Possible to run trolling motor on regular 12v battery?

[fishtastic]

Hi - first post, just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the excellent information. Hope I'll be able to return the tips and advice one day.

I have a small trolling motor (28lb thrust) that I don't plan on using all that often - maybe once a week. I know you're supposed to run them on deep cycle 12v marine batteries, but I was wondering if it's possible to run it on a regular car battery seeing as how I won't be using it very regularly?

[sparcebag]

No problem,But your battery will eventually get drained and not recharge,

[fishtastic]

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No problem,But your battery will eventually get drained and not recharge,

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Thanks for the reply - how long is "eventually"?

[BoxMN]

It'll work for a year or so. In the old days, that all we had was regular batteries. A key thing to keep any battery lasting and performing best, is to recharge it to full capacity after EACH outing, as soon as you can.

Good luck,

-edit: BTW, want to be sure I am not miscommunicating anything. With a regualr battery, each charge will not last as ong, nor will the battery itself last as long as with a deep cycle. A starting battery will work, but it won't hold charge as long, if that was what your question was. But you will get a morning of fishing out of it after a full charge, most likely.

[Dave S]

I have to "tentatively" disagree. Any battery should be drained as much as possible before recharging. Batteries need to go through a full cycle from a full charge to no charge to maintain the longest possible service life. Charging after each use (unless completely drained) will only create a memory within the cells of the battery. If you're only recharging to regain 4-5 volts, the battery will never take a full charge.

As to the question of using a regular battery vs. a deep cycle, that's already been answered.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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I have to "tentatively" disagree. Any battery should be drained as much as possible before recharging. Batteries need to go through a full cycle from a full charge to no charge to maintain the longest possible service life. Charging after each use (unless completely drained) will only create a memory within the cells of the battery. If you're only recharging to regain 4-5 volts, the battery will never take a full charge.

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Way wrong! That is not true for lead-acid batteries. Think about the starting battery in your car. If your alternator is working right, your battery is charged after every use and they work for a long, long time usually.

[Legit84]

I've always wondered about this answer. I heard that it was best to drain your battery as much as you can before charging it up. But I hate going out to the lake with a battery that is only half charged. So I charge it up after every fishing trip. So which way is the right way?

[overdalimit]

You are talking about nickle cadnium bats my friend. Lead acid batteries do not have a memory. Charge as soon as possible and discharge as little as possible. The difference between a deep cycle battery and a starting battery is in the thickness of the plates. Thicker plates of the deep cycle battery can withstand the deep charge/discharge cycle better than the thin plates of a starting battery. You are able to put more thin plates in to the smaller case of a starting battery for more Amps but less durability. High amps is what is wanted from a starting battery. Larger plates give reserve capacity hense the large physical size of trolling motor batteries. Hope this makes sense.

[sparcebag]

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No problem,But your battery will eventually get drained and not recharge,

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Thank

s for the reply - how long is "eventually"?

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I've had batteries last a few years,that was before DeepCycle Little 18 LB. thrust minkota Didn't get alot of use.But I did keep the batt. charged and always checked fluid levels in cells. I yet have that minkota!

[BoxMN]

I won't get into a back and forth any more than this post - but Ralph and overdalimit are 100% right on, and you DO want to charge your batteries as soon as humanly possible after you are done using them. It doesn't mean they will shrivel up if you don't but it is best to keep them in tip top shape, and that includes over the winter as well. That is why onboard charges are almost standard on most quality fishing boats nowadays, and why you can keep batteries for several seasons instead of having them go bad after a couple years - and I am talking about some real use, not simply once a week for a couple hours.

Also, keep an eye on the water level, keep it just above the lead plates, even if the batt says maintenance free, if you can open up to the cells, check the water.

Anyway, a web search that gets you to battery companies or electrical engineers will answer the question in more detail - but yep, charge it up as soon as you can is the best for your boat batts. Good luck, have a great weekend all!