Best way to charge trolling motor battery..

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Just purchased a new trolling motor and 12v marine battery for my hog finder... Just wondering if anyone has advice on the best way to charge the battery and keep it alive longer.

Is it better to trickle charge over night or full charge until battery is good? Also, do you want to charge the battery every single time you use it even if you dont drain much juice out of it? Any other battery care advice is welcome!

Thanks for the advice in advance...

[Esox_Magnum]

I run an onboard charger, plug it in after every time out and unplug it when I go out again....

[delmuts]

If it is a deep cycle batt. then use a trickle charge. And charge it after every time you use it.

[PerchJerker]

I run an onboard charger, plug it in after every time out and unplug it when I go out again....

Agree, an automatic on-board charger is the best way to keep your batteries fully charged and extend their lives as long as possible!

[dirtking]

So speaking of on board chargers - I just bought one and need to install it - I have a 24 volt system - use two banks of the charger to hook to each battery possitive to positive and negetive to negative on each battery, and I can leave the two batties connected (positive to negitive one one post each)

[harvey lee]

I run an onboard charger, plug it in after every time out and unplug it when I go out again....

Same here and my batteries seem to live a long time with good power.

[Esox_Magnum]

So speaking of on board chargers - I just bought one and need to install it - I have a 24 volt system - use two banks of the charger to hook to each battery possitive to positive and negetive to negative on each battery, and I can leave the two batties connected (positive to negitive one one post each)

Yes just connect leads from charger to each battery and leave the jumper...

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

If it is a deep cycle batt. then use a trickle charge. And charge it after every time you use it.

Dont have an on board charger and i dont plan on getting one. I have a VERY basic 14 foot 94' aluminum starcraft with ZERO bells and whistles and an 8 hp mariner.

So I think the trickle charge applies more to me! thanks

[Stick in Mud]

Another vote for onboard charger. Easiest (and best) way to do it!

[fishingstar]

A deep cycle batt. should be charged after every time out. The manual that came with my charger said to charge that type of battery at 10 amps.

[IceRube76]

Use your bird charger guy!

[BobT]

The reason on-board chargers tend to do a good job is because most employ multi-stage or "smart charging" technology. Trickle chargers are notorious for over-charging when left on the batteries for extended periods.

From all the research I have done I have learned that the very best chargers employ a 4-stage charge technology but those are more expensive and harder to find. 3-stage smart chargers are more common and less expensive and this is the most often method employed by on-board or portable smart chargers.

[dirtking]

Yes just connect leads from charger to each battery and leave the jumper...

Thanks Esox!

[PerchJerker]

Trickle chargers are notorious for over-charging when left on the batteries for extended periods.

That is 100% correct.

Whether you go with an on-board charger or a portable charger, you really need an automatic charger that shuts itself off when the battery is fully charged.

If you're looking for a portable charger, the Minn Kota MK 110P is a really good option. You can check it out HERE if you want.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Thanks PerchJerker, that was exactly what im looking for. That portable Minn Kota looks sweet...

[MNice]

I bought a Schumacher smart charger. Its not an on board, just a regular charger that you hook it up & forget it. I got it at the mart place that starts with a wall, about $40.