On board charger location question

[Mr.J.]

I picked up a 2 bank on board charger this past fall. Not installed just yet.

My cranking battery is located at the rear of the boat.

My trolling battery is located at the front of the boat.

So I am faced with 1 of 2 possibilities of wiring up my on board charger.

1, Move the trolling battery to the back and running wires up to my trolling motor

2, Leave the trolling battery where it is and running wires back to the on board charger

Can anyone thing of any good reason why I shouldn’t or should do one over the other?

I’m thinking leaving the battery up front and running wires to the on board charger might be easier, and because there’s a voltage drop over a 16 + foot run of wires it’s probably better to have a voltage drop while charging than while running the trolling motor.

It’s a good thing it is still January because this gives me lots of time until I can do this work in the spring and I’ll get to digest input from others on this subject.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[1lastcast]

I Installed a minn kota 2 bank charger on my boat last season.

The main battery is located in a compartment at the rear of the boat. I installed the charger in the same location. I then followed the wireing that was already running to the bow lights and fished the onboard wireing to the battery in the bow.

Pros vs Cons of this setup

Pros: easier to install and fish smaller gauge wiring. Cheaper. Better weight transfer keeping your trolling battery in the bow. less amp draw also. Cons: ????

Good luck with the install. Have lots of bandaids handy

[Graembo]

What kind of main outboard do you have? There should be no need to charge a main (cranking) battery. Simply keep the TM batt where you have it and put the charger close enough so you don't have to extend the OEM leads (obviously clean them up if need be).

I've never charged my cranking battery, even all winter.

I'd be worried about feeding current into the battery while it's all hooked up to your engine/electronics (if you do try to charge the cranker). Why risk blowing something?

JMHO

G

[1lastcast]

I own a 2007 legend 18xcal with a 115hp optimax.

I should add that the minnkotta 2 bank charger I have in my boat is a 2 stage unit. It will only charge each battery if needed. The rate of charge is also automatic from 2amps to 10amps. My engine has fuses to protect it as does the charger.

[mikemicropterus]

I agree with graembo you should not have to charge starting battery

These battery chargers NEED ventilation and lots of it

The battery placement is more a matter of boat balance than convenience if the boat runs better with the battery in front leave it there however most run better if the battery is in the back..

Also find a location for the charger that has good ventilation and I believe the instructions will tell you how close it can be to things, I ahev seen them melt plastic oil tanks and plastic livewells... They produce alot of heat....

If you need to extend the wires to the battery solder the connections and take appropriate steps with regard to wire size and voltage drop

[mikemicropterus]

I agree with graembo you should not have to charge starting battery

These battery chargers NEED ventilation and lots of it

The battery placement is more a matter of boat balance than convenience if the boat runs better with the battery in front leave it there however most run better if the battery is in the back..

Also find a location for the charger that has good ventilation and I believe the instructions will tell you how close it can be to things, I ahev seen them melt plastic oil tanks and plastic livewells... They produce alot of heat....

If you need to extend the wires to the battery solder the connections and take appropriate steps with regard to wire size and voltage drop