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Onboard alternator charger for trolling motor batteries?

6K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  FishIgo 
#1 ·
Does anyone have a onboard alternator charger on their boat for the purpose of re-charging their trolling motor batteries while running your big motor?
I am considering adding a minn Kota 2 bank onboard alternator charger hooked up to my Mercury 115 outboard to charge my trolling motor batteries while running / trolling.
Any info / tips / suggestions are appreciated.
 
#3 ·
The batteries are (2) brand new size 31 deep cycles and I am running my 80 lb terrova off them for trolling. I seem to get about 4 hours of consistant trolling use on 7 1/2 power and then the batteries die.
I am thinking with this Onboard alternator charger, I could simply fire up my big motor and troll with that for an hour which should put enough charge back into my deep cycle batteries to use my trolling motor once again. I believe I read that up to 60% of the charging on a deep cycle marine baterery is completed within the 1st hour on charge.
 
#4 ·
I believe you are correct on the 60% for one hour but i also think that is at a 20amp charge. I would think the alternator would only put out 10amp max charge although i could be wrong. You would have to break down the specs on your charging system to see if it would give enough charge to constitute the cost.
 
#7 ·
Not yet. Kicker is the next purchase. Hoping that people start selling kickers towards the end of the fishing season.
I am trying to find a 9.9 or 8 HP that's around 5 years old or less and in good shape (not an easy task).
 
#14 ·
The other thing to check out before you buy the minnkota alternator is if your main that you hook it up too puts out enough amps for the alternator. I ran into this problem with a older 70 evinrude and a minnkota alternator. Check to see how many amps the alternator needs vs what your main puts out. If it's short you will just burn up the alternator.
 
#15 ·
I use my Terrova I Piliot in conjunction with my gas motor . I have a 40 hp Merc 4 stroke with troll control and run it as slow as it will go and finish my speed off with my Terrova. The Terrova for me must be at 4 or more so that its pulling and staying in control and it lasts all day . My trolling battery last longer than the I Piliot remote battery which I had to install a USB charger from the starting battery to charge it back up !
 
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