charging batteries in 24 volt

[rookie44]

i just got a 24 volt trolling motor.Is there anything special i have to do when charging the batteries, like unplug the jumper or can i leave everything 24 volt?

[prov1900]

Spend a little extra and get an onboard charger. Much easier than charging the old way, IMO. I think you can get into an onboard charger for well less than $100. I dont know about whether you have to unplug or not. I would say yes, if I had to guess.

[BobT]

I can't think of any reason to disconnect the jumper between the batteries. You'll just have to charge each battery separately if you are using a 12v charger. If you have a 24v charger then you could charge both simultaneously.

If I'm not correct, someone chime in.

Bob

[Whoaru99]

Far as I know, Bob, you are correct.

As long as one connects the charger leads to the battery posts as one normally does, you'll be good to go.

An on-board charger makes this so much more convenient and so much more likely that you'll charge the batteries properly.

[CatManLee]

I have been told to un-plug the jumper cable between the two before charging. I don't know if it's needed for sure or not, but thats what I do, it's guaranteed not to ruin anything that way.

[rookie44]

i do have a single bank on board charger.will that eventually charge both?

[prov1900]

One at a time. You would have to unhook the charger from the charged battery and put it on the second. Then, of course let that one charge.

[rookie44]

thanks everyone for the info.one other thing, will i ruin my depth finder,bilge pump,etc. if i hook it up to the 24 volt system?

[fivebucks]

I may be wrong here but I do not think your bilge, electronics etc. will run on 24 volts. They are 12 volt appliances. I know my 24 volt trolling motor will not run on 12 volts.

[aanderud]

Yeah, you can hook that stuff up to just 1 of the 2 trolling batteries if you are trying to get it off the starting battery. What'll happen is that one of your batteries will die faster than the other, which will result in basically shortening your trolling lifetime to that of the shortest battery. Every time you charge you'll notice that the one battery has lower charge than the other. I wouldn't think it'll be hurting anything (remember, you are using only 12 volts for your 12 volt accessories here because only hooked to 1 battery), just annoying that you bought trolling batteries with capacity X and then can't use the full X for trolling. You could put some of the stuff on one of the batteries and other stuff on the other battery. That would even it back out a little more. But you probably won't notice much difference, the trolling motor has at least an order of magnitude more power draw than those other things.

I've heard of interference if you run your graph on the same battery as your trolling motor, but who knows. Perhaps I'm talking out my rear, I haven't ever really investigated it.

[BobT]

Yes, be careful there. If the accessories are rated for only 12v and you apply 24 you'll fry them.

Bob

[Whoaru99]

You can connect 12 volt items to either of the two batteries.

Just be sure any given 12 volt device is connected to the + and - of just one battery. Never connect a 12 volt device to the + of one battery and the - of the other, that will give you 24 volts and hopefully would just blow a fuse, worst case it might fry the device.

[blakjack23]

I have a 24V setup and a 2 bank 12v onboard charger. I have never disconnected the jumper between the batteries and this setup charges flawlessly.

[rookie44]

cool,thanks!