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| I was thinking of buying a Minnkota on board charger that charges the trolling motor batteries off the alternator.
Does anyone with any experience with these units care to offer an opinion.
Thanks
Ray
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Are you talking your alternator on your car or main outboard? |
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| Off the boat motor alternator |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Ok, that's what I thought you were talking about. Here is my experience with this. If your not making long runs it's not worth it. I think it depends on where you fish mostly. Places like the Missouri River in the Dakotas where long runs are common. But if your maximum run is just a few minutes here and there, I don't think it's worth the hassle and money spent to have it hooked up. A few minutes here and there isn't going to do much for your batteries, imho. If you have good batteries, and there fully charged before heading out, you should be good. I run a 24 volt system; I've only run into one occassion where my batteries ran down before I was down fishing. That was on the Fox River where the water was so high and the current was so fast I had to have the speed turned up and it drained the batteries quickly.
Edited by Merckid 3/17/2008 12:56 PM
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| I am interested in feedback on the Minnkota charger and how it performs. I understand that it will depend on the length of my runs and the output of my alternator. |
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| I thought MK pulled that product a while back ? You might want to also look at this product. I understand he has several goverment contracts now. I would imagine the gov't has tested this thing beyond its limits.
http://www.stayncharge.com/products.htm
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | I too am interested in this product. Looks like it's new with Minn-kota. It's model #
MK-1-DC.
I run big miles (LOTWs) and have problems at times even with fully charged group 31 batteries when it a windy day. I think my alternator puts out 60 AMPs (225 Opti).
It would be real nice to charge my trolling motor batteries when I run.
Doug Johnson |
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