solar chargers for trolling motor?

[lewkster]

I use a one battery system on my fishing boat do to weight and space. It's a 16 ssv lund with 40 tiller nissan and 30pound thrust minn kota. So I was wondering bout a small solar charger (13X13 inches) gives out i believe 5 watts. So my question is what can I expect from this solar panel. I leave my boat at a storage place I just dont wanna hassle with running cords. My second thought was to just save a buy a little 3 to 5 horse 4 stroke since it weighs no more then a second battery and will run non stop, and self sufficient.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

Hi lewkster. A 5 watt solar panel will put out just under 0.5 amps when exposed directly to sunlight. This is enough to maintain a charge, but not enough to recover a charge. If you are using this battery to power a trolling motor, the solar panel will never fully recharge it. I like the idea of a small gas motor. Take a look at the Honda 2hp 4 stroke. Its air cooled so no water pump to worry about. It's 4 stroke, no mixing gas. It sips gas. You could troll all day long on a quart of gas. It only weighs 26 pounds which is probably less than that battery you're carrying. And, it's much stronger than that 30lb thrust Minn Kota. Just my 2c. Good luck.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

You'd need enough solar panels to sink your boat to run a trolling motor. Solar panels make very little electricity per square foot.

 

[wayne h]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

why not what 1 them small 2 stroke generators i have 1 thats about 65 lbs it will do 1000 watts thats and has a built in battery charger i use this on my pontoon boat its pretty quiet and charges batterys and runs lights and radios. <br />here is a link to what i am talking about there pretty cheap <br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2478886563&category=26449

 

[ZmOz]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

Originally posted by wayne34609:<br /> why not what 1 them small 2 stroke generators i have 1 thats about 65 lbs it will do 1000 watts thats and has a built in battery charger i use this on my pontoon boat its pretty quiet and charges batterys and runs lights and radios. <br />here is a link to what i am talking about there pretty cheap <br /><br /> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2478886563&category=26449

If you're going to go that far, why not a gas kicker?

 

[wayne h]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

because its on a pontoon boat and its not going that far i just take it with me boating and camping i can run alot more lights on that then a kicker lights on a pontoon boat at night party central lol

 

[lewkster]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

The gas kicker seems like my best option for what my use will be. I really had no idea how much solar panel I would need so was good to get that info and put that idea outta my head. Thanks for the feed back!

 

[eurolarva]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

Solar panel is good to have when you leave boat on the lake all the time and you dont have access to electricity to charge the battery. Even if you drain it from the trolling motor the battery will charge when the sun is out. If you trailer your boat and park it in the garage the solar panel is not worth the investment

 

[crab bait]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

i bought a solar panel for batteries at a flea market ... it's made by VW.. says charges batterys in half time of 120v chargers.. <br /><br />haven't REALLY used it.. except to pump up a dead lawn tractors battery.. an charged IT SILLY..in no time.. <br /><br />don't know the watts.. but pumps out 23 volts in overcast..

 

[ZmOz]

Re: solar chargers for trolling motor?

crab bait - that solar panel is rated at 3 watts in the best of conditions. Even on a lawn tractor battery, which is at least 200 watt hours, it would take over 66 hours to "charge" in full sunlight.