Batteries, Chargers ETC

[Pat Dilling]

I wanted to share this with you, it is a little long.

I believe I have our Nitro Z-19 well sorted as far as batteries and chargers are concerned.  I replaced Interstate Group 31 AGM that came with the boat with an Odyssey Group 31 AGM.  The original Interstate wet cell group 31 trolling batteries were getting tired after 3 plus years and 250+ cycles. I have a 24v Minnkota Ultrex.  I decded to bite the bullet and got two 50Ah Ionic Lithium batteries.  The cost was not that much more than AGMs and the long life seemed like a good value.  Bonus is they only weigh 12 pounds each and take up half the space. I love the blue tooth connection to monitor their state of charge.  I have 2 chargers.  The previous generation NOCO Genius 3 bank 30 amp charger that came on the boat and a Stealth 1 DC Charger.  I have two banks of the NOCO going to my cranking battery for 20 amps of full and fast charging.  The 3rd bank is unused and taped off.  The Stealth 1 charger is a DC charger powered by the cranking battery.  It charges my two Ionic Lithium trolling motor batteries.  It charges the batteries via the starting battery whether I have the NOCO plugged in or via the gas motor alternator when I am driving down the lake.  It only charges if the cranking battery has sufficient charge.  This combination is awesome.  I just got back from a 4 day fishing trip where I fished from 6 to 10 hours per day.  I never plugged my NOCO charger in to charge the batteries and just relied on the Stealth 1.  When I got home, I checked the batteries state of charge.  Trolling motor battery #1 had 86% charge and #2 had 84%.  That is after four days of fishing! I ran the Mercury 200 4 stroke around the lake enough to burn 18 gallons of gas.  With a set up like this, I never have to worry about where I will be able to plug in on a trip.  And if I do ever run the batteries down in the wind or current, I can fire up the gas motor and run around the lake some to give them a charge.  When the Odyssey gives up, I will probably go back to Ionic for their 125 Ah cranking battery.

[apenland01]

That's a nice setup!  I have an X2 for my cranking battery and 2 X2 for my trolling motor.  I went with an Ionic 125ah for my house battery that runs my electronics.  As the X2's die off, they are getting replaced with lithiums as well.

I upgraded to the newest NOCO GenPro 10x4, since it charges lithiums.  I'm not familiar with the Stealth 1, so I'll check it out...

[Mike Cork]

I'm so ready to pull the trigger on something like this... Just got to get all the kids and grandkids out of the house first... Eggs, Milk and cereal oh my....

[J.W.]

Pat, if you're waiting on that Odyssey to die before replacing it, it will probably be a while before it gives up the ghost. Those are excellent batteries, even though they are heavier. I've run these in my vehicles exclusively for years now.

[Pat Dilling]

Pat, if you're waiting on that Odyssey to die before replacing it, it will probably be a while before it gives up the ghost. Those are excellent batteries, even though they are heavier. I've run these in my vehicles exclusively for years now.

They are good batteries for sure.  I am in no hurry to replace it.  If I do go lithium, I will have to update my Stealth 1 charger too.