Boost your TM Batteries - March Tip

Use a Jump Starter (http://tinyurl.com/2wzah9) to boost your trolling motor batteries. I fished in a 6am to 4:30 pm tournament yesterday, and the wind was howling. Had to stay on the TM all day on high just to keep the boat positioned. Long about 3pm or so my TM was noticeably weaker. I knew it wouldn't last the extra 1.5 hrs.

Out came the trusty Jump Starter that I keep in the dry storage. I jumpered it parallel to one of the TM batteries and.. viola... it worked like a champ. We finished the tournament with power to spare. This particular one I have has a 12v port to run your night fishing lights, and has an extra emergency light built in, plus if you run down your starter battery this can jump start your big engine. I got mine at K-mart on sale for $24.99, and worth every penny.

Pretty good idea http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif When you say you jumped it, you just clip it on and let it be or you have to do somthing else? Are they heavy? http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

Yep. Just clip the short jumper cables to the battery and away you go. The unit I have weighs about 10lbs or so and other than turning on the switch thats it.

I'd like to know some more about this tactic....is the Jump/Starter battery operated? How much current is it sending to your battery? If it will crank a car....wouldn't this much current be bad for the battery over an hour and a half?
JR

Yep, It's 12 Volt- Here's YOUR Sign http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

hahahaha....well, my motto is...if you're gonna ask a stupid question...go ahead and ask a bunch of 'em.

The TM only draws what it needs. Your currnt batteries are capable of outputting 200 amps or better, but only if needed. The emergency jump starter can output 225 amps if needed , otherwise it just acts like another battery. If you put it in parallel, it just boosts the possible current output to the TM and the TM will only draw what it needs for the current speed setting. Basic Ohms law...

Here's something similar:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog...79655

Home Depot has a HUSKEY Brand jump starter.

gimme my sign before i even ask, but i have 2 tm batt. do i have to jump the box on both batt. or just one. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

Just one... it basically creates a series-parallel circuit.. 2 batteries parallelled in series with another battery... if'n that makes sense...

Thanks for the tip, Mike. I bought the charger yesterday and am looking forward to trying it.

I have one secured in the Battery compartment for backup purposes. I do a lot of night fishing and since it's state law to keep the lights on at night while fishing it was draining my main battery and I would wind up having to jump start my main battery off my trolling motor batteries. So I bought an additional backup battery that I have now hooked up all my graphs and other electric items to. Nothing draining my main battery except for the cranking when starting up the motor. But I also keep the jump starter in the boat as a safety precausion and a jump starter / energy booster for my TM if needed after fishing a day and I need some more juice.....

That's the one I have and the good part about it is you can use the AC adapter plug it into the AC plug in on your boat and you can either start the Motor if needed or Charge the battery on the jump starter if needed...

I just went out and bought the Black and Decker Start It Jump Starter from Walmart and have a question or two: When my batteries are fading a bit all I have to do is connect the one red jumper to the red terminal on one battery and then connect the black jumper wire from the Jump starter to the same batteries black terminal- turn the switch to on and thats it correct?

Sounds like the two wires from the jump starter device only have to be connected to ONE battery and this should be the ticket!

Any help / confirmation about the above would be great and thanks for the tip!

Creekchub,

I understand the technique exactly as you have described it, but I also would like confirmation from someone who has tried it successfully.

Jim

Its basically just adding another battery to your system out on the water. Plain and simple. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif and a very good idea i might add.

I tried it out yesterday- seems to give a slight increase of power when your batteries are cooked. Its not like you go back to full power with the Trolling motor but you will see an increase. I fish several 8 hour trolling motor lake events each year and this is a great tip. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

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Sounds like the two wires from the jump starter device only have to be connected to ONE battery and this should be the ticket!
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Yep.. you got it. Parallel the charger with either battery. I used this again Sat & Sun after fighting 30-40 mph winds in a tourny on Weiss Lake. Gave me enough to finish the day. Hopefully I wont need this for a while as my new Optimas arrived today !!!

Bama,

I don't think the Optimas help any whatsoever in keeping you going during the day. At least mine didn't over my previous batteries. I also have two for my trolling motor and still run out of juice after fighting wind at about the same time I did with my old batteries. The Optimas just last longer (more years), charge faster, and are lighter.

Jim

The main reason I think the new Optimas will help, is than I had one battery on its last legs (would only take a 1/2 charge) and the other cant be far behind. I figure with NEW batteries I should get a full day out of them...http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

It seems I posted this as the tip of the day a huge while back. I've used that trick for years. I used to have a champ that ruined batteries. It has saved me a few times!!

StayNCharge unit installed takes care of this issue by charging the batteries with the gas engine.