Keeping Trolling Motor Batteries Charged???
- Thread starter Spicyhombre
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Spicyhombre
Active Member
Oh well. Can’t afford either of those.
Fish Digger
Member
Lead based batteries, deep cycle, AGM, gel, should be recharged as soon as possible. The longer they are left in a discharged state, the faster they will degrade. They should never be discharged below 50% or permanent damage may occur.
Here is a link to an article from my favorite site for battery info:
How to Restore Lead-acid Batteries
From the 3rd paragraph of the linked article above:
"If at all possible, operate at moderate temperature and avoid deep discharges; charge as often as you can."
Oh you Honda people think your generators are so much quieter. I bet your poop does not stink either? I bought a Westinghouse, rated 2 db louder than a Honda and I got 5 Benjies left over for boat gas. Minn Kota charger is great but best to have a generator too.
Fish Digger
Member
Over the years I have had 6 different portable generators. I ran them for thousands of hours for work in southwest Wyoming. Of the 6, I wore 4 of them out. Here is what I learned in the process:
- You get what you pay for. Honda generators are engineered to last around 3000 hours. The no name knock offs are engineered to last 300 hours. Of my original 6, the 2 that I still own are the Honda EU2000 and Honda EU1000.
- Parts and service are readily available for the Honda and other higher quality generators. Not so much with the low price knock offs. One knock off that I was fond of because it had a wireless remote start failed after 200 hours. After a lot of time digging, I finally found someone in Salt Lake who could service it. I found out that the inverter had died and it would cost more to repair it than I had initially paid for the generator new! It was also going to take 6-8 weeks to get the parts from China.
- The better quality generators run quieter and make for happier neighbors. I had a Champion that was so noisy that I had to build an enclosure for it.
- The Hondas hold their value really well. After 10 years of hard labor and abuse, I sold my original Honda EU2000 for a premium and bought a new one.
- For those looking to cut back on space and weight, the Honda EU1000 only weighs 29 pounds and runs my 3 battery charger on my boat without issue. It is a bit louder that the Honda EU2000.
And yes, my poop stinks as bad as everyone else
.Hi Dmorty
Great idea about a mini freezer ! and not have to make a long ice run in the middle of an extended trip. If you don't mind sharing, which brand and size are you using and does it keep the meat frozen the entire time?-Do you just run the generator a couple of hours in the evenings, or all day while fishing or how else? I am really considering getting a set up similar to yours. We usually try to keep the fish alive in the livewells till the end of the trip (we only keep walleye) and run both the recirculation water and an air bubbler all the time, but when it gets really warm, many fish just don't make it, and by the end of a six day trip our ice supply is practically gone. Even though we cover the coolers (max cold type) at camp, lay wood 2x4's under them (avoiding contact with the hot sand) and also bring a dedicated cooler for ice block storage, and put dry ice on top of the stored blocks too.
Thanks
JP
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Over the years I have had 6 different portable generators. I ran them for thousands of hours for work in southwest Wyoming. Of the 6, I wore 4 of them out. Here is what I learned in the process:
For most folks who only use a generator infrequently, the no name knock offs will work just fine. However they should realize that when it fails, it will more than likely become a throwaway.
- You get what you pay for. Honda generators are engineered to last around 3000 hours. The no name knock offs are engineered to last 300 hours. Of my original 6, the 2 that I still own are the Honda EU2000 and Honda EU1000.
- Parts and service are readily available for the Honda and other higher quality generators. Not so much with the low price knock offs. One knock off that I was fond of because it had a wireless remote start failed after 200 hours. After a lot of time digging, I finally found someone in Salt Lake who could service it. I found out that the inverter had died and it would cost more to repair it than I had initially paid for the generator new! It was also going to take 6-8 weeks to get the parts from China.
- The better quality generators run quieter and make for happier neighbors. I had a Champion that was so noisy that I had to build an enclosure for it.
- The Hondas hold their value really well. After 10 years of hard labor and abuse, I sold my original Honda EU2000 for a premium and bought a new one.
- For those looking to cut back on space and weight, the Honda EU1000 only weighs 29 pounds and runs my 3 battery charger on my boat without issue. It is a bit louder that the Honda EU2000.
And yes, my poop stinks as bad as everyone else
Good points!
Good points, I usually buy quality but.....I only use this infrequently so I’ll cross my fingers as I’m flying down the lake burning gas!
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Wayne has made a believer out of me on the( if your fish aren’t of excellent quality, you didn’t have enough ice on board theory)! Regardless of time of year. I like to basically use the chill kill method which is the same method used by a good friend of mine that owns a large fish farm. They simply drop the live fish in barrels of ice and ship to their restaurants that way.The restaurant takes care of the filet processing themselves usually several days later without any deterioration of fish quality. Another added benefit to doing it that way is less drain on my trolling batteries that way. I have more power to dedicate towards trolling,and electronics, tunes etc, now that I am no longer running my live well system all day trying to keep my fish alive and fresh. Which by the way will take considerable power to do when you have 40-50 fish or more in the same live well crapping up the water they are all breathing trying to stay alive in. I believe that will impact fish quality negatively in short order when you overwhelm your live wells capacity, unless you’re basically cycling it on high continuously. So to answer your question, mine is a 5 cu ft model.Kold King I believe is the brand name, bought at Walmart for $189 I believe. Weighs 40-50ish pounds empty. If I did it again I’d probably go one size even smaller, although on the extended trips it is nice as it will hold around 11-12 of the ten pound bags of ice. I only run it at night at the same time the boats trolling batteries are being charged, and the two of them together still pull so little wattage that my little Honda 2000 stays on whisper mode never cycling up to the full throttle mode.
it will run around 12-13 hours on a gallon of gas. We try to find a shady spot to leave it in or do as was already mentioned and create one ourselves insulating it from the heat it is being bombarded by. I will lay one of the kids scooby doo sleeping bags white side out on top of it thru the day to keep the direct sunlight off, and help insulate even better. When we get done at weeks end the ice is still frozen solid and easy to break up just like it was when bought. 95-100 degree temps outside!! The fresh filets go in each evening and are usually solid by morning. We leave the freezer in back of the truck going to and from the lake, before and after trip,and just secure the generator to make sure the exhaust isn’t blowing on something it could ignite, or tip over! Kind of redneck routine no doubt. But we have had trips cut short before using this method because we ran out of ice and couldn’t find any! Undoubtedly it will happen when the fish are biting and you’re not ready to go!
As I stated, no doubt in my mind (I’m redneckern you!) But it works for us. Hope this helps! Disclaimer- I assume no responsibility for fire in the back of your truck, ruptured disc in your spine or any other problems arising from said routine!!!
You will love the Minnkota charging check out both AC and DC alternator chargers. I have both on my Tritoon 12 and 24 volt systems Minnkota figures it all out with charging and use. My 200 Yamaha alternator puts out 65 Watts my Minnkota systems distributes that xtra charge while keeping the starting battery's charged to my 24 volt trolling motor. It is a smart charger it protects me from myself. Either way Minnkota or whatever be sure it is a smart charger 12,24 or 36 volts with AC and DC charging if your motor is big enough to have alternator for xtra watts.
Lake Bum
Escalante-Class Member
Wow.......someone is salty. Enjoy your loud generator that will "crap" out on you in 200 hours. That won't stink
4LOJO
Escalante-Class Member
There was a guy years ago that lived here in town that would load a big chest freezer and generator in the back of his truck head to Alaska bring it back full of fish he'd caught over summer.Wayne has made a believer out of me on the( if your fish aren’t of excellent quality, you didn’t have enough ice on board theory)! Regardless of time of year. I like to basically use the chill kill method which is the same method used by a good friend of mine that owns a large fish farm. They simply drop the live fish in barrels of ice and ship to their restaurants that way.The restaurant takes care of the filet processing themselves usually several days later without any deterioration of fish quality. Another added benefit to doing it that way is less drain on my trolling batteries that way. I have more power to dedicate towards trolling,and electronics, tunes etc, now that I am no longer running my live well system all day trying to keep my fish alive and fresh. Which by the way will take considerable power to do when you have 40-50 fish or more in the same live well crapping up the water they are all breathing trying to stay alive in. I believe that will impact fish quality negatively in short order when you overwhelm your live wells capacity, unless you’re basically cycling it on high continuously. So to answer your question, mine is a 5 cu ft model.Kold King I believe is the brand name, bought at Walmart for $189 I believe. Weighs 40-50ish pounds empty. If I did it again I’d probably go one size even smaller, although on the extended trips it is nice as it will hold around 11-12 of the ten pound bags of ice. I only run it at night at the same time the boats trolling batteries are being charged, and the two of them together still pull so little wattage that my little Honda 2000 stays on whisper mode never cycling up to the full throttle mode.
Burning Daylight
New Member
minni kota alternator charger works great. I have a 20 amp two bank charger I no longer use. (10 amp to each battery) $100 and I'll be at wahweap early Thursday.
That sounds like a great idea!!
Spicyhombre
Active Member
I won't be able to cross paths with you. We are starting at Hall's and going north. thank you though.
No salt, just some fun! I’ll be up near GHB 4/29-5/3 so I better apologize in advance for my extra 2 decibels of noise pollution. I have lots of beer, ice and gas so can always barter when it craps on me.Wow.......someone is salty. Enjoy your loud generator that will "crap" out on you in 200 hours. That won't stink
Burning Daylight
New Member
Good luck to you
Wingman
Member
Have a set up using a pretty slick 24 volt bridge that charges pretty good. Pretty smart rig. Have a 12 volt start battery and 2 12v in series for 24v troll motor Check out site noted below.
TROLLBRIDGE 12X24 | Marine Electronics Australia
marineelectronicsaustralia.com.au
Hi Dmorty,Wayne has made a believer out of me on the( if your fish aren’t of excellent quality, you didn’t have enough ice on board theory)! Regardless of time of year. I like to basically use the chill kill method which is the same method used by a good friend of mine that owns a large fish farm. They simply drop the live fish in barrels of ice and ship to their restaurants that way.The restaurant takes care of the filet processing themselves usually several days later without any deterioration of fish quality. Another added benefit to doing it that way is less drain on my trolling batteries that way. I have more power to dedicate towards trolling,and electronics, tunes etc, now that I am no longer running my live well system all day trying to keep my fish alive and fresh. Which by the way will take considerable power to do when you have 40-50 fish or more in the same live well crapping up the water they are all breathing trying to stay alive in. I believe that will impact fish quality negatively in short order when you overwhelm your live wells capacity, unless you’re basically cycling it on high continuously. So to answer your question, mine is a 5 cu ft model.Kold King I believe is the brand name, bought at Walmart for $189 I believe. Weighs 40-50ish pounds empty. If I did it again I’d probably go one size even smaller, although on the extended trips it is nice as it will hold around 11-12 of the ten pound bags of ice. I only run it at night at the same time the boats trolling batteries are being charged, and the two of them together still pull so little wattage that my little Honda 2000 stays on whisper mode never cycling up to the full throttle mode.
Thank you so much for sharing your system. I have a generator already ordered from Cabela's. They have the Champion 2000 on sale right for $399. I know it's not anywhere near the durability & quality of a Honda, but for now it will have to do. Now shopping for a small freezer. You must have a really good sized boat (and a strong back )
to be able to lug a 5 cu ft model. We only have a 17 ft Crestliner, so I'm looking to get a 3 cu ft. Have you tried making small ice blocks from ziplock bags filled with lake water?They just might freeze overnight- I'm going to give that a shot.- Status