Kicker charging trolling batteries

[tyler.woodard04]

From what I can tell my kicker is equipped with charging. Currently run this motor fixed straight and run the speed just under the target speed and use my Terrova to steer and fine tune the speed.  I have 2 31 size batteries running the trolling motor (12V) Any reason I should not run the cables from the kicker to the trolling batteries?  

[tech2526]

your terrova is 12v?

Edited March 24 by tech2526

[tyler.woodard04]

yes, boat only had 1 battery in the bow when i bought it.  added a second for runtime 

[Shakemsam]

Put an amp meter on the kicker to see what it puts out. I am pretty sure it is not enough to charge your TM batts. 

[tyler.woodard04]

Good idea

[ifishy]

Even at low amps its some charge going back in and might extend the day personally I would rather route it through a two bank charger but in previous boats I didn't have the budget I always carriy a spare dual purpose battery 1 to many bad experiences with electrical for me

[tyler.woodard04]

Always have a fully charged jump pack under the helm just in case. 

[ifishy]

I had one of those for a while but the charging part stopped working I took it apart and was a sealed lead acid battery I just put on a charger and used off of jumper cables it served the need but I went to the backup battery because it did the rescue and could just rotate in and still fish the day it also kept me rotating new batteries in every couple years

[Cody191]

19 hours ago, tyler.woodard04 said:

From what I can tell my kicker is equipped with charging. Currently run this motor fixed straight and run the speed just under the target speed and use my Terrova to steer and fine tune the speed.  I have 2 31 size batteries running the trolling motor (12V) Any reason I should not run the cables from the kicker to the trolling batteries?  

You can do this but I would keep your kicker wired to the start battery. Then run wires from that battery to the tm batteries with some sort of charging relay or combiner in line. You want a system that only charges the tm batteries once the start battery is full and the system should not allow power to drain backwards in the event your start battery is lower voltage than tm batteries. It’s been awhile but yandina combiner and blue sea ACR come to mind. Worth a look to do it right.

[tyler.woodard04]

I guess my question then is why charge the main motor crank battery also? It will charge while running to the fishing spot. The downriggers pull from there also but that is minimal. I would not be looking to completely charge the TM batteries but keep them from depleting as quickly. 

[Cody191]

If you hook kicker and main to start battery and then run a system like I mentioned, you would keep both start and tm batteries charged as much as possible when running either motor. I think it’s the best way. 

[tyler.woodard04]

Now I follow, both motors would charge all batteries but only draw off the main crank, isolating the trolling batteries from the main on the discharge side. Thank you

[dhhurlburt]

I have a 12v Terrova with a single battery and I can go 6 hours using it the same way you described. I also want to run 2 in parallel for run time and assurance I have the propulsion if I need it.

[sherman brown]

the system above will work to keep the trolling motor running longer. but if you could spare the money for a lithium 100 amp 12v battery you should be able to use it all day for steering. but if you want to run a charger into it from your motor you would want a lithium starting battery like the Dakota 60 amp 12v which is on sale for 100.00 off but still 599.00. off hand I don't know of any other cheaper starting battery that can be charged by your big motor or the kicker. plus I believe you can use an isolator for safety. I have seen cheaper 12v lithium 100 amp batteries for your trolling motor but they can't be charged by your motors. they are much lighter they will hold power twice as long as a lead/acid battery and charge 2 times faster but you need a lithium charger that will work for charging them.