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Posts: 552
Location: WI | Bought a Crestliner fish hawk 1700 this spring and I'm trying to decide what I want to do about the batteries and chargers. I've been searching some previous posts but I'll be the first to admit that I'm not well versed in the world of volts and amps so I apologzie if I begin to come across as an idiot. Basically, I've got a 12v trolling motor so my plan at this point is to run 2 12v batteries in parallel so I can cast all day. However, I'm not sure about what to get for a charger. An on board sounds great, but do they work well w/ this set up? Most info I have found makes it sound like you use a single charger w/ this set up and the highest charge rate I've seen w/ on boards was 15(which weren't cheap) and I'm concerned about charge time. Would I be better off w/ something like a vector smart charger w/ 2/10/25 charge rates? Or can I get an on board and charge both batteries at once. Also I've got a charger w/ a 6 amp charge rate already that I was hoping to use w/ the starter battery. Would this be okay? Any input would be appreciated. I'm picking up the boat first weekend of april and since they still have to install the gps/sonar they worked into the deal I figured I might as well have them do a little more once I figure this out. Thanks. |
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Posts: 1023
| I would spend the money on upgrading to a 24 v motor with more thrust first. My 55 lb 12v was underpowered for my fishhawk 1650!
I have an onboard charger and honestly don't see the need. I just changed to a 24v motor and needed the space in the battery box so I removed the charger. I am not sure it is going to go back in the boat. It only takes up storage space and I don't see what the big deal is with setting it i the boat and charging the batteries just like a portable charger. Am I the only one who has pondered the usefulness of these things? |
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Posts: 552
Location: WI | 24v motor will definitely be the first upgrade on the boat, I just don't have the money to do it this year. I agree w/ you on the space issue w/ the on boards. |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | The 6 amp charger would be OK. The only rub is that if you fully drain the two batteries it would take a longer time to recharge with the 6 amp unit. Look at the amp hour ratings of the batteries, add them together and divide by 6 and that will give you some idea of the worst case time in hours you can expect to recharge the batteries. I used two batteries in parallel for many years and charged them with a simple (read cheap!) 10 amp charger hidden from the elements under an upsidedown cooler with enough space under the edges for some air movement to help cooling the charger. It got pretty rusty, but still did the job keeping the batteries charged.
The one thing you have to be aware of is that no matter what your charger is rated for, if you don't supply the AC current at the stated voltage it needs on the input side, it can't put out the DC charging current at the other end. Long smaller gage extension cords, multiple chargers on the same line, or AC voltage drops are all things you can run into at resorts on vacation trips, and all will take away the efficiency of you charger causing longer charge times.
I'd use the 6 amp unit you have this season and save the money for your upgrade to a 24V system. I'll never have another boat without an onboard charger. Too many years of lugging chargers, coolers, and rocks to hold down the coolers when it stormed taught me that just plugging in a cord and forgetting about it was definitely the way to go. If you just charge the boat in a garage, that's different. Then an onboard charger is nice but not nescessary. But when your boat is tied up to the dock for a week or more just plugging it in can't be beat. |
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| The 6 amp charger is for the starting battery, and should be platny.
No need to worry about the AC side. At 15 amps, the AC draw would only be around 1.2 amps on the 120VAC side.
I would get a three bank charger like the Guest 2623A , or the MinKota MK330. And when charginbg, I would remove the negative jumper from the trolling batteries. That way, you get a full 10 amps to both batteries. Reattach the jumper when your unplug the charger. You';; be able to use the same charger when you go to 24V. |
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