Invertor question to recharge boat

[JonNovak]

im thinking maybe for the multiple day trips i should get one connect to truck and plug chargers on boat in. i usually only do multiple trips a couple times a year but making up for last year so im planning to do it maybe half dozen times or so. no plugs at camp out (walmart lol)

on boat i have a small charger for starter battery and 2 bank for troller batteries. i can usually make 2 days without charging but second day you can tell power is lower, especially around bed fishing times.

in the past, with only 2 batteries, i ran jumper from truck battery to boat battery and ran truck all night. worked ok but invertor with outlets would be so much nicer.

question is, what is a safe bet for invertor wattage? dont care if its charged quick or even if 100%. as long as it makes day 2 better than not charging at all

[Transom]

What charger do you have?

[CatFan]

You have two things working against you. Inverters are only about 85% efficient, so you lose 15% of the power your truck generates. Second, at idle a vehicle doesn’t generate much more power than is required to run the engine and electronics so there isn’t a lot left for charging.

Harbor Freight generators or Champion generators do a much better job for less than $500 and don’t use up your vehicle engine doing it.

To figure how much power you need, multiply 15V by the total amps your charger can supply. This gives your charger output in Watts. Now divide that by .85 to account for charger inefficiency and the answer is how many Watts you need to supply.

For example if you have a 3 bank charger that puts out 10A per bank, you need 3x10Ax15V/.85=530W

[exx1976]

Get an alternator charger so that your trolling motor batteries charge while the outboard is running.

[Ann-Marie]

Get an alternator charger so that your trolling motor batteries charge while the outboard is running.

The Yandina Combiner for 12 volt trolling motors, the Trollbridge12X24 for 24 volt, or the Trollbridge36 for 36 volt trolling motors makes many systems independent of shore power charging depending on the ratio of running time to trolling time. They are over 99.5% efficient at full output from the alternator and can also accept the charging line from a tow vehicle to charge all the batteries.

[exx1976]

The Yandina Combiner for 12 volt trolling motors, the Trollbridge12X24 for 24 volt, or the Trollbridge36 for 36 volt trolling motors makes many systems independent of shore power charging depending on the ratio of running time to trolling time. They are over 99.5% efficient at full output from the alternator and can also accept the charging line from a tow vehicle to charge all the batteries.

As a Minn Kota TM owner, I'll stick with MK-branded changers since I know they won't blow up my gear - and if they do, they are all made by the same place, and covered by the same warranty.

[JonNovak]

leave it to you all to make things difficult !!
Peace

[Team Dougherty]

You have two things working against you. Inverters are only about 85% efficient, so you lose 15% of the power your truck generates. Second, at idle a vehicle doesn’t generate much more power than is required to run the engine and electronics so there isn’t a lot left for charging.

Harbor Freight generators or Champion generators do a much better job for less than $500 and don’t use up your vehicle engine doing it.

To figure how much power you need, multiply 15V by the total amps your charger can supply. This gives your charger output in Watts. Now divide that by .85 to account for charger inefficiency and the answer is how many Watts you need to supply.

For example if you have a 3 bank charger that puts out 10A per bank, you need 3x10Ax15V/.85=530W

For $109, look for coupon or sale to get for less, One of these will charge your batteries without issue. https://www.harborfreight.com/900-ma...arb-63025.html

[Texas Larry]

For $109, look for coupon or sale to get for less, One of these will charge your batteries without issue. https://www.harborfreight.com/900-ma...arb-63025.html

That's the way I would go!! A 20% off coupon would make a real cheap fix for your problem!

[Team Dougherty]

That's the way I would go!! A 20% off coupon would make a real cheap fix for your problem!

Unfortunately, those 20% coupons usually do not work for generators.

[JonNovak]

its not a problem! Its a slight annoyance, thats all. i am honestly sorry i even asked. Ill just use up what i got and not risk a little generator getting stolen while i sleep in a walmart parking lot. thanks for taking the time though

[Ann-Marie]

As a Minn Kota TM owner, I'll stick with MK-branded changers since I know they won't blow up my gear - and if they do, they are all made by the same place, and covered by the same warranty.

In fact, however, the MK chargers charge the batteries while they are in series putting as much as 43 volts on a 36 volt motor. l Because of this you should unplug or switch you trolling motor off to protect it while charging. The Yandina chargers put the batteries in PARALLEL for charging so the highest voltage is around 14.3 volts.

[exx1976]

In fact, however, the MK chargers charge the batteries while they are in series putting as much as 43 volts on a 36 volt motor. l Because of this you should unplug or switch you trolling motor off to protect it while charging. The Yandina chargers put the batteries in PARALLEL for charging so the highest voltage is around 14.3 volts.

Wait, what? No.. There is one set of leads to each battery for MK systems. They don't charge in series.

Not to mention the fact that I don't think you even know what charger I'm referring to.

[wmitch2]

Check this out !! I run 3-4 days before I really need to "top off"

http://www.yandina.com/troll24info.htm

[CJ1]

For $109, look for coupon or sale to get for less, One of these will charge your batteries without issue. https://www.harborfreight.com/900-ma...arb-63025.html

At 91db nothing will be asleep within 500 ft of that thing. A small Honda or Yamaha inverter gen locked up would be the way to go. Cj

[Nova Kaw 650]

At 91db nothing will be asleep within 500 ft of that thing. A small Honda or Yamaha inverter gen locked up would be the way to go. Cj

Yup ^^^
A Honda EU1000 will idle along and you will barely hear it.

[Lou r Pitcher]

At 91db nothing will be asleep within 500 ft of that thing. A small Honda or Yamaha inverter gen locked up would be the way to go. Cj

Seems Elvis has left the building.

As only one generator is suggested or might be needed........ curious "gen locked' up to what????

[Nova Kaw 650]

I would guess locked up so no one walks off with it.

[Lou r Pitcher]

Aha.!!! .......'gen-locked' to this video engineer has a very different meaning.

[CJ1]

Aha.!!! .......'gen-locked' to this video engineer has a very different meaning.

Yep, locked up to something sturdy. Honda has a steel insert to add to the handle so it can't be cut as easy. They WILL run off and quickly! A eu2000 will run a battery charger at idle and run most of the night on one tank. Cj