Onboard Charger Question
 

I bought a boat with a 2 bank charger for the t/m batteries and I know the the engine is "suppose" to charge starter battery but I have heard horror stories of it not working all the time, I am wondering if any of yall have a single bank charger for start battery that yall use or just take the chance with the engine charging it. A guy I work with has had issueswith his 90hp not keeping up and was told that if you have a 150hp or bigger not to worry, I have a 200hp but want to hear what yalls experience has been.

I have a 4 bank charger for my 4 batteries. Im thinking as often as you fish,you should be fine with the main cranking battery,at least till the battery gets to be about 2 yrs old anyway:rolleyes:

so you use 1 onboard charger for t/m batteries and starting battery? I was kinda wondering if that would hurt the batteries since the t/m batteries should drain evenly and starting battery will be at diff charge level

The new on onboard chargers monitor the levels of each battery and charge them as needed. One charger can charge 4 batteries at different levels without cooking them like they used to. The only reasons you would need a charger on your cranking battery is if you run livewell pumps and lights off of it or if you make a lot of short runs.

I have a 24 vdc charger for my TM batteries and only use engine charging for my main engine.
I work 2 weeks away from home. When I get home, starting battery is never drained down.
I also have the Minkota Talon. Manual says it will slightly drain battery over time. I never had an issue yet.
Onboard chargers are not cheap. If you get one, be sure it is ignition protected. You don't want sparks under the console on a gas boat.
Or go cheap and get a charger from any auto parts store like you use on your car. Once a month or so, charge the main engine battery.

A lot of the so called on board chargers are not actually chargers. They are maintainers. if you run your batteries dead the maintainer may have a hard time getting it back to full charge . especially if you are trying to fish multiple days in a row.

There are chargers too. It all depends on the chargers amp capacity.
You can get up to 100 amp output, but that is not what a center console fishing boat needs.
Most are 5 + 5 or 10 + 10.
I have a 20 amp smart charger on my big boat. It puts out up to 20 amps total. It is connected to 2 different 12 vdc batteries. It will give what ever each one needs, but up to a total of 20 amps. If one needs 2 amps and the other can get up to 18 amps.
My trolling motor charger is the 5 + 5 amp type. It can give up to 5 amps for each 12 volt battery, or 10 amps on a 24 volt system.

I have used my trolling motor 2 straight days, hard, and it will charge up completely overnight.