Do I have enough spare amps?

bbb · 08-05-2008, 10:00 AM

Alright I have the honda 2000 running 6 hps lights with the 55 capacitors. I have a 12v trolling motor on the front of the boat. Can I runthe battery cables from the 12v outlet on the generator to the trolling motor battery?

It says theoutput on the plug is 8amps.

Flounderpounder · 08-05-2008, 10:41 AM

Hmmm.... good question! I'm no expert, and can't help w/the total amps question, but my guess is it could possibly boil the battery (overcharge). It'd be OK if you first partially ran it down, but a meter would be a good safety measure and let you know the state of the battery (I had a Minn Kota TM with a built in meter on my last boat). Do you have an onboard charger? If you could run that off the 110 outlet, I'd be more confident doing it that way, as those chargers (Guest, Minn Kota, etc.) have the built in automatic protection curcuitry, plus if you are near full charge, you won't be pulling much power. I'm curious to hear other (more knowledgible) opinions! Let us know what you decide on and how it works!

FlounderAssassin · 08-05-2008, 12:03 PM

do you know how many amps you are pulling once the lights heat up??? and do you know how many amps the 12v socket on your generator puts out? when i first switched to generator and halogens i wanted to be able to charge my TM battery because it would only last about 3 hrs with a full charge. but instead of doing that i went a different route. the battery i had was getting weak (old) so i replaced it with 2 batteries. hooked up series (i believe that is correct...but im always getting series/parrell mixed up so correct me if im wrong) where i have 2 batteries but still only putting out 12v. TM runs just as strong after 4-5 hrs of trolling as it does when i first start out.

Telum Pisces · 08-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

FlounderAssassin (8/5/2008)do you know how many amps you are pulling once the lights heat up??? and do you know how many amps the 12v socket on your generator puts out? when i first switched to generator and halogens i wanted to be able to charge my TM battery because it would only last about 3 hrs with a full charge. but instead of doing that i went a different route. the battery i had was getting weak (old) so i replaced it with 2 batteries. hooked up series (i believe that is correct...but im always getting series/parrell mixed up so correct me if im wrong) where i have 2 batteries but still only putting out 12v. TM runs just as strong after 4-5 hrs of trolling as it does when i first start out.

Correction below.:letsdrink

Parallel = double the Amps, same voltage

Series = Double the voltage, same Amps

FlounderAssassin · 08-05-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Telum Piscis (8/5/2008)

Quote:

FlounderAssassin (8/5/2008)do you know how many amps you are pulling once the lights heat up??? and do you know how many amps the 12v socket on your generator puts out? when i first switched to generator and halogens i wanted to be able to charge my TM battery because it would only last about 3 hrs with a full charge. but instead of doing that i went a different route. the battery i had was getting weak (old) so i replaced it with 2 batteries. hooked up series (i believe that is correct...but im always getting series/parrell mixed up so correct me if im wrong) where i have 2 batteries but still only putting out 12v. TM runs just as strong after 4-5 hrs of trolling as it does when i first start out.

Correction below.:letsdrink

Parallel = double the Amps, same voltage

Series = Double the voltage, same Amps

see...i knew i would get it backwords! :banghead oh well atleast i hooked it up right! :letsdrink

bbb · 08-05-2008, 12:39 PM

Well I do have a 2/10/50 amp charger I can hook up from the generator. Just didn't want anymore trip and fall devices in the bottom of the boat.

X-Shark · 08-05-2008, 12:39 PM

A trolling motor can draw 50amps. You can burn the generator up.

I run my 12V TM with 2-GP29's in parallel. It also goes thru a 50amp CB to the TM.

Midnight Rider · 08-05-2008, 11:11 PM

Somthing to think about!!!!! I have the honda 1000 watt on my boat. The owners manual says anytime you are using the plug for charging batteries you need to turn the switch on the generator from auto idle to manual idle. Thus you will be listening to your generator run balls to the wall all night. I did as Flounder Assassin did and have 2 batteries dedicated for the trolling motor.

Gnwdad · 08-06-2008, 03:17 AM

I can't speak on the amps, but I run a 2 bank 10 amp on board charger all the time and it does not make a noticable difference on the generator.

08-05-2008, 10:00 AM	#1
bbb Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 107	Do I have enough spare amps? Alright I have the honda 2000 running 6 hps lights with the 55 capacitors. I have a 12v trolling motor on the front of the boat. Can I runthe battery cables from the 12v outlet on the generator to the trolling motor battery? It says theoutput on the plug is 8amps. __________________

08-05-2008, 10:41 AM	#2
Flounderpounder Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Garcon Point Posts: 1,301	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? Hmmm.... good question! I'm no expert, and can't help w/the total amps question, but my guess is it could possibly boil the battery (overcharge). It'd be OK if you first partially ran it down, but a meter would be a good safety measure and let you know the state of the battery (I had a Minn Kota TM with a built in meter on my last boat). Do you have an onboard charger? If you could run that off the 110 outlet, I'd be more confident doing it that way, as those chargers (Guest, Minn Kota, etc.) have the built in automatic protection curcuitry, plus if you are near full charge, you won't be pulling much power. I'm curious to hear other (more knowledgible) opinions! Let us know what you decide on and how it works!

08-05-2008, 12:03 PM	#3
FlounderAssassin Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cantonment, FL Posts: 2,262	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? do you know how many amps you are pulling once the lights heat up??? and do you know how many amps the 12v socket on your generator puts out? when i first switched to generator and halogens i wanted to be able to charge my TM battery because it would only last about 3 hrs with a full charge. but instead of doing that i went a different route. the battery i had was getting weak (old) so i replaced it with 2 batteries. hooked up series (i believe that is correct...but im always getting series/parrell mixed up so correct me if im wrong) where i have 2 batteries but still only putting out 12v. TM runs just as strong after 4-5 hrs of trolling as it does when i first start out.

08-05-2008, 12:39 PM	#6
bbb Senior Member Mingo Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 107	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? Well I do have a 2/10/50 amp charger I can hook up from the generator. Just didn't want anymore trip and fall devices in the bottom of the boat. __________________

08-05-2008, 12:39 PM	#7
X-Shark Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola, Fl. Posts: 3,031	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? A trolling motor can draw 50amps. You can burn the generator up. I run my 12V TM with 2-GP29's in parallel. It also goes thru a 50amp CB to the TM.

08-05-2008, 11:11 PM	#8
Midnight Rider Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cantonment, Florida. Posts: 1,558	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? Somthing to think about!!!!! I have the honda 1000 watt on my boat. The owners manual says anytime you are using the plug for charging batteries you need to turn the switch on the generator from auto idle to manual idle. Thus you will be listening to your generator run balls to the wall all night. I did as Flounder Assassin did and have 2 batteries dedicated for the trolling motor.

08-06-2008, 03:17 AM	#9
Gnwdad Duerwood Willis Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola, Florida Posts: 985	RE: Do I have enough spare amps? I can't speak on the amps, but I run a 2 bank 10 amp on board charger all the time and it does not make a noticable difference on the generator.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode