On-Board Charger

[mattrd]

Looking at getting an on-board charger for my boat. What one does everyone recommend? I have a 12v trolling motor, but thinking about switching to a 24V. Also, how do the chargers actually work? It's hooked to the batteries and all i have to do is plug in a cord to charge it?

[delcecchi]

Yes, the charger is connected permanently to the batteries and all you do is plug it in. I would buy a 3 bank charger. that covers the cranking battery and up to a 24 volt system. I love mine.

[Down Deep]

I've had both a Guest and and MinnKota 3 bank. The Guest worked fine for 8 years and I sold it with the boat. The Minnkota was installed on my latest boat and has worked great. You just plug it in and let the batteries charge. Be sure the charger you buy automatically shuts down to a maintenance charge when the batteries are fully charged.

[delmuts]

+ 1 on a 3 bank charger. I'm a dual pro guy, but don't think you'll go wrong with any of the brands mentioned!

[Esox_Magnum]

Agree get a 3 bank 10 amp per bank, have owned all 3 brands mentioned and all worked great.... Currently running MinnKota....Mines plugged in 24/7 unless I'm fishing...

[JohnMickish]

Dual Pro, Guest and Minnkota are all good. When you go shopping you will see some under $100 and some over $400. You will have to decide what price point you want to be at and how good a unit you want. I will tell you this, like most things in life you will get what you paid for.

My last boat, I cheaped out and and purchased a $100 2 bank for the trolling motor batteries and it wouldn't bring the batteries to 100%. Very frustrating.

[caseymcq]

I have a Cabela's Advanced Anglers Pro Sport 20 Plus and I have been very happy with it. It's a three-bank charger and for the price I thought it was a good deal.

[picksbigwagon]

I use a stay'n charge which runs off the alternator of you tow vehicle. I can run my trolling motor batteries down, drive my truck home from the lake and out the next day to the lake and the batteries are back charged up. No need to plug it in once I get home either

[EBass]

I have a Minnkota dual bank for the past 6 years and so far so good. I have a 24V t-motor and a seperate battery for the lights and electronics.

(Note to self: get 3 bank on the next boat)

[mwal]

I had a Guest on my boat I just sold since 1999. Still working great . The new boat I ordered comes with Minnkota 3 bank 15 amp charger. I would not have a boat without on board charger.

Mwal

[BobT]

I use a stay'n charge which runs off the alternator of you tow vehicle. I can run my trolling motor batteries down, drive my truck home from the lake and out the next day to the lake and the batteries are back charged up. No need to plug it in once I get home either

You must be driving a long distance or not using your batteries too much. The time to recharge is dependent upon the charge state of the batterie(s) and the current rate of the charge. To do it right requires multiple charge current rates and voltages and it takes time. You might be getting by, but I would suggest your batteries are rarely up to full charge.

[picksbigwagon]

20-30 minutes to and from lakes, but the time I hook up the boat, get out of the neighbohood and unloaded...and do the same on the way back, it will last me long enough on the water.....It's just like my truck battery, if it goes dead from leaving the lights on, once I get the jump and the vehicle is running, how would it take to get my truck battery back up to 100%? 10 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles? Now I have had dead batteries jumped before and low and behold, within 15 minute I can turn it of and the battery is charged and ready to go again....

Do I volt meter my batteries? nope, how many people actually do that? I would suppose that most people leave them on until the charger says they are charged....

[traveler]

I have a Minnkota dual bank for the past 6 years and so far so good. I have a 24V t-motor and a seperate battery for the lights and electronics.

(Note to self: get 3 bank on the next boat)

I have the same (Minnkota 2 bank), and wouldn't be without it. The spot I mounted it was fairly tight, thus the smaller size 2 bank, but I can't say as I see as I need a 3rd bank...my motor charges the starting/lights battery just fine.

[kg2]

You are confusing deep cell and crank batteries. I gotta agree with Bob T on this one.

[dudewheresmyboat]

Check out the Noco Genius line of onboard chargers. I replaced my Dual Pro xtreme 3bank for a Noco Genius gen4. Great price, light weight and compact-so far so good.

[EBass]

Quote:

but I can't say as I see as I need a 3rd bank...my motor charges the starting/lights battery just fine.

Mine doesn't - Just a 25H Merc on a jon boat. I was using a Vex battery at first then I got a color graph and got a 27 series Trojan to run that and the Vex. I use a regular car battery charger for the Trojan. I would like a smaller battery that weighs less, but in due time.

[SkunkedAgain]

I'm retro-hijacking this thread.

I just upgraded my battery system to a 2-battery 12 volt. Eventually I'll get a nice new 24v trolling motor, but I still want to charge efficiently. For my two new deep cycles I'll need a 2 bank charger. I don't believe that I need a 3rd bank since my starting battery gets plenty of charge going around Vermilion.

I noticed that some above stated to get at least a 10amp-per-bank charger. Why?

When I charge my rechargeable AA batteries, the best charging method is the slowest possible. I've never needed to do a mid-day recharge on my single trolling motor battery, so it always charges over night. Wouldn't it be better to get a 2-bank charger that has a lower output per bank?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

That used to be the theory, but everything I've found says you want to recharge a deep cycle at at least 10 amps.

[remington 300]

i believe that most on board chargers are 10 amp per bank now a days.

my minkota 220 is a 2 bank @ 10 amps per bank, but its a three phase charging system, first a quick charge at 10 amp then auto switches to maybe 5amp then to 2 amp at a maintain stage, and i leave it plugged in all the time during the summer leaving my batterries fully charged and ready to go when i am,

my ever fading memory may be slightly off on the charging levels but its something like that, either way an onboard charger is highly recomnended they will prolong the life of your batteries,and worth the investment,

later,

mike,

[SkunkedAgain]

Anybody else running the Cabela's brand? They have the Pro Brand 20 (2 bank, 20 total amps) on sale for $152 right now but as usual, I've read some conflicting reviews.

[fishnowworknever]

Just installed the 3 bank model and have had it hooked up for about 1.5 weeks so I can't really give any review on it. Toughest part was finding a place to mount the beast, I'm hoping it works out and works as it's deisgned to.

[SkunkedAgain]

Yup, I bit the bullet and bought the Cabelas 20amp - 2bank version. I wanted to use my cabelas points but at the Rogers store they had a poor selection except for their brand.

[clKiekhafer]

Anybody else running the Cabela's brand? They have the Pro Brand 20 (2 bank, 20 total amps) on sale for $152 right now but as usual, I've read some conflicting reviews.

I run the same unit, but with three banks (batteries) all last year. The unit works great, it has never let me done and the batteries are put on the changer when I get home and unplugged before I leave. I also use the AGM batteries by Cabela's.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I have a Guest now for 5 years and have had NO problems!!

I would also recommend the 3 Bank version.