Cranking Battery Problems

[Gone Fishing]

How long should a new 1000 cranking amp Pro-Guide battery stay charged with 2 aerators going non stop and 2 gps's going with seperate modules. I am only getting around 6 or 7 hours before it goes dead. What's up with this. Should I try to run the pumps off the TM batteries.

[fozzype]

I feel your pain. I would say the pumps are your culprit. The newer motors require a lot of amps to start, and that robs reserve power in the makeup of the battery.

Also, do you ever slow charge your battery. Even long runs with the big motor do not "fully" charge the battery. A slow 2 amp charge can greatly add to the reserve power. I am going to spend more $ on better batteries next spring.

You also may just have a "bad" one.

Brett

[Stump bumper]

I added a switch so I can run off Battery1 (starting Battery) Battery2 (trolling motor batteies) or "ALL" and sometimes after running the trolling motor hard and running lights and pumps and GPS the All switch is not enough to start the engine so that is when the extra battery in the boat gets hooked up.

Then sometimes I will start on Batt1 then make a long run on Batt2 to recharge the trolling batteries, since I only have a 54lb trolling motor running on high all the time.

[skeeter]

With a load like twin aerators on constant run the cranking amps you quote really are inconsequential. A starter battery is designed to put out a quick burst of power ( cranking amp rating ) to spin your starter motor which has to overcome the compression in your cylinders when cranking over your engine unlike a deep cycle battery which is designed to provide a more steady supply of current right to the very end of the charge (hopefully). So the answer is yes, suggest you re-wire your aerator pumps (12V only) to your trolling motor battery and assume you have deep-cycle(s) there and not starters. Also agree with previous post that you charge your starter battery with a battery charger just like you do with your trollers and not rely on only your engine alternator to fully re-charge. It's also a very good idea in the heat of Summer to check your water level in your battery's cells more often. If low, add distilled water only.

[Dutch]

Depending on your operating conditions, you might benefit from a Stay in Charge system. They are great for guys who make several runs during the day and can recharge your batteries on the way to and from the lake as well as on the water.

http://www.stayncharge.com/

[Gone Fishing]

The battey was always at full charge (done on a slow 2 amp charge) when this has happend. I thought it might be a bad battery so I took it to Golden and they said it was good.

If I had to rewire the pumps should I wire each pump to a seperate TM battery so they draw equally.

[SKMO]

How long should a new 1000 cranking amp Pro-Guide battery stay charged with 2 aerators going non stop and 2 gps's going with seperate modules. I am only getting around 6 or 7 hours before it goes dead. What's up with this. Should I try to run the pumps off the TM batteries.

I am not sure where you live but if you think you have a bad Batt and before you get too torqued about the situation I would get in touch with Battery Outfitters in Golden, which is where they (Pro-Guide)came from originally.

I have bought numerous vehicle and boat batteries from them over the last 15 years and to say they are generous with me is a huge understatement. Really good people to deal with, they have given me some complete replacements when I was a couple months out of warranty. Twice on 24V trolling batts. In other words twice I was right at or beyond my 24 month limit and they slapped 2 brand new ones in the boat no questions asked, nothing pro-rated, no tax, no nothing, just new batteries and man was I happy.

They have a lot of vendors in the field in SW MO. I was up around Stockton about 4 years ago and my cranker went out. I found a boat place with a Pro-Guide sign and they made a quick call to Golden and again a new battery slapped in, no questions asked.

Honestly, maybe a bit better batteries are out there but I doubt you will get better service from anyone, anywhere. I have no affiliation with them other than they have been A-Number One full time service for me, whenever I had a problem. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone, so give them a call, betcha might be surprised. At least they will tell you if your amp drain is beyond limits.

Good luck.

[skeeter]

The battey was always at full charge (done on a slow 2 amp charge) when this has happend. I thought it might be a bad battery so I took it to Golden and they said it was good.

If I had to rewire the pumps should I wire each pump to a seperate TM battery so they draw equally.

Assuming you have a 24V setup with two 12V batteries on your troller ? I would say yes, to separate the two pumps one to each battery. However, not sure if they will only draw 12V since your batteries probably have a jumper between them to enable 24V. Wouldn't want you to burn out your pumps with 24V. There are members on here much better qualified than I to answer this.

[Martin]

If you want to stay with the guys in Golden, that's fine, but buy Trojan batteries. They sell them, or at least they did the last time I was in there. The Trojans will still be blowin and goin when those pro-guides are dead.

[Gone Fishing]

I ended up deciding I was just asking to much out of my cranking battery to run the 2 gps's with seperate antennas and the pumps non stop all day long. So I just broke down and bought another deep cycle battery to run some of the stuff off of. I hated to put the extra weight and money in the boat but it is sure worth it weighing in lively fish at the weigh-in.

Thanks for all the comments and feedback.