charging fish house 12V batteries while on the ice

[mrjigger]

maybe you have read some of my previous posts, but I am in the process of wiring my ice castle fish house I just bought.

I am wiring it for 12V lights using deep cycle batteries.

I have an idea to charge my batteries while on the ice, but I am not sure if it would work. My idea is to wire up a set of cables to the batteries and then place the cables in a weather proof box with some sort of terminals on the ends. When I wanted to charge my batteries I would just start up my truck, clamp on some jumper cables from my truck battery to the terminals and charge my batteries.

Would this work? or is there a better solution?

[jeffreyd]

it would work, but might take a while to charge them fully. have you considered incorporating a small solar charger to the room or portable that you can stand up outside when needed to charge them?

[mrjigger]

Yes, I have thought about a solar charger as well. Right now I am just trying to stay on a budget, so basically trying to get everything "roughed - in" and then later get everything hooked up.

If I went the solar charger route, what wiring would be need now to hook the solar charger up later?

I am using 14 guage wire, would it be as simple as just pigtailing some 14 guage wire on the outside of the house and then back to the battery compartment?

[ac777]

It would be simple to hook up a solar panel later if necessary. Just leave some terminals for them, they just run pos. Neg. I would say the shorter the length of wire and the larger would be better, as it would flow better to the battery.

[shizzy]

If budget is an issue I can see it working to some degree. Not Ideal, but would work in a pinch. Maybe pick up a set of remote battery Jumper terminals (check out the speed shop catalogs) and wire them to a waterproof exterior grade outlet box.

In the end do the math first. Many times you end up spending almost as much trying to make something else work.

Another question would be what kind of lighting and other things are you going to be running? If its just some LED lights and a radio its one thing, but if its lots of lights and a Big Screen TV thats another.

[broken_line]

i had sorta the same idea.. take and get a larger alternator and wire a deep cycle in the back of your truck then an extension cord to an outlet on the fish house. make any sense? drive to school come home from school watch some tv then charge on the way to places! make any sense?

[ac777]

i had sorta the same idea.. take and get a larger alternator and wire a deep cycle in the back of your truck then an extension cord to an outlet on the fish house. make any sense? drive to school come home from school watch some tv then charge on the way to places! make any sense?

yes it does, not a half bad Idea.