I have a 175 Verado on a 1950 Tyee GS

I added a second battery in the back of my boat, I have a total of 4 onboard. I took everything off the main battery, all the electronics, etc, so the only thing on the "main" battery was the Verado. I didnt want to be in the situation one day where we'd been fishing, using the electronics, stereo, etc, and then go to start the big motor and the battery is dead, and maybe the TM batteries are basically dead too. So now the electronics all run off their own battery. I have a 3 bank charger. 2 of the banks charge the 2 TM batteries at the bow. And the 3rd bank charges the battery that has all the electronics on it.

I was considering trying to connect something so that I can send a charge to the "electronics" battery (and maybe even the TM batteries) when the Verado was started and I was making a run, and of course adding some type of isolator so those batteries do not drain down, they'll only accept a charge from the Verado.

Is this possible to do? Does it make sense to do? We do have some long days on the water, and I have yet to run down the electronics battery yet, but the TM batteries could have used some juice on long days, tho I've never completely drained them. Just thought this is another type of "insurance" for the other batteries.

Thanks for your help!

If you are trying to do what I think... You could just wire your electronics baatery and starting batteries in series (pos-neg and neg - pos) I have done this when I have one charger and 2 batteries to charge.... I would NOT advise this though because verados are very touchy when it comes to batteries.. Strange things will start to happen when your verado doesnt get what is wants from its batteries... Just curious as to why you are worried about not starting.. I have an 08 175 verado and fish alot at night with the electronics, stereo, livewell, lights running and never have a problem...Mkae sure you have a large reserve capacity and a quality battery and you should be fine.. Check out this web site if you have a verado...www.veradoclub.com Great guys on this site:cheers:

Yeah, I added the second battery at the back for the electronics when I bought it last year for just that reason, thats what i was told about the Verado's, touchy if the voltage or whatever drops or gets low, so I didnt want to risk running down the main starting battery with all the other stuff running off it, so I isolated all the other electronics to a second battery for electronics only. The only thing now on the main starting battery is the Verado, thats it

I'm no longer worried about the Verado not starting....more worried about losing electronics and/or Trolling motor if out for a long day of fishing (or if I can't plug into shore power for a fishing trip I go on, no power at the docks). If I could send a charge to them while running with the Verado, I thought I could avoid that worry and keep ACDC cranked up on the stereo!

Yes you can go to any RV place and get a battery isolator. It will charge the eletronics battery while running but will not draw off the starting battery when the engine is stopped

I have a 175 Verado on a 1950 Tyee GS

So now the electronics all run off their own battery. I have a 3 bank charger. 2 of the banks charge the 2 TM batteries at the bow. And the 3rd bank charges the battery that has all the electronics on it.

I was considering trying to connect something so that I can send a charge to the "electronics" battery (and maybe even the TM batteries) when the Verado was started and I was making a run, and of course adding some type of isolator so those batteries do not drain down, they'll only accept a charge from the Verado.

Is this possible to do? Does it make sense to do?

Thanks for your help!

I think the best question you asked is: "Does it make sense to do?". While your Verado has plenty of alternator to provide charging to your other batteries, whether it makes sense or not depends on how you use your rig. From your post, I gathered that you use the trolling motor a lot, which means you do not use the Verado much during the day. I have a habit of running a couple of miles, fishing for several hours, and maybe running several more miles and fishing for hours again. This type of activity does not allow the alternator to provide significant charge to anything. If on the other hand, you run 20-30 miles, fish a while and do that again, the engine's alternator can can help you. However, you're then not using as much trolling motor power. If you have good deep cycles (I like Trojans) for your TM and electronics, you shouldn't have to worry about adding small amounts of charge during the day. Keep in mind that deep cycle batteries like to have a charge delivered to them that is lower than a cranking battery likes. What's more important is that you perform regular maintanance on your batteries: check your batteries monthly, and add only distilled (not RO or rainwater) water as necessary. For more information go to:
http://www.trojanbattery.com/Tech-Support/BatteryMaintenance.aspx

Do NOT hook up your batteries in series for this, as you'll either end up with 24v or lots of sparks. If you want to charge one battery off of the other (or charge 2 batteries from 1 bank of your charger, which I wouldn't recommend unless they're well matched) they need to be hooked in parallel (pos-pos, neg-neg) this will result in maintaining 12v, but also understand that without an isolator as mentioned you'll also be draining from both batteries at the same time (although you'll get longer life from a pair in parallel).

I set up a similar system in my Dad's boat where I hooked his trolling motor battery (he only has a 12v) in parallel to his starting battery. What I did to insure that the TM didn't drain the starting battery was install a switch in one of the leads between the batteries so he can open up the circuit when the main engine or the kicker aren't running.

Minnkota makes a charger that does axactly what you are looking for.

the charger charges batteries on a priority scale. it will always make sure that your cranking battery has a full charge FIRST, then starts cycling through the other batteries charging them.

not sure on what it is call or what its part number is. my local dealer was telling me about them. they said if you run alot, like a tournament fishermen that it will cut your charging time at night down buy at least 1/2.

Ill do some looking and see if i can find it and get the web sight address posted on hear.

Found the web page---- http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/chargers/detail.asp?pg=mk1dc
they make a 1, 2, or 3 bank charger.

Gary

Thanks!

Uzzi,
I think this is what you're looking for, a method to having the Verado charge the 2nd battery while underway. Thanks to VerdoClub for this one.
http://www.veradoclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=20.0

HRG

Awesome, thanks for the link!