Charging Battery's while running?

[Brian]

Whats the best way to do this and who makes the best product for this application. Can I still use my on board charger to plug in when in storage?

thanks Brian

[JohnN]

Brian, if you go back a couple weeks or so, you'll find a number of posts on this. CSI has ProXtra, and there are other makers. While thoughts were mixed in the posts, in the main if you only doing a number of short hops during the day, you'll likely get negligible results. Your results will be a function of the size of your motor's alternator and your system's requirements (for example, my '99 115 Merc 2 stroke has an 18 amp alternator, and it's my understanding that the big new Opti's have around 60 amp alternators. However, the Opti's require much more of that for their own purposes. And then the other big factor is how much you run during the day. 10 5 minute hops won't do much to bump you back up. However, over a fishing trip for a number of days with no access to electricity to recharge using AC current at night, especially with long daily runs, might have a great application for them there. Good luck. JN.

[Fish'n Fool]

Brian if I am reading your post right you should not have to add a charger to your cranking battery under \certain copnditions. first your motor if you haave an altinater will start to charge at about 2500 rpms so if you are doing short hops and not reaching that level then your not gettting the charge that you need. I would get up on plane and run it for a long run then go to your fishing spot if your using a lot of electronics on your boat.as for your trolling battery do not hook it up to your crank battery I see this done alot and it will charge but you will be charging both batteries and neither will get a good charge since they will reach the lowest level then both be brought up to charge a long effort. use a battery checker one that you can get at any marine store or battery store Minnkota has a real nice one test the battery to see the level that its at then you will know where yu stand.I like to run my trolling battery until i\ts low then charge it up completely I holds a charge longer and the battery lasts longer no memory also if you over charge thats real hard on the battery so I watch the charge and cut it when its full. I have had my batteries for 4 yrs and carge it fully when winterizing and with out a draw I have never had to trickle chare it in the winter any questions e-mail me Jim