Charging trolling motor batteries

[ccarver80]

Just bought 2 new interstate deep cycle 27 batteries... they are hooked up for 12v (positive -positive negative to negative)

I bought this trickle charger https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SEM-1562A-CA-Charge-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B0009IBJAS

Will this hurt my batteries?

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Naw,... It won't hurt anything,.... But,....

At 1.5 amps, it'll take months to charge the batteries,....

 

[gm280]

Pretty low current capability for charging trolling motor batteries. Like Bondo stated, it could take a long time to charge them. If he only uses the boat once or twice a month, he is good to go. But depending how low he drains them when out and trolling, it won't be an over night recharge. JMHO

 

[ondarvr]

1.5 amps is about what it takes to keep a fully charged battery in good condition, if you expect it to actually charge a battery you need more amps. Splitting that between two batteries means you may not even be treading water, so charging is out of the question.

 

[ccarver80]

I have a 6 amp I might throw in tonight... I jus didn't known if it had to be a specific charger for deep cell ...

 

[ondarvr]

There are differences in how batteries like to be charged, and high end chargers can be set to charge each type as efficiently as possible. So depending on what type of 6 amp charger you have, it may or may not charge it in the best way.

 

[mike_i]

It would help to know the amperage draw of your trolling motor but to recharge two group 27 deep cycle batteries connected in parallel it would take a long time. The 1.5 amp charge rate is more of a trickle charge. It would be best to get a charger that has the options for sealed/gel or wet cell, the batteries need to charge at different voltage and current rates. Always keep an eye on the water level if your'e using a standard wet cell battery.

 

[Silvertip]

Since your trolling motor is obviously a 12 volt version since you have two 12 volt batteries in parallel, that motor is likely a 50 - 55# thrust and as such will draw around 42 amps under worst case conditions. What that means is the motor can suck 42 amps from the batteries in just one hour. Your 1.5 amp charger would take 28 hours minimum to replace that current. If you are out all day and average 30 amps/hour those batteries will be quite deeply discharged so you can run the numbers from there. A 1.5 amp charger is NOT what you need. For optimum battery life you need a 5 or 6 amp minimum "smart" charger that you can leave connected all the time when the boat is not in use.