Charging the Trolling Motor Battery

[luvpt]

I am trying to find out if anyone has any reports good or bad on Optima trolling batteries. I am limited on room in my boat because it has such a large gas tank. I only have room for one cranking and one trolling battery but if I go to the Optima I will have room for two trolling batteries and would put them in parrallel with each other for longer trolling life. Any comments will be appreciated.

Space was also the big issue on my boat....not a lot of space for batteries but I needed lots of battery power. But I could fit two D34 Optimas in there and wire them parallel. That is the setup I have now and battery power is the absolute last worry I have while fishing. I can't come close to running it down trolling in hard wind all weekend without recharging.

[EARL KITCHENS]

I Fixed My Problem By Moving My Battery Trays And Now I Have Room For Two Full Size Trolling Batteries And My Crankig Battery. Thanks For The Optima Information.

[Bulls Bay]

Ptooey LOL :rolleyes:

[EARL KITCHENS]

How Do You Charge Batteries When They Are In Parallel? Do You Just Hook The Charger Up To Either One?

[Bulls Bay]

Yes you can charge them by hooking to either.........
Series requires a multibank charger.

I can actually charge my trolling and mains together but choose to charge separately because trolling is wet cell system and main cranking is AGM.........

My chargers operate in different modes for each one........

You really have to watch thermal spikes on AGM's and GEL's hence the lower charging rates.....

My charger manual also states that desulfating a gel or agm WILL cause an explosion LOL..............no Maybe in their view LOL..........Sulfation is a big issue that leads to early battery death when you cycle them hard like you do trolling.......

[puddle jumper]

Here is a quick pic for thoses like me that can never remember witch way to wire batteries up..
Puddle

[EARL KITCHENS]

Thanks Puddle Jumper. Can You Answer Another Question. My Charger Has A Two Amp And Ten Amp Charge Option. I Have Always Charged My Trolling Battery Two Amps At A Time With A Charger That Automatically Shuts Off At Full Charge. Is This The Correct Procedure?

[Slabby15]

Hey Earl, I have the same problem that you do with space and I tried the two battery Optima setup. I used the Perco switch and the two biggest Optima trolling batteries. I was very displeased with the Optima batteries. I had 300 dollars worth of batteries and I could not troll from daylight to dark. I never had a problem trolling all day with one large trolling battery. I took the Optima batteries back and traded for the largest trolling battery they had plus I got a lot of money back. Then I was able to troll all day again. I didn't have a problem but like you I was trying to increase my power and I was hoping to have power to spare at the end of the day. But anyway the Optima batteries just didn't work for me. I think you will be a lot better off with the two full size trolling batteries after moving the trays and creating the room. I have a Minn Kota Power Drive trolling motor now and it has a maximizer built in and I can troll for at least two days without recharging. Wes

[EARL KITCHENS]

Wes, What Kind Of Battery Do You Have?
I Have A Minn Kota Power Drive 55 Pound Thrust Auto Pilot With A Maximizer Built In Also. I Am Going To Install Two Of The Largest Batteries In Parallel That I Can Fit In The Space Available. That Should Cure My Battery Issues. I Am Also Installing A Pro Air Aeration System In My Live Wells This Week.

[puddle jumper]

Earl,
Im no expert but ive always been told to charge you batteries slow, thats its better for them,, 10 amp will do the job if you are in a hurry,and trying to put a quick charge in them,,

Also I have had great luck with the off the shelf batteries from wallmart , the Maxx Life deep cells, I use one with a 46lb motor guide "came with my boat" and I can troll all day on ONE with a frsh charge, no problem, and you can get a replacement anywhere, with the Minn Kota you should be that much better off..
Do you top off your batteries before you hit the water??
Puddle