Charging 24 volt system

I'm going to make the big jump from 12 to 24 volt on the TM, yes, I said big jump, for me anyhow. Let's just say I'm not real comfortable working with electricity, either AC or DC I think its all nothing but black magic LOL:witching but with that said... I understand how to cable the 2 batteries together to get to the 24 volts but my question is on recharging them.
Is there any way to recharge them when I get back home other than shelling out the $$$'s and buying a 2-bank charger?
I already have a single bank charger on the boat now and was thinking maybe I could just pull out the portable charger from the garage and hook it up to the 2nd battery while the existing charger on the boat recharges the original battery???
Would I have to uncable the 2 from each other every time or would the 2 seperate chargers not damage the 2 batteries while charging if left hooked up in the 24volt arrangement?
Hope that makes sense. I'm trying to save a couple of bucks and at the same time to not be penny wise but pound foolish... thanx ahead of time for your responses.:dono

Yes you can just use the other charger you have for the second battery and no you don't have to unhook the two batteries from one another. Just make sure one charger is hooked to one battery and one to the other i.e. don't put the positive lead off one charger on the + terminal of battery and then put the negative lead one a different battery. You will love the 24v system, much more power, and less battery draw over the course of a day.

Even though this will work fine, keep looking for a 2-bank (3, if you have a starter battery, too) onboard charger that will fit your budget. The portable charger will quickly become a pita.

OK great, I'm excited about this. But I didn't go far enough with my questions though since Corker mentioned using a 3-banker to get the starter battery also. So my next question would be if I got a 3-banker will it harm the starter battery to charge with the on-board 3-bank charger since the motor charges this battery when running? Charging the starter battery from the on-board charger wouldn't harm the outboard engine alternator since it runs through the main fuse circuit board? Dang, let me try the quesion again... the starter battery is already charged by the outboard when running (of course). If i hook up a 3-bank charger, 2 banks to the TM 24 volt batteries and the 3rd bank to the starter battery I can leave everything hooked up and just plug it in when I get home and live happily forever? :cheers2

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Originally Posted by EnonEye

OK great, I'm excited about this. But I didn't go far enough with my questions though since Corker mentioned using a 3-banker to get the starter battery also. So my next question would be if I got a 3-banker will it harm the starter battery to charge with the on-board 3-bank charger since the motor charges this battery when running? Charging the starter battery from the on-board charger wouldn't harm the outboard engine alternator since it runs through the main fuse circuit board? Dang, let me try the quesion again... the starter battery is already charged by the outboard when running (of course). If i hook up a 3-bank charger, 2 banks to the TM 24 volt batteries and the 3rd bank to the starter battery I can leave everything hooked up and just plug it in when I get home and live happily forever? :cheers2

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Yes.

A 3 bank charger would be the proper way to go. Most crappie fishermen rarely use their big motor enough to keep the starting battery fully charged.

Thanx all for your responses.

I would strongly recommend ultimately going with a three bank charger system. Good ones will automatically transfer their output to where it's needed most, starter or trolling batteries. But I don't leave mine plugged in all the time when home. That might be okay if you are fishing multiple times a week, or even every week. But I just don't think it is a good idea to keep the unit energized all the time if you are not using the rig on a regular basis. I typically plug mine in a couple of days before I plan to fish, fully recharge when I return, then disconnect until a couple of days before the next trip.

Tnfisher

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Originally Posted by TnFisher

I would strongly recommend ultimately going with a three bank charger system. Good ones will automatically transfer their output to where it's needed most, starter or trolling batteries. But I don't leave mine plugged in all the time when home. That might be okay if you are fishing multiple times a week, or even every week. But I just don't think it is a good idea to keep the unit energized all the time if you are not using the rig on a regular basis. I typically plug mine in a couple of days before I plan to fish, fully recharge when I return, then disconnect until a couple of days before the next trip.


Tnfisher

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Your batteries won't last as long doing this.....Keep the onboard charger plugged in all the time except when you are fishing. Let the charger maintain your batteries. I have been doing this a long time and I get way more battery life this way. Check your water once a year and top off with distilled water.....do not overfill.

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Originally Posted by "G"

Your batteries won't last as long doing this.....Keep the onboard charger plugged in all the time except when you are fishing. Let the charger maintain your batteries. I have been doing this a long time and I get way more battery life this way. Check your water once a year and top off with distilled water.....do not overfill.

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G, I would defer to your experience on this. I guess my thinking was that every electronic device has a lifespan, and keeping the charger unit energized continuously would use up that lifespan more quickly. To be honest, I didn't consider the impact on the batteries, as long as the period of non-use wasn't so long as to let them fully discharge. Happy fishing,

TnFisher

The new modern multibank chargers should be left plugged in all the time. Old chargers that do not automatically switch to a float mode should be unplugged after the meter drops to half it its initial reading.

Okay now ya'll are gonna kill me now, after getting all excited about switching to a 24 volt system I don't think I can do it. I have a 55PD MinnKota and everything I see in the owners manual says the voltage is only 12. So if I hooked up the 24 volt I'd burn it up?

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Originally Posted by EnonEye

Okay now ya'll are gonna kill me now, after getting all excited about switching to a 24 volt system I don't think I can do it. I have a 55PD MinnKota and everything I see in the owners manual says the voltage is only 12. So if I hooked up the 24 volt I'd burn it up?

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Yes you would. But if you are just looking for more trolling time you could put 2 batteries in parallel instead of series and still have 12 volts.

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Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Yes you would. But if you are just looking for more trolling time you could put 2 batteries in parallel instead of series and still have 12 volts.

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Thanx Barnicle - good thought