12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

[1980Coronado]

Looking for innovative ideas and suggestions for charging the battery used to run a 12V boat lift drive motor.

I have a Shore Station lift for my Coronado and I recently purchased a Lift-Tech Marine 12V motor for it. The lift sits at the in-laws lake house and my father in-law didn't want to run AC power out on the dock, so we opted for the 12V system. Obviously this requires a 12V battery to operate it. There are two possible ways to hook this thing up, 3 if you put a second battery in the boat.

1.) Operate it off of a stand alone battery hanging under the lift canopy
2.) Operate it off of the boat battery
3.) Operate it off of a second battery in the boat (would have to install second battery)

The questions I have are:

1.) Which way to hook it up (1,2, or 3 above)?
2.) How to charge the battery?


Charging Methods:

1.) Install a 20 Watt solar panel kit available for about $360 that attaches directly the lift. (10 watt kit not enough charging capacity to keep up with a heavy boat and multiple uses over a weekend)

pros:
- don't need to drain the boat battery to lift with
- totally self contained unit with no power cords on the dock

cons:
- father in-law may not like the looks of a solar panel hanging off the lift
- solar panel could be damaged in a storm.
- 20 watts isn't a lot of charge capacity (1.6 amps max)

2.) Use the boat battery

pros:
- no solar panel or battery to hang on the lift
- no solar panel to get damaged

cons:
- could be hard on the boat battery
- have to hook it up every time you come in

3.) Install a second battery in the boat

pros:
- don't have to use the same battery to run the boat and run the lift
- no Solar panels to buy

cons:
- don't know how to charge it
- you have to hook it up every time you come in


Anyone have suggestions....or another way?

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

what about having a battery on the dock and get a solar panel. how often you plan on using the lift. because you don't have to get such a big panel if you don't plan on using the lift all the time. so there would be longer time period for the solar panel to charge the battery. Don't use your boat battery. that might take to much juice out of the battery to start the motor again.

 

[nikon]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Mine is self contained, charges off a solar panel. Really only gets used on the weekends but the lift ends up actuating 4-6 times each weekend. By the middle of the summer the battery does get a little tired so I hook up a waterproof battery tender, within a week she's running strong again. Also leave the tender on it all winter. I guess in your case, you could just pull the battery mid summer and stick it on a charger by the house. Or do get a second battery for your boat and swap your second boat battery with the lift battery if the battery in the lift starts getting tired...Here's my setup, solar panel is on top of the white box on the left guide post.

 

[wifisher]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

You could make a pigtail off of the boat battery to plug into the lift. That way it is only a few seconds to grab the cord and plug it in to the boat. May be a little harder on the boat battery, but you could replace it a couple of times over before you pay for the solar charger.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Install a second battery and battery switch in the boat. Use the second battery as a "house" battery isolating it from all but the charging system (this is where the batt switch comes in). Install a polarized outlet (marine style) on the boat and matching plug to the lift. You can then charge the "house" while you're running the boat, it should stay charged and operate your lift when required.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Mine is self contained, charges off a solar panel. Really only gets used on the weekends but the lift ends up actuating 4-6 times each weekend. By the middle of the summer the battery does get a little tired so I hook up a waterproof battery tender, within a week she's running strong again. Also leave the tender on it all winter. I guess in your case, you could just pull the battery mid summer and stick it on a charger by the house. Or do get a second battery for your boat and swap your second boat battery with the lift battery if the battery in the lift starts getting tired...Here's my setup, solar panel is on top of the white box on the left guide post.

Nice setup! I was suspecting that the battery might not stay completely "up" with heavy use on a solar charger. How many watts is your panel? You're also in the land of sun! I love that area of FL...especially Lauderdale by the sea......love scuba diving in that area.....very nice reefs near Hillsboro Inlet!

I'm leaning towards the 20 watt solar kit. They make the kit in a 10 watt and a 20 watt. For my application/usage they recommend the 20 watt.

The kit comes with:
20 Watt 12v Solar Panel
Panels pre-wired with 20' cable and 3/8" ring terminals
Mounting arm and brackets
Charge controller
Choice of Battery Tray
Worm Strap
Instructions with wiring diagrams

I like this kit because the bracket hangs the battery up under the lift canopy, not on the dock as a toe stubber! I'm just not sure I want solar panels hanging off the lift posts. Probably not a good alternative though.

I don't know if such a device exists, that would allow a second battery in the boat to be monitored/charged automatically by the alternator when the boat is used.....?

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Ok...if I combine wifisher and Limitied-Times' posts, I install a second battery in the boat and add a switch. I'm a mechanical engineer....I know enough about electrical to be really dangerous I'm not real good with the Sparky stuff! The plug idea is good, because the boat battery is right under the seat in-front of the inboard dog house....this happens to be very much in line with the lift motor when the boat is sitting on the lift. It would be very easy to flip the seat up, grab the plug, and plug it in to the mating plug hanging inside the canopy, jump out and turn the key to lift the boat.

So...walk me though this. How do you isolate the second battery from everything except the alternator? Like I said I'm not a sparky . Is there something that would automatically switch to charge the lift battery when it senses it's low...or does this have to be a mechanical/physical switch?

 

[smclear]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods



Neighbor down the channel from us has the attached configuration. The solar panel is really not too noticeable when the cover is on the lift. battery of course sits under the lift cover protected from weather. Next time I see him, I'll ask about it but that may be a few weeks (they typically don't open up until mid May). If you've found a solution before then, great, I'd be interested in it as well.

My problem is with the motor itself. Just not enough oomph to lift the Resorter. It does do nicely on my Sea-Doo (boat - not ski). My soultion is to find a larger motor for the Resorter lift, put the current motor on the Sea Doo lift, and then explore the whole how do I keep it charged issued.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

View attachment 90502View attachment 90503

Neighbor down the channel from us has the attached configuration. The solar panel is really not too noticeable when the cover is on the lift. battery of course sits under the lift cover protected from weather. Next time I see him, I'll ask about it but that may be a few weeks (they typically don't open up until mid May). If you've found a solution before then, great, I'd be interested in it as well.

My problem is with the motor itself. Just not enough oomph to lift the Resorter. It does do nicely on my Sea-Doo (boat - not ski). My soultion is to find a larger motor for the Resorter lift, put the current motor on the Sea Doo lift, and then explore the whole how do I keep it charged issued.

Hey smclear...

Uh oh....the motor doesn't have enough oomph to lift the Resorter? Is yours the same Lift-Tech Marine motor I bought....the kind that you remove the lift wheel and replace with the motor? It's rated for 7000#
http://www.boatliftanddock.com/p-316-lift-tech-marine-dc-12v24v-boat-lift-motor.aspx

The panel in those pics actually sticks out a little farther then the one I'm looking at...doesn't look too bad on there....it has to pass the mother/father in-law test though ...I make it sound bad...they're great people...I just don't want them to be irritated by it...they're gracious enough to let me park it there.

Here's the kit I'm looking at:
http://www.boatliftanddock.com/p-202-20-watt-12v-solar-charging-kit-high-use-systems.aspx

BTW...got my bow flag from A&A and just ordered a 4-blade OJ prop for the Coronado.....I got the itch real bad....now if it would just stop raining!

 

[nikon]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Ok...if I combine wifisher and Limitied-Times' posts, I install a second battery in the boat and add a switch. I'm a mechanical engineer....I know enough about electrical to be really dangerous I'm not real good with the Sparky stuff! The plug idea is good, because the boat battery is right under the seat in-front of the inboard dog house....this happens to be very much in line with the lift motor when the boat is sitting on the lift. It would be very easy to flip the seat up, grab the plug, and plug it in to the mating plug hanging inside the canopy, jump out and turn the key to lift the boat.

So...walk me though this. How do you isolate the second battery from everything except the alternator? Like I said I'm not a sparky . Is there something that would automatically switch to charge the lift battery when it senses it's low...or does this have to be a mechanical/physical switch?

Simple, the question is the products name....a battery isolator

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Battery-...7361514--**********.841928297--view_id.216584

Check the electrical section for wiring diagrams, if you wanna hook a switch up to it so you can use that second battery for the boat too (in case you need to)

Not sure what size solar panel it is. Came with the lift, no markings on it....not working the best anymore as it took a dunk in the canal a couple seasons ago...surprised it still works at all.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Ooooooo.....look what I found on iboats....would this work?

http://www.iboats.com/Charge-on-the-Go-12V-VSR/dm/*******.258526856--**********.031648779--view_id.341868

 

[Pacoson71]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

reading the description it says it's for the 110V chaging system. But....
http://www.iboats.com/Marine-Batter...5105330--**********.839881840--view_id.237463

Works and is cheap

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

This is great...glad I posted this question....probably saved me $200!

Now I need to research battery isolators....and switches to see just how this will work.

Did anyone look at the charge on the go product? Would that be a good fit for this application?
http://www.iboats.com/Charge-on-the-Go-12V-VSR/dm/*******.258526856--**********.031648779--view_id.341868

 

[smclear]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Hey smclear...

Uh oh....the motor doesn't have enough oomph to lift the Resorter? Is yours the same Lift-Tech Marine motor I bought....the kind that you remove the lift wheel and replace with the motor? It's rated for 7000#
http://www.boatliftanddock.com/p-316-lift-tech-marine-dc-12v24v-boat-lift-motor.aspx

The panel in those pics actually sticks out a little farther then the one I'm looking at...doesn't look too bad on there....it has to pass the mother/father in-law test though ...I make it sound bad...they're great people...I just don't want them to be irritated by it...they're gracious enough to let me park it there.

Here's the kit I'm looking at:
http://www.boatliftanddock.com/p-202-20-watt-12v-solar-charging-kit-high-use-systems.aspx

BTW...got my bow flag from A&A and just ordered a 4-blade OJ prop for the Coronado.....I got the itch real bad....now if it would just stop raining!

It's not the same as yours. When I traded my jet skis for the jet boat I bought a used lift from Rookstools for the new boat. They took my old jet ski lifts (2) as trade and the 'new' used lift only cost me $200.00. Pretty good compared to a new lift. At that time they also sold me a motor for the speedboat (which at the time was a Rinker 212). They said it would handle it. It doesn't. I would have taken it back but it does work for my little jet boat. At 52, lifting the Resorter is getting to be a pain. Perhaps this summer I'll get a proper sized motor for the job. (as long as life doesn't get in the way)

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

View attachment 90623

It's not the same as yours. When I traded my jet skis for the jet boat I bought a used lift from Rookstools for the new boat. They took my old jet ski lifts (2) as trade and the 'new' used lift only cost me $200.00. Pretty good compared to a new lift. At that time they also sold me a motor for the speedboat (which at the time was a Rinker 212). They said it would handle it. It doesn't. I would have taken it back but it does work for my little jet boat. At 52, lifting the Resorter is getting to be a pain. Perhaps this summer I'll get a proper sized motor for the job. (as long as life doesn't get in the way)

Ah...I see...it's a wheel to wheel type. If you think your Resorter makes you huff and puff....try the Coronado....My 14 year old son cranked it up a couple of times and then stopped asking to go out tubing! I knew myself after cranking it up a couple of times that we were getting a motor over the winter.....it got to be fun when we'd have people up and take them out for a ride....they'd say "let me get that" when it came time to crank it up...I never refused the offer!

I got my Lift-Tech motor at the boat show here in Fort Wayne this winter...saved $100 over the best internet price I could find and they had it right there at the show. Didn't have to pay tax on it because it was an out of state vendor and didn't have to pay any shipping either! SCORE!

I did some research last night and I think this may be the answer:
http://bluesea.com/category/2/productline/overview/329

How to hook it up:
http://bluesea.com/files/resources/technical_briefs/Technical_Brief_upgrading_battery_switching_and_charge_management.pdf

This setup would allow me to add a battery for just the lift motor, the other battery would remain as is, and both would charge off the alternator while underway. In an emergency, I could use the second battery to start the boat, or use the boat battery for the lift motor. I'm also considering adding a dual battery charger that I can just plug in if needed....anyone see any potential issues with that plan?

 

[wakeboater82]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

I don't believe your completely out of luck. If your using a Lift Tech Marine direct drive you will be best off going with a 24v with a 20w panel setup. If you a regular user the 20w is a minimum, and if you add a second battery for 24v configuration you will be a happy camper in my opinion. I have a 5000lb Shorestation vertical lift and its setup with the 20w panel in the 24v configuration. It has been trouble free since day one and I use my lift 6-8 times a week during the summer. The guys I dealt with at boatliftanddock.com were awesome and set me up with exactly what I needed and were able to answer any of my questions not to mention gave me a fair price.

The motor is very easy to install and same goes for the solar charging kit. I had my local guy quote out the job for me and he basically was going to charge me $300.00 to setup up the motor. I figured at that price it was worth looking into myself. In the end it took me 40mins and only required a few basic hand tools. I'm am happy I went the route I did.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 12V Boat Lift Motor: Battery Charging Methods

Ahhhh -- Eight months ago this was an issue. I doubt the poster is looking here any longer.