Starting Battery/Lights/Trolling Motor/Depth Finder/ Livewell?

[riverrat56]

Ok, a question on what would you guys do, I have 2 batteries in the back of my boat, both are combination deep cycle and cranking, so neighter is really a strong favorite for the starter. But what would you hook up to each on, everything but the trolling motor on one?

Lights, Livewell, and depthfind must go together as that is how the wiring is set up, but should the starter go with those or the trolling motor?

[Surface Tension]

Add the tolling motor to the list and see if you get any interference on the sounder. I've only had one trolling motor out of half a dozen throw off interference.

If it does then see if you can get the sounder on the starting battery.

[iffy]

I'd hook the trolling motor to a battery by itself. Everything else to the other battery.

[Surface Tension]

You really don't want anything that has a slow and continuous draw on a starting battery. It'll shorten the life of the battery in no time.

What size outboard do you have? Its not recommended to use a deep cycle for a starting battery but I've been doing it for years and I haven't noticed anything. Just something to consider when you have to replace the starting battery.

[riverrat56]

I've got a 40 hp outboard, right now I have everything on the starting battery except the trolling motor, I'll try that for now. The trolling motor battery is a deep cycle, I hadn't looked before my last post, was thinking of the old battery.

[BobT]

For years while I had my Lund Rebel with a 40hp Evinrude, I used one combination deep cycle/starting battery for all my electrical needs including: Outboard motor starter, stern mounted 36lb electric trolling motor, navigation lights, interior lights, bilge pump, livewell pump, and sonar.

My outboard did not have a functional generator, alternator, or other charging system. It was rare that my battery got too low to start the outboard but even when it did, it was so easy to start by hand I wasn't concerned. I could do it without getting out of my seat. When it did get too low to turn over the engine, there was still enough power to run the other electronics.

I never had any problems with electrical noise on my sonar either.

As already stated, the best option is to use a starting battery for the outboard and a deep cycle for the rest but were I in your situation I would dedicate one battery for the electric motor and the other for everything else. Lights, sonar, and livewell are not heavy power drains on the batteries. At best, you could put the livewell on the battery with the electric motor if you're concerned about being able to start the outboard.

Bob