Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

How to charge batteries when lake is down?


carlcmc

Question

I have a Cabelas Prosport 3 battery onboard charger. When I take fishing trips, I leave my boat in the lake at the dock for the cabin and run an electrical cord along the dock to the boat to keep it charged over night.

The lake we are going to this year (North Long near Baxter) is down considerably. I may end up having the boat out a ways from shore line. Any ideas of keeping the batteries charged besides the tedious option of every evening carrying batteries and charger up to the garage to charge? Any way to run the cords (safely) through shallow water (or keep the connections points out of the water) to where the boat will be?

Thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • 0

I'm no electrician but I've seen plenty of resorts that run extension cords right through the water, plugs and connections and all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

If you run an extension anywhere near water make sure it's protected with a GFI. Assuming you use a decent extension cord with a good sheath and keep the connections dry you should be fine. If you're using a very long cord or multiple long cords you should consider steping up a guage (say use a 10ga cord instead of a 12ga).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

#1 extension cords by water are dangerious!

#2 I believe running a ext. cord is illeagle for sure on public property,and a inspecter can ticket you on your own property for this,It does'nt meet code.they most likly dont look for it, but if reported they will.Also hope your insured just in case!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

#1 extension cords by water are dangerious!

#2 I believe running a ext. cord is illeagle for sure on public property,and a inspecter can ticket you on your own property for this,It does'nt meet code.they most likly dont look for it, but if reported they will.Also hope your insured just in case!


I see a lot of boat lifts that use electric winches, they have to run cords for those. Not sure on the public property, but, private they should not be able to say anything. Just make sure you have a GFI.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

thanks for all the replies. I may try to make sure i have a portable gfi outlet/strip and plug in the 200 yards of extension cord.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

To be safe you could always take the battery out and charge it on shore where its safe!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

the only problem is the batter charger is screwed in and mounted, the numerous cables bolts and washers for the batteries, and the fact the batteries weigh greater than 50 lbs a piece it seems. At the end of a day of fishing, that doesn't sound that appealing to carry those all to the shore line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Stmichael.Call your local inspector,underground rated wire,depth differs but min.18" I believe,single breaker off main box GFI rated,safty receptical GFI at dock.thats on my property I'm thinking of power to dock to charge batteries,I found this out 2yrs. ago!Havent done it dont want to fish the wire up through house to connect to main breaker box and 200ft. of digging.I put batteries in wheelborrow.got 3 so ones always charged

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Your call I guess. It's a PITA for me as well at my lake place, but I still carry 'em back and forth. I would be pretty concerned anytime you are submerging hot electrical lines in water though.

What happens if the cord is nicked (invisible to you), or it's somehow cut. The problem is that the risk extends to anyone in the general vicinity in the water. I've heard horror stories though and suddenly the sore back doesn't sound so bad!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

thanks for all the replies. I may try to make sure i have a portable gfi outlet/strip and plug in the 200 yards of extension cord.


Going to lose a lot running current through 200 yards of extension cord, might not get a decent charge. For 50 bucks you can buy a deep cycle battery charger. Better to be safe then sorry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

#1 extension cords by water are dangerious!

#2 I believe running a ext. cord is illeagle for sure on public property,and a inspecter can ticket you on your own property for this,It does'nt meet code.they most likly dont look for it, but if reported they will.Also hope your insured just in case!


#1 seems to me I recall hearing (last year??) about a couple of people that were shocked badly by an extension cord in the water up around Alexandria, MN.

Definitely GFI if near water....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Might be easier to put it on the trailer and just pull it to the house vs. R&R batteries plus associated hauling/handling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Just a random, probably stupid thought here.............

Is there any way to run a wire from your boat motor to these batteries so they would charge off of the motor just like the starting battery?

I am guessing that the generator or whatever is used on an outboard to charge the battery may not be powerfull enough to charge multiple batteries?

What do you guys think? Am I onto something or just on something?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

Stmichael.Call your local inspector,underground rated wire,depth differs but min.18" I believe,single breaker off main box GFI rated,safty receptical GFI at dock.thats on my property I'm thinking of power to dock to charge batteries,I found this out 2yrs. ago!Havent done it dont want to fish the wire up through house to connect to main breaker box and 200ft. of digging.I put batteries in wheelborrow.got 3 so ones always charged


I understand that you would want the proper hook up if it was a constant issue. But, what he wants to do is run a temporary cord out to the dock, maybe, only overnight.. it will not be left permanently, this is the only reason I said to make sure there is a GFI. Since he will be running the extension cord he will be able to look for nicks, also, the extension cord will be on top of the ground so it will be visible for all to see and be aware of. But, like I said, this is only overnight. not to be left plugged in 24/7.

I may still be wrong, but, if you take some safety precautions as far as having the right gage cord and proper protection (GFI) 99.999% of the time you are going to be safe... There are always going to be some risks that need to be taken, but, having yourself protected (GFI) can make your mind at ease. GFI fails then there are other issues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

i prefer the onboard charger because of the charge, pause, trickle cycle of them. at 120 bucks a pop for 3 batteries, i don't want to shorten their life.

I wonder if there is a way or need to enclose or wrap the connection points of the electrical cords. Who knows, I may be worrying about nothing and the water level may come back up.

I could get some kind of stand to hold the connection point between two electrical cords out of the water. I could buy brand new 100 ft extension cords of heavy gauge to minimize problems. If I had to dismount the entire setup every day and mount it every morning that would be probably 30 minutes every morning and every evening. I get winded carrying them just 50 yards. *sigh* I really hope and prefer it would work just to run the cord.

Last year, I could pull up to my brother-in-laws cabin and run a cord along the dock and across the grass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Once again, I am not an electrician.

But when I've asked about cords in the water, including plugs and connections, what I've been told is the copper in the wire is a better electrical conductor than the water, and the electricity follows the path of least resistance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I was assuming that there would was a dock involved, just further out... blush.gif

I take back all I have said. If I were you I would trailer the boat back to the cabin and charge them safely. It may not be the most time consuming choice to do it, but, there are definite safety issues. That is what I would do. You could get a duck or a goose come flying in and knock the cord off the stands.

I apologize to all...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

:-)

Yes. I guess if after the 3rd week of july i don't post anymore on here you'll know not to try the same thing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

there is a dock involved, just that the owner says that the water level may require leaving the boat out a way from the end of the dock. This may be 10 feet of 50 yards. Won't know till i get there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

i would not recommend 200 yards of extention cord period and yes i am a electrician, but thats not the reason, you would need one heck off a cord to beable to do that, doesnt make sense to me, also very expensive for that much cord, reguardless of being gfi which it has to be, the voltage drop would be a bit dont noe off the top of my head, but that would affect your chargers operation as well, long story short just trailer it if needed and play it safe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I used my coleman generator to charge mine. I have a road between my dock and the cabin so I have sort of the same issue. I just start the gen up on the dock and connect the 15amp batt chrg port on the gen to my starting/accessory batt and then plug the 110 on the gen into the bank of two for the trolling motor up front.

LM

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

How about buying a solar charger? Then it would be charging as you are using it on the water!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

How about buying a solar charger? Then it would be charging as you are using it on the water!


I bought a solar charger for my pontoon last year. The motor is old, has electric start but no alternator so if I did a lot of starting it didn't have much left after a couple of days. It works fine now with weekend outings, as it recharges during the week. I don't think it would work well for trolling motor batteries though because solar charging is slow; not at all during darkness and limited on cloudy days. You'd use a lot more power than the charger would provide. I'm curious to see what happens over the winter. I left the charger hooked to the battery in the pontoon outside. I've left batteries in unheated sheds for lots of years (in tractors that don't get started all winter, for example). As long as they're charged in the fall and there's no drain on them, they've been fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I would urge caution also. Several years ago a guy that my wife worked with in Annandale was electrocuted and killed by the extension cord that was run to the motor on the boat lift he was moving. Hust not worth it!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Solar chargers put out so little charge you'd need to invest more money into solar than the cost of a small generator and the generator could be put to other uses,and it would charge over night.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

If you are running 110V 200 yards, the voltage drop will cause your charger to not even work. Most onboard chargers shut down if supplied with less than about 85-90 volts AC (per Bass & Walleye Boat magazine testing last year).

Even if you had extension cords made from 10 gauge wire, and the actual voltage at the resort was 110v (most actually run about 102-108v)the voltage drop from a 600 foot run assuming you have a 30 amp (10/10/10) charger would only give you 76.6 volts. Even if your charger did work, it would not give you a full charge.

Along with that, NEVER run an extension cord IN the water. Water and electricity NEVER mix well. Think toaster in the bathtub!

Glenn

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

*sigh*

Doing things the easy way doesn't seem to be an option.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Quote:

Even if you had extension cords made from 10 gauge wire, and the actual voltage at the resort was 110v (most actually run about 102-108v)the voltage drop from a 600 foot run assuming you have a 30 amp (10/10/10) charger would only give you 76.6 volts.


Your calculation is wrong, very, very wrong. A 10/10/10 charger does not draw 30 amps. You won't find a 120V30A circuit anywhere near a boat dock for plugging in a charger. If you look at the specs for a 10/10/10 charger (say a Guest), you'll find that maximum current draw is 7.5A . Calculating a voltage drop over 600' yields 4.6V for a 10AWG wire, 7.3V for 12AWG which isn't very much at all. The charger will work fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.