Best on-board charger?

[Further North]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

That said, the Dual Pro in my boat right now is probably from '95, when the boat was new.  Still works like a champ.

Wow, that's a long time.  Pretty cool.

[NorthernBasser]

OK, so I've been looking at Minn Kota and Dual Pro. It seems the Dual Pro is a little too big for where it will be mounted. The charger can't be more than 4" thick (tall).

 

So I'm looking at these two Minn Kota's. One is a 3 bank, 10 amps per bank. The other is 4 bank, 14 amps per bank.

 

Does it pay to spend the extra 185 for the latter?

 

I only 'need' 3 banks, right? 2 for the 70lb thrust trolling motor, and one for the outboard/lights/graph.

 

How much faster will 15 amps/bank charge compared to 10 amps/bank? If I fish all day, and plug the batteries in at night...lets say 8-9pm, will they likely be charged by 5am the next morning with either of those chargers?

 

Here's the 2 chargers. Also, anybody have these specific ones?

 

https://www.amazon.com/MinnKota-Board-Battery-Charger-Banks/dp/B0042TC5QM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524529134&sr=8-2&keywords=minn+kota+on+board+charger

 

https://www.amazon.com/Minn-Kota-Precision-Board-Charger/dp/B01AB8B5TK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1524529134&sr=8-4&keywords=minn+kota+on+board+charger

 

Thanks again guys!

[Further North]

If you only have three batteries on board, all you need is a three bank.

 

10 amps is plenty, unless you run the batteries down near dead and need to be back on the water fast...then 15 mps is better.

 

I run 5 batteries:

• 3 for the trolling motor...
• 1 for my electronics...
• 1 for cranking the big motor and the rest of the boat.

I use a MK 4 bank charger for the 3 trolling motor batteries and the cranking batttery, and a single bank charger for the electronics battery.

 

Lots of people my view that as excessive...I can't say they are wrong, but it makes me happy and I'm about guaranteed to never find myself in a situation where I don't have a back-up.

[Way2slow]

For several years I ran the ProMariner Pro 300's. The last ones I got would last about three years or just past the end of their warrantee.  When you send them in for repair, they tell you the no longer repair the board in your model and will offer to sell you another at a discount price.  Third time was the charm for me.  I told them where they could stick it and went shopping for a different brand.  They also make most of the BPS chargers, so I would stay away from those also. 

When the last ProMariner failed, I found a good deal on the MK330 Digital or something like that.  Anyway, I've been running it three years and not happy with it.  I haven't been using my Javelin a lot and I've had to replace the batteries in it every year.  I've never had this problem before with any of the other chargers. 

So, this year it looks like I'm going shopping again, this time it will most likely be the Dual Pro.  They've been around a long time and have a solid reputation.

[NorthernBasser]

16 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

For several years I ran the ProMariner Pro 300's. The last ones I got would last about three years or just past the end of their warrantee.  When you send them in for repair, they tell you the no longer repair the board in your model and will offer to sell you another at a discount price.  Third time was the charm for me.  I told them where they could stick it and went shopping for a different brand.  They also make most of the BPS chargers, so I would stay away from those also. 

When the last ProMariner failed, I found a good deal on the MK330 Digital or something like that.  Anyway, I've been running it three years and not happy with it.  I haven't been using my Javelin a lot and I've had to replace the batteries in it every year.  I've never had this problem before with any of the other chargers. 

So, this year it looks like I'm going shopping again, this time it will most likely be the Dual Pro.  They've been around a long time and have a solid reputation.

Well this I don't like hearing since that's the one I was likely gonna go with. Like I said, the dual pros won't fit I guess. 

[Further North]

23 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

For several years I ran the ProMariner Pro 300's. The last ones I got would last about three years or just past the end of their warrantee.  When you send them in for repair, they tell you the no longer repair the board in your model and will offer to sell you another at a discount price.  Third time was the charm for me.  I told them where they could stick it and went shopping for a different brand.  They also make most of the BPS chargers, so I would stay away from those also. 

When the last ProMariner failed, I found a good deal on the MK330 Digital or something like that.  Anyway, I've been running it three years and not happy with it.  I haven't been using my Javelin a lot and I've had to replace the batteries in it every year.  I've never had this problem before with any of the other chargers. 

So, this year it looks like I'm going shopping again, this time it will most likely be the Dual Pro.  They've been around a long time and have a solid reputation.

There is something else going on here causing you have to replace batteries every year.

 

My batteries are on my chargers just about every minute of the year that they are not on a lake or on the trailer on the way to or from one...and my batteries last 5 years plus.  I don't even bother to pull them over the winter, they stay in the boat at temperatures well south of 0° and they last just fine...and I do not buy expensive batteries.

 

I happen to have Minn Kota chargers, but the other brands do just as well, if not better...I know all kinds of people using all of the main brands here and none of them are experiencing that kind of absurd battery life...

11 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Well this I don't like hearing since that's the one I was likely gonna go with. Like I said, the dual pros won't fit I guess. 

You'll be fine.  Plug the chargers in when you get home, every day, all the time and don't sweat the small stuff.  There's some other factor impacting @Way2slow batteries.

 

Run the chargers as intended and you'll be fine.

[NorthernBasser]

2 hours ago, Further North said:

There is something else going on here causing you have to replace batteries every year.

 

My batteries are on my chargers just about every minute of the year that they are not on a lake or on the trailer on the way to or from one...and my batteries last 5 years plus.  I don't even bother to pull them over the winter, they stay in the boat at temperatures well south of 0° and they last just fine...and I do not buy expensive batteries.

 

I happen to have Minn Kota chargers, but the other brands do just as well, if not better...I know all kinds of people using all of the main brands here and none of them are experiencing that kind of absurd battery life...

You'll be fine.  Plug the chargers in when you get home, every day, all the time and don't sweat the small stuff.  There's some other factor impacting @Way2slow batteries.

 

Run the chargers as intended and you'll be fine.

OK good. I was gonna say I've seen nothing but good reviews on that Minn Kota. 

[Way2slow]

My granddaughter had a change in shift schedules and will start having three day weekends every week and looking forward the getting back to bass fishing.  Getting the boat ready, the Deka DC27's I put in it last spring are toast.  This is the third year in a row for the TM batteries.  Deka batteries are a very good brand of battery and I've run them for more years than I can remember and never got anything but great service out of them. I doubt they changed the quality of battery they make at the same time I installed the MK charger.  The float voltages are off on this charger and they are not adjustable. 

That was the one thing I liked about the ProMariner charger, they had a great maintenance mode, the float voltage on everyone I had was dead on 13.17 volts, and I always easily got four out of my TM batteries, and that was when I was using the a lot.  Actually I really liked the ProMariner chargers when they worked, and they had a great customer service, other than the fact they didn't fix a darn thing and every three years for a new charger got old.

Now, I'm not a stranger to batteries and battery maintenance.  Maybe I just got one of the Monday morning for Friday afternoon chargers, but I do know that one is coming most likely coming out of my boat pretty soon.  $200 every spring is getting a little old.  This time it will be over $300 because it's time to replace the cranking battery  Now, the cranking battery is four years old (which I will be replacing it this time, even though it still test good.  Four years is the max I run one), it's just the TM batteries it seems to be having a problem with.

[RUSS9999]

On ‎4‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 7:31 PM, NorthernBasser said:

OK, so I've been looking at Minn Kota and Dual Pro. It seems the Dual Pro is a little too big for where it will be mounted. The charger can't be more than 4" thick (tall).

 

So I'm looking at these two Minn Kota's. One is a 3 bank, 10 amps per bank. The other is 4 bank, 14 amps per bank.

 

Does it pay to spend the extra 185 for the latter?

 

I only 'need' 3 banks, right? 2 for the 70lb thrust trolling motor, and one for the outboard/lights/graph.

 

How much faster will 15 amps/bank charge compared to 10 amps/bank? If I fish all day, and plug the batteries in at night...lets say 8-9pm, will they likely be charged by 5am the next morning with either of those chargers?

 

Here's the 2 chargers. Also, anybody have these specific ones?

 

https://www.amazon.com/MinnKota-Board-Battery-Charger-Banks/dp/B0042TC5QM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524529134&sr=8-2&keywords=minn+kota+on+board+charger

 

https://www.amazon.com/Minn-Kota-Precision-Board-Charger/dp/B01AB8B5TK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1524529134&sr=8-4&keywords=minn+kota+on+board+charger

 

Thanks again guys!

Duel Pro RealPro 18 amp 3 bank is 10.25 long, 6.5 wide, 3'' tall $218.95 I went with it for the same reason it could not be over 4'' tall. I fish all day and the batteries are back to 100% in a few hours, long before the next morning.

[NorthernBasser]

4 hours ago, RUSS9999 said:

Duel Pro RealPro 18 amp 3 bank is 10.25 long, 6.5 wide, 3'' tall $218.95 I went with it for the same reason it could not be over 4'' tall. I fish all day and the batteries are back to 100% in a few hours, long before the next morning.

Is 6 amps per bank sufficient? Obviously it is for you since you're happy with it. How long does it to take to full charge your batteries after a long day of use? 

[RUSS9999]

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Is 6 amps per bank sufficient? Obviously it is for you since you're happy with it. How long does it to take to full charge your batteries after a long day of use? 

After 8 hours of fishing about 4 hour to charge them.

[Further North]

22 hours ago, Way2slow said:

My granddaughter had a change in shift schedules and will start having three day weekends every week and looking forward the getting back to bass fishing.  Getting the boat ready, the Deka DC27's I put in it last spring are toast.  This is the third year in a row for the TM batteries.  Deka batteries are a very good brand of battery and I've run them for more years than I can remember and never got anything but great service out of them. I doubt they changed the quality of battery they make at the same time I installed the MK charger.  The float voltages are off on this charger and they are not adjustable. 

That was the one thing I liked about the ProMariner charger, they had a great maintenance mode, the float voltage on everyone I had was dead on 13.17 volts, and I always easily got four out of my TM batteries, and that was when I was using the a lot.  Actually I really liked the ProMariner chargers when they worked, and they had a great customer service, other than the fact they didn't fix a darn thing and every three years for a new charger got old.

Now, I'm not a stranger to batteries and battery maintenance.  Maybe I just got one of the Monday morning for Friday afternoon chargers, but I do know that one is coming most likely coming out of my boat pretty soon.  $200 every spring is getting a little old.  This time it will be over $300 because it's time to replace the cranking battery  Now, the cranking battery is four years old (which I will be replacing it this time, even though it still test good.  Four years is the max I run one), it's just the TM batteries it seems to be having a problem with.

Yeah, I knew this isn't your first rodeo...but there's something weird going on...

 

Are you located in a place where your power is inconsistent or unreliable, or are you not leaving the chargers plugged in for maintenance mode to kick in?  That you've had trouble with two of the top brands is weird...

 

I am way out in the country, half way between two small-ish towns and my access to the power grid isn't perfect by any means...and I've had zero issues with MK units in 5 different boats for 14 years...my last two sets of batteries have made it 4 seasons each (starting the 5th season on the latest set now) with no issues.  I'm not that lucky, so I'm left wondering what the root cause of your problems is.

 

It's unlikely you hit the Monday/Friday thing twice, but it's possible.

5 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Is 6 amps per bank sufficient? Obviously it is for you since you're happy with it. How long does it to take to full charge your batteries after a long day of use? 

 

2 hours ago, RUSS9999 said:

After 8 hours of fishing about 4 hour to charge them.

6 amps seems light to me, 10 amps seems better, 15 is best...but if it's workin'...

[RUSS9999]

If I understand it right 6 amps is 6% an hour and 10 amps 10% an hour and 15 amps 15% an hour. I would have went with the 10 amp Duel Pro, but did not have the room for it in the boat and when I got it everyone said to get it over Minn Kota or ProMariner

[J Francho]

My Xpress had a 3 bank 15 (5-5-5) amp charger, and it worked fine for me.  It's not like I was draining the batteries, then needed to go back out in a few hours.  Always had a full charge in the AM.

[Way2slow]

Talk about sticker shock! I went to the warehouse to get my new batteries, and they were out of stock on the DC27's.  I asked about DP27's, out of them also.  All they had were some DC24's.  I asked him about two Group 27 size AGM's, he had those so I told him I guess I will just have to get two of those, I had to have two batteries by Saturday.  He sat them down near me and asked if it was cash or card. I asked how much?  $520.00  

[Further North]

Yikes!

 

[PECo]

22 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Talk about sticker shock! I went to the warehouse to get my new batteries, and they were out of stock on the DC27's.  I asked about DP27's, out of them also.  All they had were some DC24's.  I asked him about two Group 27 size AGM's, he had those so I told him I guess I will just have to get two of those, I had to have two batteries by Saturday.  He sat them down near me and asked if it was cash or card. I asked how much?  $520.00  

Cabela’s has its AGM batteries on sale, right now. The Group 27s are $175.99:

 

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-ADVANCED-ANGLER-AGM-BATTERIES/1679063.uts

 

If you have a Cabela’s near you, a trick to avoid having to exchange a core or pay a core charge is to order your batteries online for Store Pickup. It’s like shipping them to your house, but without the charge for it.

[Way2slow]

I think fishing has gotten too expensive, haven't even gotten on the water yet and spent close to $700.  20 gallons of gas in the boat and 26 gallons in the truck @ $2.80 a gallon and both of them luv drinking it. Plus two cans of SeaFoam in the boat since it has not been on the water for a while, I gave it a double dose.  Then the line I've used re-spooling the eight reels I'm taking.  Good line is getting out of sight in price.

 

Ok, back to onboard chargers.  Actually, in my honest opinion the top of the line ProMariner (used to be the Pro Tourny 300 but haven't looked lately) are the best charger for the battery and charges the batteries the fastest.   It's just their quality/service life that turned me off with them. When three in a row fail just past the end of the warranty, and they can't repair a two to three year old charger because the boards are "too old" but they will allow you a small credit for the you old charger against another new one.  That puts you spending $150 to $200 a year, just for a charger.   If I could have only gotten five years out of one, I would probably still be using them.  However, it looks like I'm spending that on new batteries every year anyway with this MK.