Trolling Battery

[focused fishing]

Techo,

You can't go wrong with Pro-Guide, not sure what issue Z20 is having but I have run Pro-Guide since 2000 without any issues. Maintanence is key, like Bill said have an external charger and use it about every 12 - 14 cycles. If you want more info on battery maintenance I wrote and article for Heartland (with Lane Schumaker's help) a couple of years ago I could send or post.

EP

[techo]

E.P.,

I would appreciate the article or post, whichever works better for you. When you use the big charger.....are you unhooking them from the boat? Do you charge both batteries at the same time? Sort of had some puter issues with my motorcycle and charging the battery.

Another question....how long do batteries last guides like you and Bill. Most weeks I am only on the water two or three days a week. If I start taking care of them better, mine should last at least as long as your batteries do?

Sorry for the twenty (million) questions and thanks again to everyone for sharing knowledge.

[focused fishing]

Tim,

PM your e-mail address and I'll send the article to you, I don't want to tie up the board unless Phil wants it on here. I get 28 - 36 months out of a set of Pro-Guides, it's all about maintanence, you should get the same or better life out of yours because your not cycling them as much.

I usually leave my hooked up and do one battery at a time, but it may not be a bad idea to unhook them if your worried about it. The article has a lot more detail but beside the charger you will need to get a hydrometer as well.

Shoot me you address and I will send it to you this afternoon, on the office p.c. and will need to get it off my lap top.

EP

[hoglaw]

Guys:

I have a deep cycle marine battery that I use for my trolling motor in my canoe. I ALWAYS charge it immediately after getting home, but I do it on a 2 amp trickle charge setting. My charger has options for 2 amp, 10 amp, and 15 amp. Should I be using one of the higher settings? I was told that the lowest setting was the best for charging deep cycles.

[bigredbirdfan]

You might try Exide Nautilus Gold.

http://www.exide.com/products/marine_rv/nautilus_gold.html

These are quality and you can look them up on the internet. Not sure the specification demensions. Marine Repair Center in Springfield is where I just bought mine.

Pro-Guide seems to have their name sold on everyone locally, they might offer heavy discounts to tournament or guide heavy hitters not sure but would guess since everyone seems to be sold on them.

[flipper]

battery wharehouse {shumackers] in golden sells blem pro guides for 35 bucks

[focused fishing]

Guys:

I have a deep cycle marine battery that I use for my trolling motor in my canoe. I ALWAYS charge it immediately after getting home, but I do it on a 2 amp trickle charge setting. My charger has options for 2 amp, 10 amp, and 15 amp. Should I be using one of the higher settings? I was told that the lowest setting was the best for charging deep cycles.

I usually set my trickle charger on the 2 amp setting as well. I was told by an old timer back home that it was best to do a slow charge that way you don't get a "surface" charge.

[Phil Lilley]

Eric- send it to me. I'll take any article you have!!!

Thanks for helping.

[CaptainJoe]

I have three Trojans (the battery ) and a Sportsman Edition 3-bank Pro Charger. I am on month 29 with this setup and have had no problems. Even though I am having great success with the Trojans, I will be switching to Pro-Guides. Why, because the Trojans are too expensive and the performance is the same.

My three-bank charger provides a full charge and then levels off to a trickle charge when the batteries reach a full charge. However, if you test the batteries, they will indicate a 90-95% charge. I was told by Fred Ulrich at Ulrich Marine to unplug the charger for about 10 minutes and then plug it back in. The batteries will go through the cycle again, in about another 10-15 minutes. The batteries will then top-off and reach a full 99-100% charge.

[Rolan Duffield]

Here's a very good article about batteries you might be interrested in.

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

100% charge -- 12.7 volts --1.265 specific gravity

75% charge -- 12.4 volts -- 1.225 sg.

50% charge -- 12.2 volts -- 1.190 sg.

Rolan