Charging batteries, and charging them.

In getting ready to replace my 12v trolling motor with a 24v, I've went
ahead and installed the second battery in the boat. So right now, I'm
wondering how to charge all three batteries with a two bank charger. I've
hooked the charger up to both trolling motor batteries, removing one set of
leads from the cranking battery. This is just temporary so I can make sure
that the second one is fully charged in case the other runs down.

Is it necessary to recharge the starting battery all the time like the
trolling battery? I'm know the motor will keep a charge on it, but is it
enough?

What if I connect the two trolling batteries parallel? How should I charge
them?

Am I going to need a three bank charger or add a second one for the starting
battery? I'm totally not familar with any of this...
--
Charles Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com

Charles B. Summers wrote:
In getting ready to replace my 12v trolling motor with a 24v, I've went
ahead and installed the second battery in the boat. So right now, I'm
wondering how to charge all three batteries with a two bank charger. I've
hooked the charger up to both trolling motor batteries, removing one set of
leads from the cranking battery. This is just temporary so I can make sure
that the second one is fully charged in case the other runs down.

Is it necessary to recharge the starting battery all the time like the
trolling battery? I'm know the motor will keep a charge on it, but is it
enough?

What if I connect the two trolling batteries parallel? How should I charge
them?

Am I going to need a three bank charger or add a second one for the starting
battery? I'm totally not familar with any of this...

Charles, since I have no boating experience, I'm probably not the best
to answer this, but lately whenever anyone has asked a battery question,
somebody (memory fails me) has posted this link. It has more information
than my little mind can wrap around, maybe you can find your answer here.
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/
From what I understand, (remember who's talking) you shouldn't have to
charge the starting battery unless you are storing the boat for a long
period. (2 months or more) If storing, you should charge every few weeks
to extend the battery life. It shortens the battery life if left low on
charge for any length of time.

Charles, I just reread your post, and I'm not clear on why you ask about
hooking your batteries up parallel, unless it is to charge them with a
12 volt charger. You must hook them in series to power your 24 volt
trolling motor.

Thanks for the link, and sorry for the confusion...

Until I get the 24v motor, what I want to do is use these now in parallel so
I don't have to worry about running the battery down on a long day. Ok, I've
gotten up to 14 hours on one battery, but with a good stiff wind it can go
down alot quicker.

Should I do this is my first question, and how to charge them is the second
question.

Now... for something I haven't though about... how do you charge a 24v
system?

--
Charles Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com
"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
Charles, I just reread your post, and I'm not clear on why you ask about
hooking your batteries up parallel, unless it is to charge them with a
12 volt charger. You must hook them in series to power your 24 volt
trolling motor.

Charles B. Summers wrote:
Thanks for the link, and sorry for the confusion...

Until I get the 24v motor, what I want to do is use these now in parallel so
I don't have to worry about running the battery down on a long day. Ok, I've
gotten up to 14 hours on one battery, but with a good stiff wind it can go
down alot quicker.

Should I do this is my first question, and how to charge them is the second
question.

Now... for something I haven't though about... how do you charge a 24v
system?

Yes, running them parallel will get you longer use. With my trolling
motor only pond boat, I carry two batteries but use them one at a time,
so I have an idea how much use I have left. As soon as I sense that I am
not getting full power out of one battery, I swap and know there is a
little "reserve" juice left in it just in case. I wouldn't want to be
very far from the ramp when I'm left with only a paddle!
For charging, you will have to buy a 24v charger, or change the wiring
every time you charge to either charge them one at a time, or together
in parallel.

One of you long-time boaters on here back me up, I'm new at this, I'm
used to dealing with 480 volt 3 phase!

On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 23:10:12 -0500, Henry Hefner
wrote:

Charles B. Summers wrote:
Thanks for the link, and sorry for the confusion...

Until I get the 24v motor, what I want to do is use these now in parallel so
I don't have to worry about running the battery down on a long day. Ok, I've
gotten up to 14 hours on one battery, but with a good stiff wind it can go
down alot quicker.

Should I do this is my first question, and how to charge them is the second
question.

Now... for something I haven't though about... how do you charge a 24v
system?

Yes, running them parallel will get you longer use. With my trolling
motor only pond boat, I carry two batteries but use them one at a time,
so I have an idea how much use I have left. As soon as I sense that I am
not getting full power out of one battery, I swap and know there is a
little "reserve" juice left in it just in case. I wouldn't want to be
very far from the ramp when I'm left with only a paddle!
For charging, you will have to buy a 24v charger, or change the wiring
every time you charge to either charge them one at a time, or together
in parallel.

Hi all, I think you could charge them one at a time or use two 12 volt
charges at the same time to charge each battery.

First bat - + second bat - + = 24 volts at the end.
12 volts 12 volts

Don't think the two charges will see each other even if you leave the
cables attached. Just hook up each charger like you would on a single
battery setup. If you don't feel comfortable with this then all it
would take to completely separate the two batteries is remove one end
of the cable that connects the two batteries in series.

That should do the trick.

Later, DC

One of you long-time boaters on here back me up, I'm new at this, I'm
used to dealing with 480 volt 3 phase!

--
Dale Colemam

"Charles B. Summers" cbsummers@(bellsouth)(dot)(net) wrote in message
. ..
In getting ready to replace my 12v trolling motor with a 24v, I've went
ahead and installed the second battery in the boat. So right now, I'm
wondering how to charge all three batteries with a two bank charger. I've
hooked the charger up to both trolling motor batteries, removing one set
of
leads from the cranking battery. This is just temporary so I can make sure
that the second one is fully charged in case the other runs down.

Is it necessary to recharge the starting battery all the time like the
trolling battery? I'm know the motor will keep a charge on it, but is it
enough?

What if I connect the two trolling batteries parallel? How should I charge
them?

Am I going to need a three bank charger or add a second one for the
starting
battery? I'm totally not familar with any of this...

For now, just run one bank of the charger to each of the trolling motor
batteries and forget about the starting battery. You're right in the
outboard will put some charge back into the starting battery. The best way
to handle the situation once you get your new motor is to sell the old two
bank and get a three bank on board charger.

Most boat companies have the livewells pumps, bilge pump and everything else
running off the starting battery. I switched that to the deep cycles so
that I can take the added load off the starting battery and all it has to do
is crank the outboard. Now, I can run my livewell aerators all day long and
the worst that will happen is a somewhat shortened trolling motor system.
But, I can still start my outboard to get home, and once there, plug in the
boat and everything is back up to 100%
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

every time you charge to either charge them one at a time, or together
in parallel.

I have never bothered to do that and have never had a problem, just hook up the
battery chargers. Unless the motor is on, the circuit is not complete, I think.
Also, most boats have the wiring built in to handle a 24 volt system - the
wiring actually creates the series connection. You just hook up red wires to
positive and black wires to negative at the battery.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Steve hit the nail on the head here. Get yourself a 3-bank charger & be
worry-free. I like having a battery devoted solely to cranking my big
engine. If your batteries are good there should be no problem running
everything on the trolling batteries. Consider the new Stealth charger, it
charges all of your batteries when running the outboard, not just the
cranking battery.

Warren

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in
message ...

"Charles B. Summers" cbsummers@(bellsouth)(dot)(net) wrote in message
. ..
In getting ready to replace my 12v trolling motor with a 24v, I've went
ahead and installed the second battery in the boat. So right now, I'm
wondering how to charge all three batteries with a two bank charger.
I've
hooked the charger up to both trolling motor batteries, removing one set
of
leads from the cranking battery. This is just temporary so I can make
sure
that the second one is fully charged in case the other runs down.

Is it necessary to recharge the starting battery all the time like the
trolling battery? I'm know the motor will keep a charge on it, but is it
enough?

What if I connect the two trolling batteries parallel? How should I
charge
them?

Am I going to need a three bank charger or add a second one for the
starting
battery? I'm totally not familar with any of this...

For now, just run one bank of the charger to each of the trolling motor
batteries and forget about the starting battery. You're right in the
outboard will put some charge back into the starting battery. The best
way
to handle the situation once you get your new motor is to sell the old two
bank and get a three bank on board charger.

Most boat companies have the livewells pumps, bilge pump and everything
else
running off the starting battery. I switched that to the deep cycles so
that I can take the added load off the starting battery and all it has to
do
is crank the outboard. Now, I can run my livewell aerators all day long
and
the worst that will happen is a somewhat shortened trolling motor system.
But, I can still start my outboard to get home, and once there, plug in
the
boat and everything is back up to 100%
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

You should not need to charge your crank battery. The engine will do a good
enough job at that. As for the trolling batteries, I assume that you will
hook them up in parallel for your current 12v trolling motor. When you
switch to a 24v, you will need to hook the batteries up in series.

Jeff


"Charles B. Summers" cbsummers@(bellsouth)(dot)(net) wrote in message
. ..
In getting ready to replace my 12v trolling motor with a 24v, I've went
ahead and installed the second battery in the boat. So right now, I'm
wondering how to charge all three batteries with a two bank charger. I've
hooked the charger up to both trolling motor batteries, removing one set
of
leads from the cranking battery. This is just temporary so I can make sure
that the second one is fully charged in case the other runs down.

Is it necessary to recharge the starting battery all the time like the
trolling battery? I'm know the motor will keep a charge on it, but is it
enough?

What if I connect the two trolling batteries parallel? How should I charge
them?

Am I going to need a three bank charger or add a second one for the
starting
battery? I'm totally not familar with any of this...
--
Charles Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com