What to hook-up to batteries???

[geeco1]

Hello All,

I am curious as to what to hook-up to which battery on my boat. I currently have two batteries but the PO did not have anything hooked-up to the 2nd battery. One battery is a deep cycle and one is a regular starting. I have always thought that the "starting" battery should only have the motor hooked to it. The deep cycle should have the trolling motor and any other item that would be ran for long periods of time. I generally put both batteries on a charger when I get home from a day on the lake.

Here is a list of what my boat has... electronic wise.

Trolling motor (12v)
big motor
standard nav lights
radio
horn
bilge pump
aeration pump
cig lighter (used for spotlight)

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: What to hook-up to batteries???

Everything you have except the radio, trolling motor,and cigarette lighter should be hooked to your main battery. If your aerator has a auto setting you could even put it on your trolling battery. Some people when rewiring a boat will put every thing on their second battery and leave one designated only for cranking. Thats what i did, I feel better knowing that i don't have anything running down my cranking battery while im fishing.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What to hook-up to batteries???

The previous suggestion depends somewhat on whether you are a serious fisherman or not. If you are, then the troller and perhaps a troller mounted depth finder and spot light would be connected to the troller battery. If your starting battery is a decent size (amp/hour capacity) then there is no reason to move the radio and other accessories to the troller. Your starting battery will run those for many hours and therefore not shorten your fishing outing by using power that you want for the trolling motor.