days before I go, works for me. I found the water level stayed more consistant this way. It is a pain to refill battery water in my panfisher.
DP
I have a 2 bank on Bass Tracker that came on it.Only way to go. Plug it in,and both batteries are up tomorrow.Also keep small solar charger plugged in to keep batteries full when not in use. Still have to put 2 chargers on Grizzly, but am going to put a 2 bank on it as well. The main thing I have found on keeping batterys good is to use distilled water, when filling them.
Steve
I like my on-board charger. I have 3 batteries on my boat: 2 for the 24v trolling motor and 1 battery for the starting and accessories. My charger is set up to take care of all 3 batteries which is nice. When I get home or get to where I am staying after fishing, I have my battery charger ready to go.
LB
I have a 2 bank on board charger on my Bass Tracker and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's nice to plug it in at a camp site or when I get back home. keeps it simple.
I agree. My boat didn't come with an onboard charger, but I installed a two bank charger on it and I love the convenience of it. You will too when you get it installed. It is great at home or on the camp.
Have 2 bank minn kota works great one drawback is charger will not charge dead batteries other than that no problems.
noslab.
Thanks for the info guys I think I might have to purchase one. I have 2 batteries, one for the trolling motor and one for the trolling motor, so do I need a 2 bank charger???
My opinion, It's the only way to go...!Thumbs Up
DP, I agree with you about filling with water. However, charging the batts when done will seriously diminish sulphation, meaning your batts will last much longer. Charge when done and then unhook chargers, on-boards STINK for maintenance and dry out or cause leakers. Top off with the charger before going, longer batts life, no leakers, and most important-no refilling or topping off with water. When doing it this way I've found that I can generally get about 800 cycles(charges) and never have to add water. Because in my experience if you have to add water your batts are cooked. And I use those cheap-a## Exide batts because they're made locally and I get them cheap.Quote:
Originally Posted by DRPEPPER
I agree with crappiedoc about the batteries lasting longer if you charge when you get home. You should always recharge first thing. But I will also say I have never had a problem with having to fill my batteries more often because of the on board chargers. Think of a car battery that is constantly charged every day. I hardly ever have to put water in my car battery and the alternator is charging it any time I'm driving it. I have read that it is much better to keep your batteries on the charger all the time.