Forum Discussion

cbird02's avatar
cbird02
Explorer
Mar 08, 2021

Charging trolling motor battery while boondocking

I have a two-battery bank that is charged by a solar panel via the onboard Renogy controller. I have a trolling motor that is run by a 12v deep cycle 100ah battery. I have 2 similar deep cycle batteries in the bank. When I am off grid, I want to charge my trolling battery from the RV without using an inverter to plug in my normal AC-DC charger. What is the most efficient way to do this? Can I just hook up my trolling battery in parallel with the other two and the whole bank will then be charging? What if I want to make sure that my trolling motor is fully charged even if my coach batteries are not? Thx

Craig
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 08, 2021
    A second trolling battery can help - use one while charging the other one.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Mar 08, 2021
    CA Traveler wrote:
    cbird02 wrote:
    I have a two-battery bank that is charged by a solar panel via the onboard Renogy controller. I have a trolling motor that is run by a 12v deep cycle 100ah battery. I have 2 similar deep cycle batteries in the bank. When I am off grid, I want to charge my trolling battery from the RV without using an inverter to plug in my normal AC-DC charger. What is the most efficient way to do this? Can I just hook up my trolling battery in parallel with the other two and the whole bank will then be charging? Yes What if I want to make sure that my trolling motor is fully charged even if my coach batteries are not? Disconnect the house batteries so all of the charge will be goint to the trolling motor battery. Thx

    Craig

    x2
    just charge the TM battery, unless you have a monster of a solar charger it will have trouble keeping a TM battery charged fully.
    bumpy
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Mar 08, 2021
    “What if I want to make sure that my trolling motor is fully charged even if my coach batteries are not?”

    If you have room on the RV’s roof I suggest a separate solar system specifically for the fishing battery.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 08, 2021
    Just realized Renogy mothership is just down the street from my RV storage.
    I might have to stop in and check them out. :)
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 08, 2021
    cbird02 wrote:
    I have a two-battery bank that is charged by a solar panel via the onboard Renogy controller. I have a trolling motor that is run by a 12v deep cycle 100ah battery. I have 2 similar deep cycle batteries in the bank. When I am off grid, I want to charge my trolling battery from the RV without using an inverter to plug in my normal AC-DC charger. What is the most efficient way to do this? Can I just hook up my trolling battery in parallel with the other two and the whole bank will then be charging? Yes What if I want to make sure that my trolling motor is fully charged even if my coach batteries are not? Disconnect the house batteries so all of the charge will be goint to the trolling motor battery. Thx

    Craig

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