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#2165950 - 04/12/08 05:31 PM
Onboard Battery Chargers
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 03/07/08
Posts: 127
Loc: Deer Park, Tx
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I know that I am about to open a huge can of worms but, after being away from the fishing scene for several years, I have jumped back in with both feet. I was trying to get opions on the onboard battery chargers. The goods and the bads please.
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Retired, and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
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#2166001 - 04/12/08 05:56 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Hawg Dawg]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 09/21/07
Posts: 1879
Loc: San Angelo
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I am right there with you and would like the same info if anyone wants to share.
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Accept that some days your the pigeon and some days you're the statue.
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#2166085 - 04/12/08 06:15 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: throwback]
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Angler
Registered: 02/12/05
Posts: 444
Loc: Cen-Tex
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I got tired of connecting my battery charger to each battery and taking too long to charge the complete system. I also got tired of taking the charger with me on trips, just something else to pack!
Now my 3 bank charger stays plugged in at the house FULL TIME. When I go somewhere for a trip, an extension cord is all I need. The onboard chargers have the latest technologies to keep batteries at a constant temperature to keep the plates CLEAN and fully charged; Maintains the battery state.
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
I HAVE THE ProMariner 20Plus series from Cabelas.
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<")}}}*>< Pathfinder 2200V
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#2166888 - 04/12/08 10:15 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: rvrrat14]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 03/13/08
Posts: 1058
Loc: san antonio
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if you have the room, which most boats will, install it. no can of worms here, just one worm that'll keep your batteries charged where ever you go. if you can't plug in a extension cord, well hell, maybe you can afford some one that can... i dont know your situation
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Jeff Bass Fishing - the excuse for excess 
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#2168060 - 04/13/08 01:22 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: cocodrie]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 12/16/06
Posts: 1076
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I think I might sell out and quit fishing if I couldn't have an onboard charger. Next to my trolling motor it is the most valuable item I have.
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#2168443 - 04/13/08 04:33 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Dayne]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 09/21/07
Posts: 1879
Loc: San Angelo
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I think I might sell out and quit fishing if I couldn't have an onboard charger. Next to my trolling motor it is the most valuable item I have. Now that right there is one heck of a recommendation! 
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Accept that some days your the pigeon and some days you're the statue.
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#2168536 - 04/13/08 05:09 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: throwback]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 916
Loc: Corsicana
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I have a Minn-kota 3-bank charger (actually two of them, one for each boat), but I have also had them go bad on me in about 6 months of use.
I'm a guide and they get used/worked almost every day. But I still don't think they should be going down/bad (returned to Minn-Kota for replacement) every 6 months.
Does anybody else have this kind of experiece, where they get used almost everyday, and get bad (longivity) life out of the Onboard charger?
If not what kind do you use?
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#2182065 - 04/17/08 11:14 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 33
Loc: Toledo Bend, Tx
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Can you leave an onboard charger plugged in during the week to have your trolling motor batteries ready to go for the weekend. I leave my boat in the garage at the lakehouse during the week and would sure like for them to be charged and ready when I get there Friday evening. However, I surely don't want to risk them drying out and/or starting a fire. Any advise.
Troy
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#2182197 - 04/17/08 11:44 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Troy250]
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Angler
Registered: 09/03/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Little Elm, Tx
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Out of curiosity, what is the difference with the # of banks? Does that number represent how many batteries it will charge at one time?
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Jason 2007 Blue Tracker Pro Team 175 TWX 
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#2182247 - 04/17/08 11:54 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Jase]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 33
Loc: Toledo Bend, Tx
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#2182293 - 04/17/08 12:03 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Troy250]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 08/19/05
Posts: 1959
Loc: Belton, TX
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My Promariner 20plus 3 bank is working on its fifth year of 2-4 times per week fishing. I bought it because it was alot less expensive than the so-called 'name' brands like Guest and DualPro. I'm extremely happy that it has lasted this long.
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"Stand clear and you won't get hurt" 
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#2182993 - 04/17/08 02:44 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: MrG]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 08/24/06
Posts: 1737
Loc: San Angelo
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Troy--I have a ProMariner 20+ 3-bank also. I plug it in when I get in and unplug it when I go out. If working properly, it is supposed to spread the 20 amps to any of the 3 batteries that need charge. Once all are charged, it goes into a "maintenance" mode to keep them charged. I also monitor the water level in the batteries REGULARLY. Check them at least weekly in the summer and 2-3 weeks in cooler weather.
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#2183065 - 04/17/08 03:07 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Troy250]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 916
Loc: Corsicana
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Can you leave an onboard charger plugged in during the week to have your trolling motor batteries ready to go for the weekend. I leave my boat in the garage at the lakehouse during the week and would sure like for them to be charged and ready when I get there Friday evening. However, I surely don't want to risk them drying out and/or starting a fire. Any advise.
Troy Yes you can leave them plugged in. They auto (shut off) when charged (or at least should).
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#2184064 - 04/17/08 07:41 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Angler
Registered: 03/01/07
Posts: 263
Loc: Medina Lake Texas
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I have had it with the onboard chargers. I have tried about 4 different brands in the past years and they dont seem to last. I have even gone so far as to mount the last one under my console to get it out of the bilge. It lasted about 3 years. Now I still use the old chargers that I bought some 20 years ago . So I went back to the ones you carry. I do miss the ease of the on board but I bought 3-15 amp automatic chargers designed of deep cycle batteries at wally world for 50 bucks each and I am back to old school. Something I have noticed also at Amistad during the Eliet Series that several pros do not use onboard chargers either.
ML
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#2184778 - 04/18/08 06:09 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: MLTX]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 06/30/02
Posts: 170
Loc: Austin
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I've had a Minn Kota in continuous use on my bay boat for 6 years with no problems. I've also been very happy with the CSI chargers on bass boats. CSI customer service was also very helpful when I called them with some questions.
Edited by Kapnbill (04/18/08 06:09 AM)
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#2184983 - 04/18/08 07:12 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 33
Loc: Toledo Bend, Tx
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Thanks for the input guys. Mark, it is (or they should shut-off) that kinda worries me.
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#2186807 - 04/18/08 05:35 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Troy250]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 916
Loc: Corsicana
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Thanks for the input guys. Mark, it is (or they should shut-off) that kinda worries me.
Troy, I love the on board charges (for their ease of use) , but like I said, I've had problems with them (but that is true with everything electrical..... Batteries, fuses, switches connections, wiring, electric motors, battery charges, etc..). But I saw no where in this thread where folks burned down thier house (or boat) using them. It's just that they break or don't work exactly right, but I think they are safe.
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#2186874 - 04/18/08 06:14 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 04/10/08
Posts: 95
Loc: 7 hrs from the coast
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Does anyone have any experience with "Sportsman Edition" chargers? It came with the boat that I bought. Good experience or bad? Everytime I plug it in, it seems like it has to go through a "warm up" period (1 hour or so) before the lights show the batteries taking a charge? Is this normal?
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#2186880 - 04/18/08 06:17 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Angler
Registered: 06/25/03
Posts: 475
Loc: North Richland Hills, Texas, U...
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My XPS from Bass Pro just expired this week. Lasted five years and was very easy to use. Just plugged it in and often worried about it. Heard some rumers about them catching fire but never talked to any one that actually had it happen. It's failure cost me a starting battery but then both batterys were five years old. I decided to go back to the old fashion way with a new battery charger from WalMart with the same features as the on board plus a percentage of charge test feature that is pretty cool. I think the cost of the charger would be less than the replacement of the on board. I'll just have to give the rig a little more tender loving care.
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#2194958 - 04/22/08 08:11 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: redfin®]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/25/08
Posts: 33
Loc: Toledo Bend, Tx
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Thanks for the input guys. I guess I'll move into the 21st century and get me one.......
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#2200481 - 04/23/08 05:58 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Minnerdunker]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 04/22/07
Posts: 1831
Loc: Allen, TX
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My XPS from Bass Pro just expired this week. Lasted five years and was very easy to use. Just plugged it in and often worried about it. Heard some rumers about them catching fire but never talked to any one that actually had it happen. It's failure cost me a starting battery but then both batterys were five years old. I decided to go back to the old fashion way with a new battery charger from WalMart with the same features as the on board plus a percentage of charge test feature that is pretty cool. I think the cost of the charger would be less than the replacement of the on board. I'll just have to give the rig a little more tender loving care. Just curious have you considered that the 5 year old batter is what caused the charger to fail? Possible a short in the battery that caused the charger to over work?
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#2207111 - 04/25/08 02:18 PM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: redfin®]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 06/07/05
Posts: 2017
Loc: Mansfield, TX
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I just installed an XPSi 5/5/5 for my 3 troll motor batteries and the days of external chargers and climbing around changing the leads are gone forever. If you don't have an on-board battery charger, you are definitely missing out. I picked one up yesterday & will put it in this weekend.
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  Reel Cleaning Service Reel "Super Tuning" Service Drag "Super Tuning" Extreme "Super Tuning" Reel repair www.thetacklesmith.webs.comtacklesmith@hotmail.com Home Lake Joe Pool
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#2208539 - 04/26/08 06:53 AM
Re: Onboard Battery Chargers
[Re: Late4lake]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/08/05
Posts: 60
Loc: Texas
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Anyone know the web site for Guest chargers? Thanks,
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