Drill2Fish Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 What is the most practical way to charge my two trolling batteries while out camping in ENP??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted December 8, 2015 Report Share Posted December 8, 2015 STEALTH Ac/Dc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 solar charger generator Or get the stealth or minn kota ac/dc system and never worry about it again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drill2Fish Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Hmmmmmmm this explains a few things. I went to the web site (stealth1charging.com/) and did some research online for this thing. I have been replacing my trolling batteries ( gr 31 AGMS) after 2-3 years but not the starting battery – also gr 31AGM( has lasted 6+years-so far). The info below (from website) explains why: The WHY Do you ever wonder why your expensive marine batteries don’t last as long as your considerably less-expensive automobile battery? We learned from our survey that the average fisherman is buying a new set of batteries every two years; however, the car battery lasts up to five years, and its manufacturer even guarantees that it will! The answer is simple: DEEP CYCLE! In other words, deep-cycle discharging is the phenomenon responsible for your batteries’ not lasting longer. Simply eliminating the deep-cycle discharging greatly lengthens the life of the batteries. Although this was actually the starting idea for R&D of the STEALTH 1 DC, we have subsequently found that the STEALTH 1 DC has another important benefit: It extends a boat’s stay on the water (which equals more fishing time)! Some of our customers consider this more important than eliminating deep-cycle degradation. How much does the STEALTH 1 DC extend one’s stay on the water? With adequate output from the alternator: indefinitely! Hard to believe? You had better believe it! The key is in the word “adequate.†If the energy output from your engine is adequate for its usage in the trolling system, you are covered. Usage of energy, of course, depends on your trolling skill, habit, and conditions on the water. Don’t take me wrong; I am not trying to play with words. There are just too many variables. If you run down the lake for three minutes, trolling four hours in difficult conditions, and run back, there is no way to replenish your trolling batteries. However, if you did a few three-minute runs during those four hours, you would still have power and eliminate deep discharge. Got the idea? It's simply a matter of physics What follows are A few diagrams to help you visually understand the STEALTH 1 TECHNOLOGY abilities . Fig.1 Six hour voltage record of 24VDC trolling (system) batteries during a fishing tournament in extreme conditions. The engine during this event runs four times, the longest run was about fifteen minutes. As you can see, the voltage stays above 24VDC 90% of the time. At tournaments end the batteries were actually higher than at the beginning. With the STEALTH 1 Technology deep discharge is limited and the charge provided keeps the batteries toned for maximum response.Therefore charging to near 100% of capacity in this R&D graph by just running the engine. Fig.2 In this lab example of the STEALTH 1 DC performance, four hours of cycling (charge and discharge) 24VDC system were recorded. The charging cycle is 4 min... discharge 11 min... @ 5A. Again, as you can see the base line is solid on 24.3VDC. How often do you run your trolling motor for 11 minutes nonstop? Fig.3 The same test, same timing as in Fig.2. This time without the support of the STEALTH 1 DC charger. The results are obvious. In four hours the trolling batteries have dropped 0.8VDC. Seems like a lot? You bet it is! Remember, the discharge current was only 5Amp, but a 24VDC trolling motor is capable of consuming five times that! In another four hours, the batteries would have dropped to 20VDC (10VDC per battery) and that's when the damage becomes DRASTIC. The small spikes are voltage readings when the load is off and both batteries naturally increase its voltage. Fig.4 On this graph, we zoomed a little beyond one single cycle. This time the discharge cycle was 32 minutes nonstop. Again with a 5Amp load. The batteries potentially dropped from 27.2VDC down to 24.2VDC. After disconnecting the load and starting the STEALTH 1 DC, the battery was back up to its original level in 14 minutes. Remember, the STEALTH 1 System is working with the physics of the batteries to heat compensate and to rejuvenate a batteries performance. The technology consists of the original Stealth 1 DC but now also has the Stealth 1 AC charging component, the Stealth 1 Digital Gauge for no guessing and the new Tow Package giving 40 amps while your pulling to and from your location charging all the batteries. So nobody will have an excuse to be caught dead in the water. So THANK YOU guys. You solved my problem and my other problem- I didn’t even know I had!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 okay - but where can you buy them? I pulled up the site to get an idea of the price, but am coming up blank. What would I need for a 2 battery 24V set up (Group 27 blue tops)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conocean Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Stealth ac/dc all the way! It's great piece of mind. I've had that system in two Mavericks and I highly recommend it for anyone that prefers to never worry about their batteries going dead. The only time I ever plug in my boat is when it sits for more than a few weeks which rarely ever happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernieNC Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 okay - but where can you buy them? I pulled up the site to get an idea of the price, but am coming up blank. What would I need for a 2 battery 24V set up (Group 27 blue tops)? Order straight form them. Call the number on the web page and ask all your questions. Get the "Max Pack" w/ the gauge which allows you to monitor both your 12v and 24v (or 36v) systems. If you do some preplanning it can be ordered/built with all the wires at the lengths you need. A couple years ago the package was around $550 made to your specifications with a 3/4 week lead time. A little high but worth every dime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thanks Bernie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drill2Fish Posted December 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Call or email them [image]http://[/image] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 My biggest issue was the website, in my opinion it's pretty bad. I decided to go Minn Kota. Minn kota makes the exact same system now that stealth does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Minnkota DOES NOT compare at all. I've sold Hundreds of Stealth units and sold very few MinnKota. There is a reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted December 9, 2015 Report Share Posted December 9, 2015 Minnkota DOES NOT compare at all. I've sold Hundreds of Stealth units and sold very few MinnKota. There is a reason That reason is because everyone knows about stealth and no one knows about minn kota making a DC charger. Your website also only mentions stealth 1 chargers, and has no mention of minn kota chargers, let alone the DC ones. I truly think its just a thing of people not knowing How many here that recommended stealth knew minn kota makes the same thing? I didnt until i happened to go on the website and see it. Minn kota has barely advertised it, and stealth is what everyone has heard of over the past several years. I was going to buy the stealth because its all id ever heard, but when i went on the website i thought it was the wrong one. The guys over there build a great charger, but an awful website (gives me a headache trying to read a page long paragraph). Then while browsing minn kota i realized they made they same thing, and at a good price. For those who didnt know, here it is: http://www.minnkotamotors.com/Battery-Chargers/On-Board-Chargers/DC-Alternator-Chargers/ If you would like to decipher stealth 1's website and compare the specs it would be nice, then it would be a fair comparison. I just cant do it! :crazy: Everything on my boat is Johnson Outdoors and its served me well, so i trust minn kota would make the dc charger to the same quality specifcations and put out a good product. My guess is their R and D budget is a bit higher than stealth, which in theory "usually" translates to a superior product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplec Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 Stealth for sure! If you have any doubt call Stealth...and then call MK. Matter of fact I would say call him at Stealth anyway. Wealth of knowledge and I didn't even buy my Stealth from him and he knew that. He still spent an hour on the phone and another one later on the install. 24/7 the owner of Stealth answers the phone...and knows whats wrong if there should be a problem. Run lots of JO products but the information and tech support can't touch Stealth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 The Minnkota is good, But it is not a Stealth. They are not exactly the same. The Minnkota will not charge batteries as fast as the Stealth. Worked with both products for a long time to know. You cant go wrong with either product, especially trying to accomplish what Drill2fish originally asked in the begging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 What are the charging specs on the stealth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 A/C or D/C? A/C is 20 amps, 10 amps per bank. D/C depends on what motor charging system output is. So that would depend on year and make of your outboard. Call Danny and have him explain it. He is a great guy , BUT likes to talk when asked about the product. LOL He is a one man band when it comes to his product and sells a lot of units with out the aid of his website. Yes, it should be updated, I've said the same before. Like I said before, both great products. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 So any other ideas, besides charge on the run. Solar won't work well, the only time I would be off the boat would be at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 The Wind or small suit case generator. The chargers are not very big in most though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linesider 159 Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 Im no wiring expert like Inshore Marine, and i understand this isnt some great idea, but what about just swapping the motor cables between the 2 trolling batteries? Having the cranking battery sitting idle as a spare? I know it isnt the best because they are left at charge levels that are completely even, and deep cycles arent that good at cranking, but besides whats been listed or bringing extra batteries, im just not sure there is much else. Last time i was camping i killed the cranking by leaving a pump on all night. To recharge i started the motor and let the motor charge the cranking while we sat around the campfire. That or have the solar charger out on top of the console most of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drill2Fish Posted December 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 This Stealth dc charger sounds like the real deal. I ordered one- did not have to order the Max pack which comes with both ac&dc chargers- Danny said I could keep my Guest 30A charger to plug in at night.So I just bought the DC package which comes with the gauge ($430.00). My AGMs will usually give me 2 full days of fishing without a charge- I have 3 identical gr31 bats-one house + 2 trolling(1000CCA)plenty good for cranking! I can easily switch from 1 to 2 but will not charge enough to be useful. I have a 6A guest charger that I could plug into an 800W gas generator (21lbs). The best other option would be a 2000W generator to plug into my Guest on-board AC charger- these have enough amps to do the job unlike the smaller 800W generators but weigh 50+ lbs and are toooo big. NOT PRACTICAL. Going to be camping @ ENP 12/28-12/31. Will install and field test and give an honest report when and if I return :susel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 You could take the Neg and Pos from the engine and hook up directly to each battery. IMPORTANT!! POS AND NEG GOING TO THE SAME BATTERY and let the motor run. DO NOT PUT NEG ON ONE BATTERY AND POS ON THE OTHER. BOTH MUST BE TO SAME BATTERY. DO NOT DO NOT DO. Its not worth the trouble UNLESS YOU ARE Stranded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InshoreMarSpec Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 You will not need the generator except to keep the fan rolling for the mosquitos. Remember, heavy use on batteries and a short run will not bring batteries all the way up. with Stealth DC, EVERY 10 minutes of running equals a 1 hour charge time. This is where the Stealth kicks ars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilemaker Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 On this site you hear most about stealth dc and some minnkota but there is another option and that is the YANDINA system that you will see on the b*** websites. YANDINA.com I have used it for years and like it. All in all any dc system is dependent on the motors output. AC chargers bring up a whole different discussion especially for AGM batteries. If possible I would have a small generator as it can provide for more than just charging the batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conocean Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 You may not want to bring a generator. The noise travels quite far (even with the small Hondas) and you will likely be reported if other campers (esp canoers & yakkers) hear it run. I believe the fine is quite steep ($500?). Someone I know paid that fine and he's been "blacklisted" by the rangers ever since. Besides, are you really "wilderness camping" if you bring a generator? Here is a link to the wilderness planner in case you haven't already read the regs: ENP Wilderness Trip Planner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted December 11, 2015 Report Share Posted December 11, 2015 Charge on the run is the best way. But I like the little generator idea, of course I wouldn't run it if there is anyone else around. When I think wilderness camping I think all alone for miles and miles. I think having a good charged TM is important while in ENP. I broke down one time, way way back in a little creek. Couldn't afford a TM and TM's weren't popular back then, no push pole either. The only way out back to a main channel to find help, was to throw the anchor ahead and pull the boat to it, then repeat a thousand times. Good news, I was about 18 so I had plenty of energy, bad news being 18 is what got me in that predicament....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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