How To Recover When Cranking Battery Doesn't Crank

[Lark]

I have a cranking battery and two deep cycles batteries on board. Let's say the starting battery does not crank when I am in the middle of the lake (even though I charge with an on-board charger after every trip). Is there a way that I can jump the cranking battery using the deep cycles? Does anyone carry a portable power unit to jump the starting battery and if so what kind?

I hope this never happens but just want to plan for it.

Thanks

Lark

[Rodney Bledsoe]

I carry jumper cable in the boat, but before I put them in I've disconnected the cable from my trolling battery and hooked the motor up to it to get back to the ramp.

If you have a 24 or 36 volt trolling motor disconnect wires until you have one 12 volt battery to start the motor.

I know some people do carry portable jumpers. I'm sure someone will chime in on what they thinks the best model out there.

After several years on the lake expect any and everything.

[Dover]

good tip..thanks...

[Skeet'r89]

This topic was somewhat covered in the Tips forum. Also, you would not have to disconnect any cables from any trolling batteries to jump the cranking battery with jumper cables. Just be sure you only hook the cables up to one battery. That one battery will still only put out 12 volts across it's terminals.

[CajunBass]

"Back in the day" when I had a boat with a cranking battery, I made up a couple of jumpers with quick disconnects that I could just plug in to jump my starting battery off my trolling motor battery. Hook 'em up, fire the motor, disconnect them again.

[zippers]

OK word of warning my dealership got really mad off of me when I daisy chained the jump from my TM batteries. Make sure you are only jumping off of 1 12v battery! Unhook your sieries prior to jumping Something about an ECC computer chip that is really expensive going POOF

[Neilslure]

I have jumped more than once from a trolling battery. If your rear hatch doesnt have a lid lift make sure you keep something to hold the lid open. I keep a piece of PVC about 24 inches long.

[Superpro]

OK, so what is the final word, do you jump your cranking battery with or without disconnecting all of the wiring from the trolling motor battery if you have a 24/36v system?

[CatFan]

You don't have to disconnect the jumper on the TM batteries. Just connect to one battery.

A caveat is that if you have a ground wire connecting your cranking battery to the TM batteries for interference reduction, make sure you use the TM battery that has the ground wire hooked to it or you will be shorting out the first battery with your jumper cables. Always use the TM battery that has the jumper on its positive post.

[rayz379]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Superpro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">OK, so what is the final word, do you jump your cranking battery with or without disconnecting all of the wiring from the trolling motor battery if you have a 24/36v system? </TD></TR></TABLE>

OK here is the deal on this. Different ways to run TM batteries. It could be either way. You can produce 24V with two batteries for sending 24V to the TM in one shot or it could be 2-12V supplies to the TM plug and it is jumped there at the plug. I would say if you are not battery literate to know the difference, disconnect one of them so that you have one single 12volt battery to jump from. Note also that you may be required to have a wrench if the batteries were installed properly and have nuts rather then "wing nuts" holding the cables on.

[Explorer]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rayz379 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Note also that you may be required to have a wrench if the batteries were installed properly and have nuts rather then "wing nuts" holding the cables on. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Is it better to have Nut over the Wing Nut? Better connections?

Thanks

[Largemouthlou]

Lock nuts will not loosen up like wing nuts can!! Haven't had it happen to me yet but wing nuts can come loose from vibrations Louis

[BassRatt]

DISCONNECT TROLLING MOTOR WIRES BEFORE JUMPING THE CRANK BATTERY, END OF STORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rayz379]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Explorer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Is it better to have Nut over the Wing Nut? Better connections?

Thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

No use the lock nuts in place of the wing nuts

[CatFan]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BassRatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DISCONNECT TROLLING MOTOR WIRES BEFORE JUMPING THE CRANK BATTERY, END OF STORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Waste of time. No need whatsoever to disconnect them.

[G-Boat]

I'm running 4 batteries on my 36 volt system. A cranking battery and 3 dual-purpose TM batteries. I had the Gambler factory install a Perko switch between battery #3 and the cranking battery thus allowing #3 battery to start the big motor should the need arise.

[SkeeterJeff]

I've been fighting a problem with my cranking battery going dead while out on the water. I have a 24v TM and have jumped by crakning battery from ONE TM battery with no problems. Here is what I carry on my boat for this issue. Takes very little space and works great.



Bought 'em at Cracker Barrel to cary on my GoldWing when I was motorcycling. $10, great investment.

Hope that helps,
Jeff

P.S. 24 series cranking battery that tested good was replaced this week with a 27 series cranking battery. Both were 1000 MCA, but the new on has a 180 reserve capacity rating compared to the 135 reserve capacity rating on the 24 series. I'll get out this weekend and see if my problem is solved.

[Javelin389]

I always carry a set of cables on the water. You never know when you will need them.

[TRAVERS]

just had this happen to me the other day on mark twain lake. nice guys has cables and let me jump from tm batteries. i now have cables in my boat! if you have a newer boat you might have a pull start feature under cowl of motor! just make sure ignition is on run position. last resort type deal!!!

[duck27]

I see this horse has been beat to death and back again. I would like to jump in and say that any easy way to do this is to carry a rechargable jumper in the boat. When the cranking battery does not want to work just hook up the cables and fire the motor. Make sure you charger the jumper battery once a month. I had to use mine last week and had to let it sit connected for about 10 minutes because I did not charge it after I had jumped my lawn mower a few times.