Battery "gizmo" To Charge Your Trolling Batteries Off Your Motor

[dcfdpipeman]

So is anyone using something like this? http://www.yandina.com/troll24info.htm

The Trollbridge24® Combiner allows you to charge your 24 volt trolling motor battery from the 12 volt alternator on your main engine or trailer hook-up. It works by automatically putting two 12 volt batteries in series when you need to run the trolling motor and in parallel for charging. It is bi-directional so when not trolling, the trolling booster battery backs up your starting or house battery.

Minn Kota makes a something like this?

My cousin boat has a switch like this and hasn't had an issue.

Just looking for opinions on people using something like this product or another one brand.

Good/Bag and Ugly info wanted.

Thanks

Peter

[Way2slow]

Depends on the size charging system you have. Many of you older and most of your smaller motors only have a 16 amp or so, charging system. I think it would be a waste of money with those small charging system because they will barely keep the cranking battery charged. If you have a 35 amp or larger charging system, you might see some gain, but if you only make a lot of short runs, you probably won't see any gain with the larger charging systems.

I don't have the Trollbridge but my my onboard charger will switch over and charge the TM batteries once the cranking battery reaches about 90%. It's very seldom I see any gain on my TM's percent of charge unless I make a long run. My motor has the 35 amp charging system. I also have a Curtis, Digital, Battery Charge Indicator (BCI)that shows battery charge level on my TM batteries.

[Traveler2586]

I went to the link, read the spec's, and saw the photo. The wires (blue wire) in the photo doesn't look heavy (10 gage) enough to supply the TM adequately (85 amps) for an extended length of time without overheating. I would like to see the spec's on your TM's wire gage and current requirements. I did find this in the Trollbridge 24 Combiner manual. It alarms me.

start of quote:

"INSTALLATION

We recommend 6 gage wire for the motor cables and

for extending the supplied cables. The 10 gage wire

supplied is used for current limiting protection - see

explanation underWARRANTYat end of these instructions.

Since the connections made in the battery circuits can

carry hundreds of amps, it is imperative that you have low

resistance connections. This means having clean metal to

metal contact, the right size ring terminals, properly crimped

terminals, and secure mechanical fastenings." end of quote

NEVER use wire as a "current limiting" device.

NEVER mix wire gages to a smaller than recommended size, i.e. 8 to 6 to 8 is OK, 8 to 10 to 8 is not recommended.

Check you TM's manual for the recommended wire gage from the batteries to the TM main power connection.

Use caution

[dcfdpipeman]

OK, thanks... I guess I need to look into it more..

What minn kota DC chargers that work off the alternator.. Anyone use these?

MK 2 DC (2 bank)

With a low-profile enclosure and a waterproof, corrosion-resistant design, our DC Alternator Chargers use current from your boat’s alternator to re-charge trolling batteries when the main engine is running. Master cutoff switch turns charging off while the engine isn’t in use. Experience effortless, accurate charging with up to 20 amps of total output.

• 2 charging banks
  
• 10 amps per bank
  
• 20 amps total output
  
• 
  

[salmicropterus]

Another good product to consider is the StayNCharge system. www.stayncharge.com. They also have an attachment that plugs into the plug from your truck which charges your entire system when you are towing.

[Traveler2586]

Another good product to consider is the StayNCharge system. www.stayncharge.com. They also have an attachment that plugs into the plug from your truck which charges your entire system when you are towing.

X2 I don't have one yet, but it's on my shopping list

[dcfdpipeman]

Thanks.. that looks like a great product.. seems to claim they are different than minn kota and trollbridge for heat reasons.

Anyone using one?

[Jig Man]

I wanted a Stay N Charge and talked with the people there. They said due to the fact that I don't do a lot of running, I would be wasting my money. So I opted out.