Battery Problem????

[DEdwards]

Well the first of June fishing a tournament and had the livewells running all day. Turn the key for blast off and boat would not start, not enough juice! We trollmotor to a marina and buy a new crank battery. I had a 24 series that I assume went bad and at the marina I bought a 24 series. Yes after research I understand that is not enough.

I go to Walmart and purchase a 30 series battery thinking I got the problem licked. Well fishing a Kids tournament (7-12) I am at our last spot trying to cull and my boat doesn't start again!!!!!!!! I am at a loss where to look now. Electroincs that I have running during this time period are two aerorators, X28hd and a X37C that I leave on the whole time. AM i PULLING TO MANY AMPS???? Or do I need to look elsewhere?

[Lea]

You need a MINIMUM of 1000 CCA for that motor. Not sure what CCA is on the batteries you purchased. Of couse, that may not be the issue, but thought I would throw that into the mix...

[Skip]

Jumper cables. I keep a set in my boat.

[DEdwards]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Skip &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Jumper cables. I keep a set in my boat. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Skip I have a set of boat jumper cables but I still could not jump the motor. I wonder if the cables are too small because they aren't like car jumper cables. Does it matter the gauge on jumper cables????

[JackJ]

One of my fellow club members had the same problem the last tourney and it took two boats hooked to his one battery to get it started. Jumping from one boat to another wasn't enough. (His trolling motor batteries were dead so he couldnt jump from them).

[Skip]

I've only had to use them once and I jumped from my trollin motor batt's. The cables I use are heavy duty auto cables. I have them just in case a vehicle needs a crank. Don't know if the cables make a difference. Nothing worse that being dead in the water.

[Lea]

Dennis, Is this the first time you have had this issue since you have had the boat?

Same exact circumstances and load on the battery, I mean?

[DEdwards]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lea &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dennis, Is this the first time you have had this issue since you have had the boat?

Same exact circumstances and load on the battery, I mean?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well just the same issue twice this month but never a problem before. I think I am going to have to check my battery charger as it had blown a fuse the first time. Maybe that is the bigger issue here because I have not had a problem before and now all of a sudden I get hit 2x. I'm pretty sure my new battery should have plenty of juice but then again it is a Walmart battery and maybe a bad battery. I just didn't know if anyone else had this issue before.

[bobbymc]

You may have grass or trash wrapped around one of the pump motors causing it to draw higher amps.

[DEdwards]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobbymc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You may have grass or trash wrapped around one of the pump motors causing it to draw higher amps. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Pulled the batteries last week, my auto bilged kept getting stuck and I cleared a piece of foam from it. Other than that it was clean as a whistle.

[HaulinBass]

Dennis, this may sound lame but, you did check to make sure the connections are good? Because I once ran a battery down (old batt), jumped it over immediately with a TM batt and run of the mill jumper cables I keep in the boat. I run all day with Pro-Guide 1050CA/800CCA 24m wet cells, no problems.

[ChampioNman]

I would check the motor's charging system to make sure it is up to snuff.

[Lea]

I agree with Fred.( ) Checking the charging system sounds like a good idea....

I'd also check the charger itself, since you say it has blown a fuse....

[Tx Champ]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ChampioNman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would check the motor's charging system to make sure it is up to snuff. </TD></TR></TABLE>

+1

[centexcop]

Gauge size defiantly makes a difference. If you buy a cheap pair from walmart or an auto parts store, you connect them and might have to wait several minutes to get enough amps into the battery to start it. A larger gauge, such as a 4 or maybe as large as some 2 gauge welding leads will work much better. With the larger gauge, you connect them and they will transfer the amps and voltage to the battery very quickly.

The smaller jumper cables probably got hot very quick and lost their effectiveness.

You can make a good pair very easy buy buying some bulk welding leads and four clamps. They'll be much better than most of the cables you can buy premade.

[Lea]

Good idea to make jumper cables like that. I have a light pair in the boat...might need to upgrade!!!