I have a 2007 Legend 16 Xcalibur Powered by a 60 HP merc injected 4 stroke. Hoping to further my quest for a maintenance free fishing boat, over the winter I installed a Yandina Battery Combiner between the starting battery and my deep cycle trolling motor battery. On the trolling motor end I installed an onboard single bank battery charger. I also installed a port to plug the extension cord in directly to the boat without having to unpack anything.
Basically how these things work is when the detect a voltage they open and combine both batteries, when no voltage is detected, it closes, effectively issolating each battery, for independant use. So when the outboard is running, it charges up the trolling motor battery. When the boat is in storage or at the dock, the charger is plugged in and charges both batteries as well, works both ways. Left it plugged in for the last two months, and the smart charger just does it's thing.
This may have been the BEST modification I've made to my boat yet, typically I could get a day out of the trolling motor battery, sometimes less. This past weekend, I was out half of Friday, all day both Saturday and Sunday, and then half a day on Monday. I did not have to charge my TM battery once, it was great. I checked it constantly and it always ready full charge. Best part is the whole setup was well under $200.
Here's my disclaimer, It never did occur to me that I should check the output of the alternator to see exactly what it is putting out to the TM Battery. but so far so good.
Basically how these things work is when the detect a voltage they open and combine both batteries, when no voltage is detected, it closes, effectively issolating each battery, for independant use. So when the outboard is running, it charges up the trolling motor battery. When the boat is in storage or at the dock, the charger is plugged in and charges both batteries as well, works both ways. Left it plugged in for the last two months, and the smart charger just does it's thing.
This may have been the BEST modification I've made to my boat yet, typically I could get a day out of the trolling motor battery, sometimes less. This past weekend, I was out half of Friday, all day both Saturday and Sunday, and then half a day on Monday. I did not have to charge my TM battery once, it was great. I checked it constantly and it always ready full charge. Best part is the whole setup was well under $200.
Here's my disclaimer, It never did occur to me that I should check the output of the alternator to see exactly what it is putting out to the TM Battery. but so far so good.
