Battery Question

[Tommy36597]

I just bought a 13 1/2 foot aluminum boat with a 20 lb thrust trolling motor on it. Will an Everlast Marine battery work on it. The selection number is 91 and the cranking amps are 625. The part number is 24ms-6. I have no clue what this all means. PLEASE HELP. Any information would be appreciated.

How long could I run the motor on it? Should I go bigger? I found it at the local Walmart for $55. Is it good? Bad? Or just too cheap of a battery?

 

[dozerII]

Re: Battery Question

For an electric trolling motor you should buy a marine deep cycle battery. I would suggest buying the best one you can afford. Then you you need to look at a good charger for it.
Glen

 

[Tommy36597]

Re: Battery Question

So I'm guessing that all marine batteries aren't deep cycle batteries. Any suggestions on which brand? What do they usually run for?

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Battery Question

There are marine cranking batteries, dual use marine batteries (cranking/deep cycle), and deep cycle batteries.

A deep-cyclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead-acid_battery is designed to be regularly deeply discharged using most of its capacity. In contrast, starting batteries (e.g. most automotive batteries) are designed to deliver short, high current burst for cranking the engine, and to be frequently discharged of only a very small part of their capacity. While a deep-cycle battery can be used as a starting battery, the lower "cranking amps" imply that an over-sized battery may need to be used.


The structural difference between deep cycle batteries and cranking batteries resides in the lead battery plates. Deep cycle battery plates have thicker active plates, with higher-density active paste material, and thicker separators. Alloys used for the plates in a deep cycle battery may contain more antimonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony than for starting batteries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_cycle_battery#cite_note-Linden02-0The thicker battery plates resist corrosion through extended charge and discharge cycles.

 

[jhande]

Re: Battery Question

I have used batteries (including for my auto's) from WalMart in the past and I'm not crazy about them.

I have had pretty good experience with Sears Die Hard batteries and a friend likes Interstate batteries.

Here's a few useful links - http://trollingmotorbattery.net/, Deep Cycle Battery FAQ.

Don't forget to pickup a battery charger (don't use an automotive charger).
Something like these: Schumacher and Minn Kota.

As far as how long can you run on a fully charged battery... well that depends on a few factors.
How hard does the trolling motor have to work (20lbs pushing how much weight).
How fast are you normally going with it (throttle wise).
How easy does the boat glide through the water.
Is there any other electrical items drawing juice.

I have a 16 1/2 foot fiberglass boat with a 40lb Minn Kota connected to a Die Hard battery as above. With a load of about 500 lbs and a calm day I can troll from dawn to dusk. But that includes the usual stopping at hot spots and moving slowly.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery Question

The numbers on the battery (except for CCA) are simply the manufacturers part/stock numbers. CCA is cold cranking amps and tells you nothing about how long the battery will operate your troller. NO -- all batteries are not deep cycle. There are marine starting, marine deep cycle, and marine dual purpose. For trollers you need a Deep Cycle and to tell whether a battery is or is not you need only look at the label - it will say DEEP CYCLE. You then need to look at the A/Hr (amp/hour) or Reserve Minutes number. That number tells you what you need to know. Your troller operating at high speed will draw somewhere in excess of 20 amps each hour it is run. Therefore a battery rated at 180 reserve minutes @ 23 amps (the design spec) would power your motor for about 9 hours 20 x 9 = 180). Batteries also come in various physical sizes (the group size). 24, 27, 29 , 31 etc. You could likely get by with a 24 but a 27 is suggested, especially if you are on the water for long periods.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Battery Question

The "MS" in the part number stands for "marine starting". Get a deep cycle battery, the biggest that will fit the space (and you are willing to lug).

 

[Tommy36597]

Re: Battery Question

Thanks. You guys are great. I found an EverStart Deep Cycle battery. Group size 24dc-6. 500 cranking amps. 75 amp hours. I've been to 7 different stores and this was the only deep cycle battery. Everything else was the regular marine batteries. I'll only be running the trolling motor off of it so it'll have to do unless I can find something else before I take my boat out.

And thanks for telling me about not using a car battery charger. That's what I was going to use on it. I have a regular and a trickle charger. Looks like I have to buy another charger. Lol.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Battery Question

There is nothing wrong with an automotive battery charger. The issue with ANY charger is whether or not is a "smart" charger, meaning is it capable of multi-step charging and does it have a "float" mode when charging is complete. Just because it's an auto style charger does not mean it doesn't have those features and even if it doesn't. it can still be used but you need to monitor it so it does not overcharge.