Rewiring Ranger Livewells - help

[Avid Man]

I have 07 Ranger 520VX/Pro XS and want to move my livewell pump power from the start battery to one of the three trolling motor batteries to reduce draw on the start battery which presently supports electronics, engine, livewells, etc. I have already increased the size of my start battery to a 29 series.

I'm concerned the dash switches for the pumps will no longer work if the battery source is changed or this may cause problems I'm unaware of.

Has anyone done this before and how has it worked out?

Thanks.

[chris c]

Not trying to get in your business, but that is a bad idea...if you run those pumps all day, plus stay on the TM, your batteries aren't going to last. Get a bigger cranking battery.

[slimshad]

Would having a 36 volt battery setup for your trolling motor work with this situation anyway? I agree with the last guy, get a better cranking battery.

[strids97]

running the live well pumps off the trolling motor batteries is a bad idea. Your live well pumps only draw 3amps max on your cranking battery. Get a dual purpose cranking battery like the blue optima in the 29 size. at 3amps your live well pumps could run all day long and your battery would last about 6hrs of constant use. if your having power issues, if you have large GPS/Depth finders on your boat. Go get 10gauge wire, and run your GPS/Depth finders direct to your cranking battery instead of through the boats wiring system. Will draw less power (only because your not straining the electrical system running these big units through the boats wiring system) and will not lose voltage running on the boats smaller wires. (did this in my dad's 185 a little over a year ago works great) one other thing this accomplishes, is that when your live well pumps kick on, you won't see the power draw on your GPS/Depth finders like you do now. Otherwise, the other option is, buy another battery and put it next to the starting battery for all of your electronics and only use the cranking battery for the engine. Seen this many times in 520's at dealers and online.

[Avid Man]

Thanks for all your responses. I don't have room for a 5th battery. I have 3 29 series batteries for my trolling motor and have never run low on power there thus my thinking on connecting the LW pumps to one TM battery. I'm upgrading my electronics from (2) LMS 520s to either HB 998c SIs or Lowrance Gen 2 8"ers and I'm concerned with power draw on my start battery. (comments on HB vs Lowrance are welcome) There was mention in these posts that the pumps don't draw that much current and if so please provide more info. as to why connecting to one TM battery is a problem? Would there be an issue with the dash switches working if the LW pumps were connected to a TM battery?
The upgrade in wiring is a possibility.

My old aluminum 14 footer was so much easier but didn't handle tournament fishing very well!

[howieranger]

I take it from our post that you have rocker switches not a keypad for your electrics.
If that is the case go to the wiring diagram on the rigging compartment & find the positive feed to the livewell switch, disconnect the power lead & isolate it. Do the same with the ground side and then run power & ground from one of the trolling batteries to the switch. That said I have 4 31 series Decca AGM's and can fish all night without running the main motor with 2 HDS/structure scans, 4 Moon lights and often anchor light on.

[Avid Man]

Thank you howieranger. Yes, I have rocker switches. I have not measured spacing for a 31 series battery but maybe this will be something to seriously consider should I have issues. Thus far with my present set up everything is working fine BUT when I make the move to the new units with SI, I would rather have any issues addressed before hand. I don't want to kill fish nor come in late at tournament time.

You mentioned having HDS units, if I may ask, what was your reasoning in making this decision?

Thanks.

[Pole Bender]

I would not re-wire and go with the bigger cranking battery. I had problems a couple years ago when I went with new HDS units and structure scan. I replaced my cranking battery with a group 31 and have never had a problem since. I originally did this in a Z20 and last year when I bought a new Z519 I had the cranking battery upgraded to a group 31 and have not had a single problem running everything all day. You will need a new battery tray or you can cut one end off your current tray so the 31 will fit. Other then that you have plenty of room for a group 31. The 31 Deka is a good choice.

I have HDS units because I liked them better then the HB's after doing all my homework on both. You will need to do your homework and pick the units that are right for you.

[howieranger]

I went with the HDS because I felt that the regular sonar was better than the Hummingbird. The structure scan was not out when the boat was new but I assumed that Lowrance would produce a good unit. I fish with several guys with Birds and still have the same opinions.

[strids97]

here is another issue connecting the live well pumps to the TM batteries. If you have a 36V system for your Trolling motor. If you hook a 12VT live well pump to one of them since they are in series to make it 36V your hooking your live well pumps to 36V power which will fry them the moment you turn them on.

They don't draw much power 3amps max. If you hard wire your depth/GPS units with 10guage marine grade wire direct to your battery, you won't have power issues. Wiring them direct through the boats system it can't handle the power draw from the big systems...gauge wire is too small.

[howieranger]

STRIDE, Avid will only use one battery from the toller bank for 12 volts. The only problem is that the battery used will be discharged deeper than the other 2.

[strids97]

Doesn't matter if he uses one battery. All three batteries are wired in series so they produce 36V even if he only hooks it up to 1 battery.

[INDOCK]

If you are going to do this rewire job, please make sure you completly isolate the livewell pumps from any other 12v and ground sources at the console. Hooking the power and ground to one t.m. battery will only give you 12v, but there can always be a situation where 36v could back feed through the system, be careful which battery you hook to. I have seen 36v feed back in the early days when companies used three batteries for a 36v t.m. and used one for a starting and accs. battery, they would back feed 36v through all accs. and engine, and cooked it all!

[howieranger]

Even though the batteries are wired in series you can connect to just one battery for 12v just the same as having a 4 bank charger charging each individual battery. Also the automatic jumper system that Ranger instals just taps one battery for 12v for jumpstarting the cranking battery. Bass Cat for years installed 36v trolling motors with 3 batteries, 12v for cranking & 36v for the trolling motor without problems.