24 volt trolling motor setup questions

[BonairII]

I'm considering picking up a 65lb 24v Minn Kota Powerdrive with Autopilot(not I-pilot). I currently am running a 12v System.

My current battery is a Wally World (Everstart maxx group 29 Marine battery) and is about 1 year old. Can I add another one of these batteries....or is the fact that 1 battery is new and the other is not, a problem for a 24volt system?

Second dilemma:
I currently run my nav lights, fishfinder, cig lighter adapter(for cell phone charging) off my TM battery(presently 12v system)and use the other battery only for starting the outboard.

Would I have to run all of that stuff off my "starter battery" if I changed to a 24v TM setup?

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: 24 volt trolling motor setup questions

in 24v set up the batteries don't balance so one being older will not matter. For the small amount of power you are using on the lights etc you can leave them on battery one (the plus and minus of one battery before the jumper to the second battery) of the 24v set up or move them to the starting battery. (if you don't fully understand how to do this say something so we can find you a drawing)