Batteries...

[leahcim_dahc]

Hey all,

I should be getting my trolling motor and fish finder delivered here in a couple days. I have a question with regards to powering the both of them. I have seen some boaters run two separate batteries, one for trolling and one for their fish finder.

I am going to be putting both on my 9' pontoon and obviously space is at a premium. Is it recommended to run two separate batteries...maybe one deep cycle for the trolling motor and a U1 for the fish finder, or will one deep cycle be able to cover both?

I would assume the fish finder will draw much less than the troller, but I would think running both on the same battery will cause some interference between the finder and troller.

I am thinking just one battery ought to do the trick...but figured I ask some experienced boaters prior.


Chad

[A9]

No problem going with one battery...But thats from WHAT I'VE HEARD...I was told that it would be ok to power both and it would be convenient to run power to both via the same battery. I was going to have to do this until I got a portable batter operated fishfinder. Make sure you get a good deep cycle with a good amount of reserve hours so you can spend all day on the water.

Trojan is what I bought, I think 150 reserve minutes, got it from Joes.
Make sure to keep it charged all the time when not in use, and when you get done from running power, recharge it within 24 hours...
Get a good automatic charger too, will help SOO much and you never have to worry about whether it's over or under charged.

And make sure to go with the lowest thrust trolling motor possible for a pontoon boat. Those things have virtually no drag and I hear that with a 50lb thrust motor you just go too fast and can't troll at even the lowest speeds cause it's too fast...

[leahcim_dahc]

Trojan is what I bought

I'll check that line out...I haven't got my heart set on a brand yet, something decent but not overpriced. With regards to the charger...I have a trickle charger/minder that will be permanently wired into the battery. When you say "automatic" is there one that charges as it's being used? Other than a generator/alternator or whatever is on a normal boat motor.

As far as trolling motors go...I really wanted a 50lb, but Water Skeeter recommended no more than 33lbs. The one I got is 36lbs. Should push me around fairly reasonably...until I get bored, then I'll up the ponies a bit. Thanks!


Chad

[A9]

Trojan's are expensive FYI. Worth it? Not sure, but quality in a battery is important to me. I have the automatich chargers Joes sells. It's not permanently wired into the battery....36lbs will be fine..

[dilbert]

I use one battery for my trolling motor and sonar without any problems. I even use the same battery for emergency backup power for my 2-meter radio :geek: . Keep your power and signal wires separated to prevent interference and if you have to cross them do it at right angles.

For a charger I use the Deltran Battery Tender Plus. It charges then maintains it at proper storage voltage.

[leahcim_dahc]

...

Thanks! I'll surf the web and check out the Trojan's...I don't mind spending the money if the product is decent. I just don't want to spend a couple hundred bucks on a battery that's got a shiny case and doesn't last. If it's worth the money...I'll cough up the extra dough for it.

Keep your power and signal wires separated to prevent interference and if you have to cross them do it at right angles.

Good tip...I'll remember that, thanks!


Chad

[MikeFishes]

...I am going to be putting both on my 9' pontoon and obviously space is at a premium. Is it recommended to run two separate batteries...maybe one deep cycle for the trolling motor and a U1 for the fish finder, or will one deep cycle be able to cover both?...
Chad

Hey Chad,
I have a 9' pontoon as well (classic). I've also got a 35# thrust trolling motor for it as well. I went and got one of those smaller batteries for a jet ski because one of those huge batteries is way too heavy (or at least I thought so). I picked it up at Joes. So far, I've been out with it about 5 times. The longest it was running was about 3 hours straight, maybe 4. I don't have any problems with it so far and it charges up fine.

I'll tell you one thing though, that motor can push me around the water pretty good, I never put it in 5th gear. At it's lowest speed, it's just too fast to troll. Someone suggested that I go in reverse (its about 1/2 speed of the lowest forward) to troll but I haven't tried yet.

[Gringo Pescador]

I've got my trolling motor and fish finder both running on one battery in my canoe - I have had both running for 5 hours + before running out of juice. The battery is a deep cycle the same size as a car battery (don't know what brand off-hand). I wish now that I had gotten a physically smaller battery as I think I would have been happy with one (and happier lugging it around).

I am also the guy Mikey mentioned that runs his moter in reverse. My trolling motor just pushes that little canoe too fast, so I turn the motor 180 degrees and troll with the slower reverse gears. Of course this may be why the battery lasts so long. I would start with one battery, try it out and go up from there.

[cavdad45]

One battery should fine. Afterall the fuse in most fish finders is 1amp, so there is not much of a power draw. Figure the formula for wattage is volts x amps. 12V battery and less than 1A of current, it draws less than 12W which ain't much.

The key to making your battery run longer is use the lower speeds on the trolling motor. At high speed, my battery would be dead in about 2 hours, at the lower end fishing speeds) I can all day out of it.

I would recommend 1 battery. A group 27 Deep Cycle from a major manufacturer. Costs about $90. If you can afford it, you could get a gel cell battery, but for me the cost difference vs benefit didn't add up.

[GCB069]

This is how is setup my Humminbird Matrix 17 i mounted it in and on a small toolbox and used a battery from Tower Hobbies the one that they put in a starter box. The battery last for a week or more. Here some PIC.


Tower Hobbies battery
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wt ... LXL370&P=0

[leahcim_dahc]

All-

Great tips and things to think about! Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


Chad

[EastsideRedneck]

I use an old Minn-Kota "Maximizer" the gives you fine tuning control and really extends the life of the battery. It looks like it is basically a rheostat from what I can tell. Some of you craftier individuals could probably cook one up after a quick trip to the hardware store.

I've been using a 7yr old car battery all season with no real issues. Next season I'll be using the Optima Blue Top that is currently in my truck after I throw in a cheapie (I'm trading in the beast for something slightly more practical)

[ChrisB]

You can run the trolling motor and the fish finder on the same battery. You may get some interfearance though. When the turn the motor on and off you might see specs run across your screen. I'd run a jet ski type battery for the finder and the trolling motor on a deep cycle. You could easily fish all day with that setup, but its your choice.
With that said I run my combo on the same battery, but I do see it wig out my fish finder at times.

[leahcim_dahc]

I have checked out a few different batteries...Odyssey, Optima, and the before mentioned Trojan. They all seem to be in the same price range...+/- $15-$20. My concern is with its capacity minutes and size.

Odyssey's are in the right size range...about the size of a U1, but have lots of power. The capacity is a little lower than what I would like (75 min. @ 25A) as compared to a Trojan (130 min. @ 25A). However, the size of the Trojan is a bit larger than the Odyssey, the Trojan weighing 52lbs (approx. 10x7x9) and the Odyssey weighing 38lbs (approx. 8x7x7).

Calling Minn Kota with regards to how many amps my particular motor would draw didn't yield much. I just about bet it will vary quite a bit, particularly in terms of load (me and my gear)...or how much I try to push around with it. Probably just a case of hooking up my ammeter when I get it and find out.

I suppose it really isn't that big of deal...especially if it's just a pontoon with paddles...I just want the finder to stay working...I can paddle all day if I have to.


Chad

[Dave]

Most have said they run both off of one battery. I agree. I run a 50 pound thrust Minn-Kota and humminbird on one deep cycle battery and have been out on the water trolling for 5 hours straight with no problem. You will be fine running both on one battery. After each use I recharge using a quality charger that doesn’t overcharge and maintains the battery until the next use or over the winter if I am not using it. Good fishin…

[leahcim_dahc]

I'll probably end up using just one battery for everything. Meanwhile...I sit here staring at a trolling motor that's just begging to be put on a pontoon...and a fish finder with some sort of Napoleon complex or something...now I just have to wait for the pontoon. For some reason, the wife won't let me strap the motor and fish finder to my back and sit in the kids' bath tub...what's up with that!!?


Chad

[dilbert]

For some reason, the wife won't let me strap the motor and fish finder to my back and sit in the kids' bath tub...what's up with that!!?

Ask her if you can borrow the kitchen table.

[iPodrodder]

We run a 30 pound Minn Kota on our 14' aluminum boat. It pushes just fine. I think 36 pounds will be way too much for a pontoon boat. We can trade:^o .....

[JimLyons]

Okay I have run both off one battery in my 12 foot aluminum in lakes. But when I fish the Snake and Clearwater I actually bring three batteries. We fish at night and I run the lights and fish finder off of one, and have the other for back up. I have a 55 lb thrust and it sucks to be me when the battery goes down. I don't know how much drag the pontoons take up, but in your case one should do the trick, and space is limited. Fun problems to have!