Thread: battery & charger questions

New questions for all of you!

I have two batteries. Starting battery is an Interstate 24M-RD. What kind of battery is that? gel, AGM, flooded? How do I know the capacity/Ah?

Trolling battery is Everstart MAXX-29. Is this a multi-purpose battery? How do I know the capacity/Ah?

Trolling motor is Pro Series 4300 Motor Guide. 12 volt with 43 lbs of thrust.

Mercury 40Hp ELP (something) on 2003 Tracker Pro Crappie 175.

I want to either get a battery charger for my garage or an onboard charger. I can't figure out where to put the onboard charger if I get one. The gas tank is inside the storage with the batteries so I can't put it there.

Also, how do I know where it is safe to drill if I installed the charger?

If I did get an onboard charger, would I need a 2 bank?

Thanks a million!
Peke

Your batteries should have all the info your looking for on them. The interstate should be a flooded cell, the Maxx, according to the website is a dual purpose. If it wasnt snowing right now, I would go look at mine as I just purchased 2 right before Christmas and they push me around all day long!
2 batteries = 2 bank charger in my opinion but believe me there are a lot of guys on here who I know will help you out that know ALOT more about this than I do.

Hi Patti,

As Boat49 said, the specs for the batteries should be on the batteries. I am pretty sure the Interstate is a regular flooded battery, though not sure.

My opinions below are only my opinions. Others will offer theirs as well

As for chargers, I would recommend an onboard charger. When you get home, plug it in. "Set it and forget it" as some sorta famous person says. Keep it plugged in all the time when you are not using the boat. The only thing that needs to be done otherwise is keep the water topped off in your batteries. Much less hassle than hooking up a regular charger over and over.

There will be somewhere to mount the charger. They are not real big. I think your tracker has an enclosed space near the stern where your batteries, fuel tank, etc. are, right? There should be room in there somewhere to mount the charger.

Now you will find that there are several brands of chargers. I have a Cabela's made by Pro Mariner that has been a good charger. My recommendation would be a Pro Sport II 20 (Cabela's Advanced Anglers ProSport II On-Board Marine Battery Chargers

) This is based on my luck with my charger, Cabelas' history of customer service and backing their warranty and price. The best chargers you can get are probably Guest brand, but you will pay quite a bit more.

If you need help figuring it all out, mounting, ect., I would be glad to help.

Hey Peke,

I would highly recommend an onboard charger! If you fish much, you'll get wore down hooking and unhooking a normal charger.

Last week I installed a Minn Kota onboard charger in my boat. It's a 2 bank charger and I found it at Wal-Mart for $116. That's $13 cheaper than what Bass Pro wants. Installation was easy and it took me about 30 minutes to install.

I also have a Minn Kota DC charger ordered. It will work off of the engine's alternator. It will charge my trolling motor batteries any time the main engine is running. Then, when I get home, I'll just hook up the onboard charger and forget about it until it's time to go fishing again.

As for where to drill, my rule of thumb is to not drill any place where water or gas is on the other side of the material I'm drilling I also make sure there's not hoses or electrical wires directly behind whatever I'm drilling into.

Make sure and use distilled water in those batteries when you fill them. Tap water will ruin an acid core battery.

Gman

The Interstate Battery site shows specs. for your model, it's a dual purpose with 500 cranking amps and 400 cold cranking amps. No amp hours listed, I believe you only see AH with dedicated deep cycle batteries, someone else probably knows for sure and will speak up.
The on board chargers are really convenient especially when your away from home for several days and need to recharge.
We have two MinnKota's a dual and a triple, both have been trouble free. One of our boats came with a DualPro 3 bank charger, it worked for about 11 years but from day one got hot to the touch and caused electrical interference throughout the house. I spoke to both the boat dealers shop and the charger mfr. and was told this was normal so will not buy that one again. Niether of the MK's cause any interference.
Scott

Originally Posted by OkieDon

Hey Peke,

I would highly recommend an onboard charger! If you fish much, you'll get wore down hooking and unhooking a normal charger.

Last week I installed a Minn Kota onboard charger in my boat. It's a 2 bank charger and I found it at Wal-Mart for $116. That's $13 cheaper than what Bass Pro wants. Installation was easy and it took me about 30 minutes to install.

I also have a Minn Kota DC charger ordered. It will work off of the engine's alternator. It will charge my trolling motor batteries any time the main engine is running. Then, when I get home, I'll just hook up the onboard charger and forget about it until it's time to go fishing again.

As for where to drill, my rule of thumb is to not drill any place where water or gas is on the other side of the material I'm drilling I also make sure there's not hoses or electrical wires directly behind whatever I'm drilling into.

And above the water line:D Just kiddin', hope you'll post a report on the DC charger after a while of use, I was just looking at that myself.
Scott

The Maxx 29 is a wet cell with 125AH and 205 Reserve. It does a good job as a trolling motor battery.

Thanks to all. I learn so much on this forum.
Some batteries need distilled water added to them. Some don't?? Which ones? Wet cells, not gels? Flooded cells?

I will look for sales on Minn-Kota and Cabela's chargers. I found an XPS I 4/4 onboard charger, 2 bank, DC system 12/24, 8 Amp- for $79.99 at Bass Pro. I know the other brands are better though. We will only fish on weekends during the spring and summer, but not every weekend.

Does the DC system 12/24 mean it will charge while I drive the boat or the towing vehicle? I don't think I understand that part or anything else to do with batteries or mechanical things.

Is it possible to get the wrong onboard charger and ruin my batteries? Charge them too fast? Anything else? I think I read that for the Everstart battery, I can only charge with 1/10 of its capacity. So for a 40 amp I can only charge with 4 amps or less. So if my MAXX-29 is 125 AH, then I have to use less than 12.5 amps? Does the Interstate 24M-RD get charged too? I think my motor has an alternator...maybe?

Does Tracker have schematics of where wiring is? I know wiring is by the controls, but don't know if they are attached to the outside side wall, floating free between the side walls, or attached to the inside side walls. Do you think they would tell me where to attach the charger? I can't attach it inside where the batteries are since that is where the gas tank is.

So many things to know!!! Thanks again!
Peke

Ive been using a dual pro 2 bank for 5 yrs and its going strong. No problems with interference and batteries are always ready to go. Just thought I'd throw that in the mix of things!