Merc 60 and extra battery

[S.Lee]

Hello,<br />I have an 84 merc 60hp. I currently have a single deep cycle battery I use for starting. I have a trolling motor that I run off of another deep cycle battery. I am wondering the best way to connect these batteries. On the FAQ is shows that I should use an isolator to always charge the lower battery first? Could I not just hook the positive to positive and the negative to negative. That way the trolling motor would discharge both batteries equal amounts?

 

[briannh1234]

Re: Merc 60 and extra battery

Hello -<br />There are lot's of different ways to do 2 battery setup's. Each way has it's benifits and it's problems.<br /><br />plus to plus and minus to minus would work. You would get more run time out of the trolling motor, and the 60hp motor would charge both batteries. The downside is that if you use the trolling motor to much it will drain the batteries to the point where you can't start the 60HP. You may be able to still pull start the motor.<br /><br />What I would do is leave the batteries the way they are. When your not using the boat use a smart charger to charge the batteries. The downside to this is that you will need a place to plug in the smart charger.

 

[S.Lee]

Re: Merc 60 and extra battery

Thanks for the help!<br />I talked to one of the electrical guys here at work, and I think I am going to go with an Isolator. They are only about $40 cdn, and then I'll need to make up some new cables, but I should be able to do the whole thing for about $60 cdn.