MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 Wide range of prices here ... looking for feedback. I've only have the minn kota's, but there are cheaper alternatives out there Minn Kota ($550) Noco ($280) BPS ($145) Thoughts?
grimsbylander Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) You better first make sure you know what you're looking for. That $280 Noco...is that 10 amps per bank? Sounds like it's the 1.1amp model and not a great option. I have the Noco 40amp(10/bank) and it's been excellent for three years. The list on it is $375USD. Yup...you're not comparing apples to apples. The $550 Minn Kota is the 440D and it's 10 amps per bank which you'll want. This is the comparable Noco charger: https://www.amazon.ca/NOCO-GEN4-Waterproof-Battery-Charger/dp/B003JSLWWA Edited March 22, 2017 by grimsbylander
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 NOCO Genius G4 6V/12V 4.4-Amp 4-Bank Smart Battery Charger and Maintainer - $260 NOCO Genius GEN4 12V Plus 12V Plus 12V Plus 12V 4-Bank 40-Amp Smart On-Board Waterproof Battery Charger - $370
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 Bass Pro Shops XPS IT2 4/4 Onboard Battery Charger - $145
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 Aren't all ok for overnight trickle charging?
porkpie Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 I charge a group 31 with a 4amp onboard charger. It works just fine but it takes forever to charge. If I am fishing multiple day in a row, I will put my 10amp charger on the battery. It works great for charging when your not fishing every day though!
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 I think I've narrowed it down to the Noco GEN4 4 x 10A charger @ $370 vs the Minn Kota 4 bank @ $550 ... differences and thoughts? Mark
grimsbylander Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 There is no way I would invest in an onboard charger and get a 1.1amp per bank unit.
grimsbylander Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 I think I've narrowed it down to the Noco GEN4 4 x 10A charger @ $370 vs the Minn Kota 4 bank @ $550 ... differences and thoughts? Mark I think they're both good units. As mentioned, I've had the Noco for about three years and it's been perfect. In fact, I used to take all 4 batteries out of the boat in December and store them inside the garage. Then I'd rotate a charger on them to keep them topped up. Pulling those batteries out and replacing them was a JOB! For the last few winters I run an extension cord to the boat in the backyard, tarp the boat and she sleeps until spring with the charger maintaining the batteries. THAT alone was worth the price of the charger.
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) Edited March 22, 2017 by msbruno
MSBruno Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Posted March 22, 2017 I think they're both good units. As mentioned, I've had the Noco for about three years and it's been perfect. In fact, I used to take all 4 batteries out of the boat in December and store them inside the garage. Then I'd rotate a charger on them to keep them topped up. Pulling those batteries out and replacing them was a JOB! For the last few winters I run an extension cord to the boat in the backyard, tarp the boat and she sleeps until spring with the charger maintaining the batteries. THAT alone was worth the price of the charger. Exactly the response I was looking for. Many thanks. Mark
Terry Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 I have the gen 3 bank 10 amp per and am very happy with it
Lape0019 Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 Absolutely love my MK charger but I would be hard pressed to buy another over the Noco for the price difference. It looks like you are planning on it but absolutely go with at minimum a 10 amp per bank charger. I've had a 4amp per bank and it wasn't enough to charge the battery overnight.
Garnet Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 With the minn kota you send it to North Bay if you have problems. Good people at Bay Distributors.
John Bacon Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 Aren't all ok for overnight trickle charging? If your battery(s) is dead after a day or two of fishing, an overnight trickle charge is not going to fully charge the battery. You'll either need more current, or a very long charging time.
Canuck Posted March 22, 2017 Report Posted March 22, 2017 If its for trolling motors, the rule of thumb to use is to take the amp-hour rating of the battery and divide this by the rate of charge to get an idea of the maximum charging time. 200AH/10amps=20hours. Since there is some inefficiency in charging, but you likely wont be completely dead, the rule of thumbs is probably close. Get as big a charger as you can and get it fully automatic with multi-phase charge cycles. IT will pay for itself by helping the batteries last longer. I like the promariner pronautic series. They are not waterproof though and need to be installed in a protected space like a console.
mike rousseau Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) I got lower amp charger as it's rare for me to spend back to back full days on the trolling motor... and it's also rare for me to drain the battery in a day On the weekends where the plan is to cast musky for 2-3 days then I use my car charger on the TM battery In all honesty I only use the car charger like 1-2 times a year... If you fish a lot of back to back days and you use your trolling motor a lot get the highest amps you can afford All that said I have a noco 2 bank 8 amp (4 per bank) and no issues Edited March 23, 2017 by Mike Rousseau
Mister G Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 I have had these chargers for about 15 years now and have no reason to consider anything else. Waterproof, Price right, Powerful and Dependable. It's plugged in anytime I'm not fishing, like right now. http://www.promariner.com/en/news/prosportgeneration3
G.mech Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) I have had these chargers for about 15 years now and have no reason to consider anything else. Waterproof, Price right, Powerful and Dependable. It's plugged in anytime I'm not fishing, like right now. http://www.promariner.com/en/news/prosportgeneration3 x2 on these units. They have the Pro Mariner 20A 3 bank on Amazon.ca for under 200 bucks, great deal. These will automatically distribute the whole 20A capacity to whatever battery needs it most. I use my trolling motor hard and long and the batteries are always back to 100% overnight even if I run them right flat. I leave them in the boat and plugged in all winter with no issues whatsoever. https://www.amazon.ca/Pro-Mariner-ProSport-Generation-Battery/dp/B00F5EBS66/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1490275807&sr=8-3&keywords=3+bank+battery+charger Edited March 23, 2017 by G.mech
Mister G Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 x2 on these units. They have the Pro Mariner 20A 3 bank on Amazon.ca for under 200 bucks, great deal. These will automatically distribute the whole 20A capacity to whatever battery needs it most. I use my trolling motor hard and long and the batteries are always back to 100% overnight even if I run them right flat. I leave them in the boat and plugged in all winter with no issues whatsoever. https://www.amazon.ca/Pro-Mariner-ProSport-Generation-Battery/dp/B00F5EBS66/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1490275807&sr=8-3&keywords=3+bank+battery+charger And Cabela's has them on SALE now for only $149 . . . . same charger with Cabela's name. http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1309718&type=product&MDK=dynbanP_PO&MDC=cat104698080
G.mech Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) And Cabela's has them on SALE now for only $149 . . . . same charger with Cabela's name. http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1309718&type=product&MDK=dynbanP_PO&MDC=cat104698080 US $ + shipping..... total to $190.94 US or about $260 canadian bones. Edited March 23, 2017 by G.mech
Mister G Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 US $ + shipping..... I can drive to Cabela's and pick it up for FREE, so no shipping required.
G.mech Posted March 23, 2017 Report Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) I can drive to Cabela's and pick it up for FREE, so no shipping required. Okay then but do the US conversion before you leave....and make sure they have them in Canada, they don't show up on the Cabelas.ca site. Edited March 23, 2017 by G.mech
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