Battery Charger for my Crappie Boat

I am going to install a on-board battery charger and have a starting battery and two batteries for my 12 v. trolling motor. I think I need a 3 bank charger with 10 amps / bank (maybe 15). I have heard the Minn Kota and Dual Pro make great ones. I have looked at the Dual Pro site and see their chargers come in different series. What are your suggestions. I'm hoping I can can buy from a sponser that offers good service if needed. Thanks for any help that you can offer in telling me what I need for good quality and longevity.

MinnKota: MK330D

:hesaid

Do they make the three bank in the 15 amp?? Like a minn kota MK345?? I have a minn kota MK460 and am very pleased.

I have a MinnKota 330D and its great.....I used to have a DualPro but I like the MinnKota better.

Yep. MK345D.

I think the MK345D is the size of the 460.

I've used the Dual Pro for years and just upgraded. They stand behind their product and have been great to work with. Didn't know made a charger but sounds like it has some good reviews. They were great to work with when I sent my Fortrex back to be worked on. Sounds like either one should suit you and I'm guessing you might save a little bit with MK.

Since he's used both, I would defer to "G" on this one.

Thanks for your help on this matter. Should I use both trolling motor batteries tied together to run my 12v. trolling motor or keep the batteries separate maybe using a marine switch? If tying them together, would I also charge them off the same bank with a 2 bank charger or still charge them with a 3 bank. What is best? Also if you charge them off the same bank of the charger, wouldn't it take a long charge time? Seems there is also some discussion between 10 and 15 amp/bank chargers. Reckon which one might be better. Can you charge a battery too quick with the 15 amp charge?

Never used a MK charger, but I have this 2-bank Dual Pro in the front and a 3-bank in the back (2 sets of batteries for a 24v system + starter battery). Power cords are hooked together & chargers are always connected to batteries, so all I have to do after a trip is connect the extension cord dedicated to that hook-up. These units work perfectly and I would recommend them to all crappie fishermen.

You'll find different points of view about amp ratings. As you can see, my DPs put out 6 amps per bank. That has always been sufficient to cook my batteries back to a full charge from the time I'm home from a trip until I get up the next morning. And...I mostly fish TMO lakes, so the batteries are used constantly, taking me to the fish, slow trolling all day, and getting me back to the ramp at sunset.

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i..._/IMG_0030.jpg

For aluminum boats, the DP chargers have the added advantage of a plastic case which cannot cause electrolysis when you mount it on the hull or other aluminum surface.

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Originally Posted by Big Wally

tied together...or separate...using a marine switch? charge them...with a 2 bank charger or...3 bank...10 and 15 amp/bank chargers.

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Do not hook your 2 bats. parallel or charge them that way. Separate charger banks and a switch are the way to go.

Batteries age and degrade at different rates & when you hook them parallel, you never get more amps than half the amount held in the weaker battery. The weaker battery's voltage drops faster, so the stronger battery charges the weaker one. That's not what you want.

Hook them up one at a time, draw one down, and then switch to the other. I always try to start with the weaker of my battery banks and switch over at lunchtime. That way, I'm saving the most juice for the getting-back-to-the-ramp part of the day.

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Originally Posted by jigflinger

I think the MK345D is the size of the 460.

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If it is then it is huge and heavy, think ine weighs like 80 pounds. May be wrong about that but its heavy.

I use a Pro-Mariner Mini-Mite 5-5-3 very small unit and lite weight. I only get to use my boat, at most, once a week and it's always charged and ready to go. Don't remember the cost but it is a little less that the M-K which is a very good unit, I just don't need one that big. That's another thing to consider is how much you'll use the boat.

Had a 4 bank dual pro. Just after the warranty expired, the "waterproof" unit got water in it and shorted out. Wouldn't charge. Called dual pro and they offered to give me a "break" on a new one--saved me a grand total of $30 on a $300 unit. I wasn't happy, but needed one in a hurry so I went for it--this was after they already had my unit and diagnosed it.

I KNOW it was out of warranty. I KNOW they were within their rights. But a waterproof unit should be waterproof--period. It was in a covered hatch. The moisture got in in the heat of the day under a wet canvas. I don't think the darn thing was ever waterproof, but couldn't prove it and Dual Pro wouldn't listen. Won't buy another one.