Best on board battery charger

[UglyStick]

I posted this in the Bait & Tackle section - 54 views and no replies... Since I think mostly salt guys use that section I'm gonna post it here where I think it's more applicable...

Upgrading the boat and would like some opinions on what on board mounted battery chargers people like. It will be going on a freshwater fishing boat with 4 12v batteries; 2 of the batteries are each individually isolated from the others and 2 of the batteries are wired together to make a 24v bank for the trolling motor - all of the batteries are deep cycle (technically dual purpose so they get treated like deep cycle) - 3 of the batteries (Interstate) are normal flooded type and 1 (Optima blue) is an AGM.

What's everyone using - what do you like and dislike about them?

[jimmythegreek]

Ive had numerous boats and chargers, the best was the minnkota digitals. The 4 banks are expensive, you may be better off with two 2bank chargers. Also have to watch if you are using US2 sonar a charger will join the grounds if its tieing your 24v batteries and the sonar batteries and you may get interference. I also like the pro mariner I had in my lowe boat, that was a 3 bank but I had to isolate the main with a disconnect to clear up some noise I had w US2 on the terrova up front. I just got a new boat over the weekend and in the process of rigging, have a minnkota on the way for it

[Heronimo42]

NOCO Genius chargers. Small, powerful, built like a tank and never an issue with overcharging or other issues.

[UglyStick]

Originally Posted by jimmythegreek

Ive had numerous boats and chargers, the best was the minnkota digitals. The 4 banks are expensive, you may be better off with two 2bank chargers. Also have to watch if you are using US2 sonar a charger will join the grounds if its tieing your 24v batteries and the sonar batteries and you may get interference. I also like the pro mariner I had in my lowe boat, that was a 3 bank but I had to isolate the main with a disconnect to clear up some noise I had w US2 on the terrova up front. I just got a new boat over the weekend and in the process of rigging, have a minnkota on the way for it

Thx Jimmy - Thats a good point about the noise factor - I'll be running a pair of Lowrance HDS 12's with 3 transducers - an 83/200 sonar and structure scan on the transom and the 82/200 built into the Motorguide xi5 which will be linked into the Lowrance control via a NMEA network.

Are you using the digital or precision series? Which amp rating and why? Thx

What's your new ride?

[Rybak]

I've been using a NOCO Genius II unit on my 24 volt system for two years now, no problems at all.

[jimmythegreek]

Ive had both the digital and precisions, Im going digital this time just for cost. The precisions have higher wattage but Im never in a time crunch even if fishing the next day and have half battery life a 5amp bank will top 29/31 series deep cycles overnight no problem. If I was using AGMs or gels I woulda went w the precisions, they are better for highend batteries.

I have not installed any Xi5's yet but I dont hear any complaints on noise with the walleye guys thus far. I do know many say the spotlock is tighter than on the terrova ipilots, the only tradeoff is the remote has no screen and Ive had 2 rigs that had ipilots and I already got thousands in Hbird graphs so Im stickin at this point. Im on the fence over grabbing a current terrova or waiting a few weeks for the ulterra, I rly want the ulterra for launching the boat solo.

I dont know how the digitizer is in the motorguides but thats what makes the noise in minnkotas, you can add a ground and you can also install the ferrite rings, I do the rings in all my installs, Ive had good success with them. If you need any help lemme kno be glad to help ya out. New rig is a 2014 crestliner, got rid of my crestliner sportfish and the lowe 165 and combined them into a new rig, found a steal at dealer cost in michigan and went for the ride this past weekend, its rly nice, cant wait to get her wet soon

IDK if you know but Ive seen some guys running a second screen using a tablet and the lowrance wifi, its a slick system. Im not sure the software they are using but you can link a tablet up and mount it on a ram or whatever mount and shoot the info over using wifi/bluetooth and have a second large screen without dropping 3k+ on another hds12. Im gonna run 2 units on console on this boat and i WISH Hbird had something like this, lowrance has some REALLY nice features

[UglyStick]

Jimmy - I did some research on the HBird and Terrova interference issues so I see what you mean by the problem and the ferrite ring solution. I can't find any reports of these issues with the Xi5 and the Lowrance so I'll get it all hooked up and see if I need to add any disconnects, etc at that point. Good thing is now I'm much more sensitive to the wire routing and bundling good practices. I'll let you know if I need any help.

I am familiar with the Lowrance wifi and using a tablet. I got hooked up with a dealer who gave me such a smoking deal that I could afford to get 2 HDS 12's. My plan is to have 1 always mounted in the bow and 1 at the console and plan to (when I get used to the system) add a second mount for a tablet at the console so I can have full screen GPS up on one and full screen sonar / imaging on the other. The tablet will also allow me to have a "unit" in the stern (or a 2nd on the bow) if I ever see the need for it.

Congrats on the Crestliner - They are really nice. I was checking them out since a friend of mine is looking at getting an 1850 Raptor. I say wait for the Ulterra - it looks really cool.

[jimmythegreek]

thanks buddy, its my second one I love a welded boat over a riveted one personally. Your planned setup sounds great, exactly how I would do it. With 2 units u can wifi a split screen setup and have gps and sonar on seperate screens, and then use a dual console setup OR add a station out back for trolling, ALOT of guys mount a unit in the stern for this application, look at pete maina, he runs his trolling motor and graphs from the back, I do the same thing when trolling. Def watch your cables, if you have to run down the same side use a little distance w zip ties, run the power lines down flat and hang the ducer cables up, even an inch will make noise go away.....good luck lemme kno if ya need any help

[waynedane]

Jimmy, I'm thinking of swapping out my terrova for the ulterra. Think it's worth it?

[Fishon1982]

i do believe that the wifi app can only mirror the screen you can not control ipad and hds touch separately it will be the same thing on both screens