Deep Cycle Battery on kicker??

[FishToLive]

I would like to try something but I would like your opinion. Here's my current setup:

Starting Battery (1 year old NAPA 1000CCA - Group 27): 90HP Mercury 2 stroke, 9.9 HP Mercury 4 stroke w/electric start, all boat electronics (2 Humminbird FF, bilge, livewell pump, all the lights,..)

Deep Cycle Battery (1 year old Trans-Canada Big Red 280RC - Group 31): 12V Minn-Kota PowerDrive 40PD w/co-pilot

Considering the 9.9HP is VERY easy to start, I was thinking of connecting it to the Deep Cycle Battery. The 9.9HP would charge the Deep Cycle battery when I'm trolling.

I understand the 9.9HP doesn't produce a lot of amps at low RPM but this setup would be useful when I'm doing a 3-5 day fishing trip in remote locations.

I could install quick connect terminals and use this setup only when I can't charge the Deep Cycle Battery.

What do you think?

[SeaMonster]

Having the option to switch which battery it uses/charges would be nice.
I would assume though that if you are running the kicker, odds are you wouldn't be running the trolling motor much, but it's nice to have options.

[FishToLive]

I can often troll with the electric in the morning and later in the evening cause there's not much wind. I switch to the 9.9 kicker once the wind picks up. When there's a lot of wind and I troll with the 9.9 kicker, I often point the bow mount electric straight and turn it on at 2-3. It helps keep the boat going straight.

[bostonwhaler]

I could be totally wrong, but from what I understand a boat motor will charge a deep cycle to fast ( to much amperage) and it will fry the deep cycle battery, otherwise everyone would have a charging switch to dump power into your deep cycles from your gas motor.

[moonshine]

your kicker will charge at 6 amps max. that's not very much. if your battery is at full charge, the voltage regulator should prevent any over charging. Your main motor however, charges around 50 amps, so no doubt, problems would arise.

[smitty55]

Makes sense to me as long as it's only the kicker doing the charging. I guess I'm out of touch a bit lol. Wouldn't have figured a 9.9 came with a generator. Electric start too? Must be a heavy engine. Back in the day I think the 9.9 omc's were under seventy pounds. I know my 6 hp is 56 lb.
A 2A charge is better overall for the battery but for the sake of a trip like you said you would be fine at 6A. Cheers

[FishToLive]

I could be totally wrong, but from what I understand a boat motor will charge a deep cycle to fast ( too much amperage) and it will fry the deep cycle battery, otherwise everyone would have a charging switch to dump power into your deep cycles from your gas motor.

Yes, the main engine would charge too fast, the 90 HP produces about 60 amp, so yes that would kill the deep cycle battery. My thought would be to keep the 90 HP on the starting battery and put the 9.9 HP on the deep cycle.

your kicker will charge at 6 amps max. that's not very much. if your battery is at full charge, the voltage regulator should prevent any over charging. Your main motor however, charges around 50 amps, so no doubt, problems would arise.

Yes, the kicker is rated at 6 amps. I think the "quality" of the charge from a motor is not as good as a good battery charger.

Makes sense to me as long as it's only the kicker doing the charging. I guess I'm out of touch a bit lol. Wouldn't have figured a 9.9 came with a generator. Electric start too? Must be a heavy engine. Back in the day I think the 9.9 omc's were under seventy pounds. I know my 6 hp is 56 lb.
A 2A charge is better overall for the battery but for the sake of a trip like you said you would be fine at 6A. Cheers.

Yup, the kicker is 2006 Mercury 9.9 HP 4 Stroke, long shaft, electric start, 6 amp alternator and it is 84 lbs. The same motor with power trim is 101 lbs.

[FishToLive]

Minn-Kota has a sweet On-board DC Alternator Charger. I think it would only work on the main motor. Not too expensive either. It would work only if you are doing looong runs to get to your fishing holes.

http://store.minnkotamotors.com/categor ... nator_char

The cheapest solution might be to purchase a second deep cycle battery.

[impactfishing]

Run the 9.9 at the speed you want to troll and set it staright, use the Minn Kota to steer the boat, run it at like 2-3 depending on how fast your trolling, makes your batterie last much longer cause your only using the Minn Kota to stear at very low thrust

[Raminator]

spend the $350 and but an AGM technology battery,mine run my 36 volt MK 101 for 18 hours continuously,w/out noticing any power loss

[bcjohnso99]

Minn-Kota has a sweet On-board DC Alternator Charger. I think it would only work on the main motor. Not too expensive either. It would work only if you are doing looong runs to get to your fishing holes.

http://store.minnkotamotors.com/categor ... nator_char

The cheapest solution might be to purchase a second deep cycle battery.

I would connect both the main and kicker to the cranking battery and charge the deep cycle via a DC Charger (which is fed from the cranking battery only when the voltage is high - when an alternator is providing current)
This way your cranking battery is always kept charged and your Deep cycle battery will be properly conditioned.
Safe and reliable.