Battery Charging

[PawleysDude]

Hi - I'm a newbie to this forum. By way of introduction, I live on a small NC lake that does not permit gas motors. I recently got my hands on a 2003 Tracker Pro Team 165 that's set up with a foot-control trolling motor and 2 deep cycle batteries in parallel. The hull and interior are in reasonably good shape. I've had several bass boats in the past, so I have some familiarity with boat maintenance, but nothing anywhere close that had the age of this boat. Wiring for depthfinders and accessories, as well as the trolling motor, are both issues that need addressed, but not today. When the time comes, I'm sure I will have a ton of questions. BTW, I'm in my mid-70's, so if any of my questions come across as crazy to any young studs out there, please just consider the source and be tolerant with me. ?

For starters, just one quick question. Is it possible to charge the batteries through the trolling motor receptacle? I realize I'll need to get an extra plug for my charger. Any issues in charging that way? I'm not an all-day fisherman, but the boat is in the water, so I need to ensure there's plenty of juice for the bilge pump. Down the road, I'm considering a dual bank permanent-mount charger, but it's quite a ways down on the wish list. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[casts_by_fly]

I don't know of a charger that you plug into the motor socket.  I think you might be saying to change out the positive and negative connections on your charger to a plug that fits the motor socket and I'm sure that would work.  However, I don't see any advantage in doing it that way unless you were really just trying to get by for now until you got a permanent mounted charger.  

 

You don't need a 2-bank charger if you're run in parallel.  It will take longer to charge, but just consider the two batteries as one big one.  Then you only need a $100 10 Amp charger instead of a 2-bank for $225.

 

Have a look around the transom area of your boat and see if you have a 110V plug sticking out somewhere.  I'm not sure if it was standard on your model, but lots of trackers have a plug already mounted (sometimes under a cap).  On the inside of the bilge area you'd connect the 2-bank charger to that.  Then you just run an extension cord to the boat and don't have to leave the hatches open to run cords.

[TnRiver46]

My buddy used to charge his  TM batteries thru the plug so it is possible. I don’t know how but he offered me the device, I guess it’s just plugs in where the TM does 

 

I just charge my batteries with a small charger that has alligator clamps, easy and affordable 

[GaryH]

57 minutes ago, PawleysDude said:

 Down the road, I'm considering a dual bank permanent-mount charger, but it's quite a ways down on the wish list. 

 

Congrats on your boat purchase…

[gim]

If you can access the batteries themselves, a manual trickle charger/maintainer will work.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DieHard-6V-12V-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/15167378

[PawleysDude]

Thanks for all the feedback. I wasn’t very clear. I have a charger with the usual clips. Since it sounds like it should work, I would remove the clips and wire it to a new trolling motor plug, then charge thru the port where my trolling motor plugs in. This is primarily for convenience - The way the boat is docked, it’s much easier for me to get to the trolling motor receptacle, rather than the hatch for direct access to the batteries. It would also avoid leaving the hatched cracked open. And yes, this is just a fix until I can eventually get an onboard charger.

 

Thanks for the tip regarding single bank vs 2-bank. That makes sense. I’m learning good stuff already. ? Unfortunately, the boat doesn’t have a factory-installed 110 plug. That would be nice to have, so eventually I’ll need to address that also. Thanks again for all the comments.

[WRB]

You need a receptacle to plug into.

Yes you can charge 2 each 12V deep cycle batteries using the TM bow receptacle. Get the same plug the TM power cord has.

The issue is both batteries must be exactly in the same condition, size and amp hour. Charging 2 batteries in parallel with 1 charger results in only charging the stronger battery the 2nd battery remains undercharged. 10 amp charger you should 6 to 8 gage wire to prevent over heating and blowing fuses or circuit breakers.

You can also get a Perco Marine battery switch and charge each battery separately.

Tom

[Bankc]

1 hour ago, PawleysDude said:

Thanks for all the feedback. I wasn’t very clear. I have a charger with the usual clips. Since it sounds like it should work, I would remove the clips and wire it to a new trolling motor plug, then charge thru the port where my trolling motor plugs in. This is primarily for convenience - The way the boat is docked, it’s much easier for me to get to the trolling motor receptacle, rather than the hatch for direct access to the batteries. It would also avoid leaving the hatched cracked open. And yes, this is just a fix until I can eventually get an onboard charger.

 

Thanks for the tip regarding single bank vs 2-bank. That makes sense. I’m learning good stuff already. ? Unfortunately, the boat doesn’t have a factory-installed 110 plug. That would be nice to have, so eventually I’ll need to address that also. Thanks again for all the comments.

Yeah, that'll work.  Just be sure that when you hook up the wires to the plug that they're not reversed.  I'll also add to make sure that the charger isn't rated above the trolling motor.  In other words, don't use a 50 amp charger with a 30 amp trolling motor plug.  You'll likely blow the fuse and might melt the connector.

[Scott F]

I used to charge my batteries through the trolling motor plug for 30 years until I bought an on board charger.

[HenryPF]

When you go onboard battery charger, do yourself a favor and install this with it:

 

Saves a ton of time digging out the charger plug. You just plug your extension cord into this and you are done, no muss, no fuss. Put it somewhere you do not have to climb in the boat to do.

 

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, HenryPF said:

Saves a ton of time digging out the charger plug. You just plug your extension cord into this and you are done, no muss, no fuss. Put it somewhere you do not have to climb in the boat to do.

Yep - definitely something to install (see red circle)

[Way2slow]

A couple of things.  Are you sure the batteries are in parallel?  Is it a 12V TM, a 24V TM or one of the old 12/24V TM's.  The reason for all the questions you need to be sure before using that receptacle and which terminals to use.  Many of those systems have a run/charge switch you use.  However, this switch is used to place the batteries in parallel to charge them but in the run position it puts them is series for a 24V motor.  If you look at your batteries and they have two red cables and two black cables going up to the bow, that's so it can switch them between series and parallel.  It is a very inefficient system and the first thing I've always done is do away with it.  Anything more than a 24V, 45# thrust TM can overheat that plug if you run on max very long.  

[PawleysDude]

20 hours ago, Way2slow said:

A couple of things.  Are you sure the batteries are in parallel?  Is it a 12V TM… 

Thanks for the feedback, good info. Yep pretty certain it’s a conventional 12V set-up. Originally, it had one trolling motor battery. The previous owner added the second in parallel, with only one set of TM wires heading up front. The boat has some wiring issues with electronics, but the TM wiring is simple and straightforward. 

[Alex from GA]

What I did was put ring terminals to the female ones of these connected to the battery.  Ran it outside a compartment, connected the male one to a battery charger.  I leave the charger in the boat and connect the cord when I return to the dock.  I do prop a door open part way when charging. 

https://www.amazon.com/Pairs-Female-Connector-Silicon-Battery/dp/B07QH249CR/ref=asc_df_B07QH249CR/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=361104274063&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13400597251556030946&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015457&hvtargid=pla-807965256474&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=76397916420&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=361104274063&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13400597251556030946&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1015457&hvtargid=pla-807965256474

[thomas15]

On 3/2/2023 at 10:40 PM, MN Fisher said:

Yep - definitely something to install (see red circle)

 

This set up, not sure what charger you are using, but I'm going to get the 10X2 and port plug, this is on my 2024 boat upgrade to do list. 

 

The two things I dislike the most about my boat is 1. getting the cover back on after a day out, and 2. having to hook up and manage the 2 batteries with a single charger. I love idea of just plugging  it in then forgetting about it. Good job Sir on your boat build!

 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, thomas15 said:

This set up, not sure what charger you are using, but I'm going to get the 10X2 and port plug, this is on my 2024 boat upgrade to do list. 

I've got a 5x2...

[airshot]

On my boat, I have a seperate charger for each of three batteries...each charger plug (110v) plugs into a (120v) receptical port on a heavy duty extension cord, then the plug for that cord is behind a hinged cover. When I am done for the day, I have one plug to plug into household current to run all three chargers.  My chargers are also maintainers, which help add life to the batteries. No fuss, no muss, and chargers are not that expensive!!!