View Full Version : Charging starting battery
Honkeye
08-06-2002, 03:12 PM
Let me rephrase my last post. I want to install a three bank charger. One bank will be connected to my starting battery. Do I need to disconnect my outboard motor battery terminals before charging the battery. I know you can harm a trolling motor by leaving it plugged it while charging, so I want to now it the same is true with an outboard.
striker
08-06-2002, 03:29 PM
You shouldn't have to charge your starting battery it should stay charged from running the motor.
Stormsearch
08-07-2002, 04:30 AM
No, you do not need to disconnect your o/b motor terminals. You are correct however regarding your trolling motor.
I think the need for on board charging of the starting battery depends on how you fish. I use primarily the trolling motor so only use the main motor to move from area to area. I also have all of the accessories on the starting battery. A weeks fishing will draw down the starting battery due to:
Two depth finders at .5@ each
One VHF at about 1@ given minimal transmit time (uses .5@ receive and about 5@ transmitting.
Two livewell aireators at 3@each running 20% of the time (1 min every 5 Min)
In a 10 hour day this would translate to about 30Amp hours of drain.
With a 6 amp alternator and running the main motor an hour "out and an hour back" I would be putting back less than half of what was used or an 18 hour deficit. Fishing a week without supplemental charging at this rate I would drain even a deep cycle starting battery and that's not allowing for the current used to start the main engine.
Others care to comment?