Thanks for the post. I just bought a used 12/24 today and wasnt sure how to wire it up!

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Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn.

I have another question...that I didn't see covered in the forum.

I am looking at getting (2) Guest (two bank) chargers to connect to my four batteries. Two are way, way cheaper than a four bank charger. Plus being on sale for $50 bucks each....

Now my question. I am expecting to hook one lead from the charger to the starting battery. Then I get lost, as my trolling motor batteries (2) are wired in parallel. Since they are already connected together, do I hook just one lead from the charger to one of the batteries to charge both, or hook a seperate lead to each battery for a true two battery charge? Then my second lead from the charger on the starting battery will charge an auxillary battery.

The charger states is works with lead acid, gel or agm batteries...what about marine batteries (would this be the same as a lead acid)? Or is the charger not what I need?

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0056609019523a.shtml

Thanks in advance...

You can get marine batteries with lead acid, gel or AGM so you are ok there. Hook one of the chargers to the TM batteries (1 lead to each or both leads to one of them since they are hooked in parallel). The other charger hook up just like you said. One lead to the starting battery and the other to the aux. You could get by with one 3 bank charger. But by doing it the way you said, if you ever decide to go to a 24V TM, you won't need a new charger.

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Fair Winds and Following Seas

Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va

thanks bill....that helps a lot....

when wiring in parallel do the batteries have to be the same amps? They are both deep cycle, but one have more amps that the other? just wondering

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Judgment comes from experience - and experience comes from bad judgment.

They don't have to be but will work much better if they are.

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Fair Winds and Following Seas

Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va

I have a buddy that has his front and back fish finders connected on the same power post, do you know if this could be causing a problem with his equipment?

He is losing the bottom on his back fish finder once and a while and it's acting very eratic. Let me know what you think

NO, he is probably just getting interference from the front DF. This can happen a lot in deeper water when both DFs operate at the same frequency. Thye next time it happens tell him to turn the front one off temporily and see if it clears up. Make sure they are connected to the starting battery and not the the trolling motor battery.

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Fair Winds and Following Seas

Bill H. PTC USN Ret
Chesapeake, Va

Hey thanks for the quick response we will try that the next time out!

I just bought a boat that has a 12 volt trolling motor but has two batteries hooked to it, positive to positive and neg to neg. Is it wired this way so the batteries will last longer and when I hook my charger up do I need to hook to just one of the batteries and will it charge both at the same time? Thanks