Something off with Terrova - batteries..

[Raycaster]

I have a 80 Terrova (2024) with 2 12V Group 27 batteries with a 18ft Legend. They run in series and have a proper breaker etc.

My old Terrova 80 with 2 12V Group 27 batteries with a 16ft Legend lasted days of trolling... I know the new boat is alot heavier but...

After fully charging both batteries the new Terrova shows only 3 bars for the batteries and after a hour or 2 shows no bars. The trolling motor is set at 2-4 speed just used really for gps steering.

When I charge the batteries again 1 battery is basically charged already and the other takes 6-8hrs? Its like they were wired wrong but wouldn't the terrova complain about only 12V instead of 24V?

I just took them to Part Source to check and they both got a "OK"? I expected 1 to be toast.

I use a NOCO Gen2 2 Bank charger that has been awesome for me.

Will have to check wiring on boat but will probably take batteries for a second opinion at crappytire. I understand the proper wiring etc. but assumed the previous owner did it right as it has nice connectors and a mesh sock over the cabling.

BTW, the batteries are 2022 and 2023.

Edited June 17 by Raycaster

[BillM]

Something is definitely up with the batteries.  Either the batteries themselves or the wiring.

[Raycaster]

Batteries are within 10% of rated performance.

Part Source and CT agree.

OK, will check wiring when I get a chance, the game is afoot!

 

[AKRISONER]

I don’t always agree with whatever test part source/canadian tire does.

realistically a fully charged battery is going to show proper voltage, there’s no way for them to be able to test that the batteries are wearing unless they are completely cooked.

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there’s any way for them to be able to test that “my battery now only lasts 2 hours vs in the past when it would last 6” beyond reading the voltage and making sure it doesn’t immediately die within a couple of minutes while they test it under load.

speaking from my own personal experience, a worn battery will show it age by not providing you with enough juice to get through the day.

2 hours on autopilot will draw enough juice to draw a pooched battery down enough that it is beyond 50% discharge.

To me this 100% sounds like your batteries have grown tired. So I will ask

1. Are the batteries flooded lead acid or AGM?

2. How old approximately are they?

3. You indicate that they used to troll for days…flooded batteries when discharged beyond 50% capacity literally start to get damaged, they do not like deep discharge cycles and even worse they don’t like sitting at deep discharge and should be charged asap when no longer in use for the day.

Edited June 19 by AKRISONER

[Raycaster]

The tests are for voltage and cranking ability. They independently came back pretty close to each other.

The batteries are basic flooded DC batteries 1 and 2 year old.

Logically I think one of the batteries is done.

unfortunately, I have not been able to look at the boats wiring yet. I might run over there today to take a look. It’s a pretty basic series circuit with breaker so I can’t image they fudged it up originally.  

[AKRISONER]

2 hours ago, Raycaster said:

The tests are for voltage and cranking ability. They independently came back pretty close to each other.

The batteries are basic flooded DC batteries 1 and 2 year old.

Logically I think one of the batteries is done.

unfortunately, I have not been able to look at the boats wiring yet. I might run over there today to take a look. It’s a pretty basic series circuit with breaker so I can’t image they fudged it up originally.  

Unless you’ve got a short somewhere that’s drawing power at a low amperage and killing the batteries constantly. 
 

trolling motors are as straight forward as they come

by chance are you using a plug and receptacle? I’ve had horrible experiences with them, corrosion and vibration causing wire strand breakage. 
 

I’ll reiterate my comment about deep discharges on standard flooded batteries. If you have a history of long days/multiple days with no charging, it’s 100% possible that you’ve cooked a relatively new battery. Those lead acid batteries do not do well in that style of usage.

My buddy this weekend cooked a 1 year old battery. He has a nack for only charging his batteries every so often.

Edited June 19 by AKRISONER

[Raycaster]

It could be the plug and receptacle for sure. It seems like a very professional setup with mesh sock on the cables etc. BUT strangely it is a 3 prong connector (a marine connector not extention cable type). I just assumed it was overkill and they didn't use one of the prongs.

I will look at it today probably.

[Raycaster]

OK, cut off the other connector and replaced with what I used on my last Minn Kota. I use a clunky welding connector but it worked flawless for years before and besides being non-waterproof they really work well when needed.

The other detail was that I disconnected a onboard charger that was directly hooked to the batteries. The boat has a 4 bank noco charger hooked up to the 2 trolling batteries and 1 to the cranking battery. I may re-install the charger but I will make a separate thread for that.

As Akrisoner mentioned the connector looked to be the culprit as the batteries now work like brand new! I trolled 8 hrs on Lake Ontario and started with 4 bars and ended with 3! It was just used for gps steering at speed 2, but I'm happy.

Was kinda looking into new Lithium batteries but no need yet and my wallet is happier.

Thank you for the help guys.

 

 

Edited July 10 by Raycaster

[AKRISONER]

That connector should work just fine. I personally am a big fan of just bolting two terminal rings together, heat shrinking over them, and then heat shrinking and looming over the entire connection again. 

One things for certain, speaking from personal experience and now what you are describing, I would never recommend the minkotta plugs to anyone ever, they are purely asking for trouble.

[Fish Farmer]

I had an issue with both my battery's one would charge faster than the other. My onboard charger is a Minn Kota 2 bank.

I checked one day and my battery fluid was way down in one of the battery's, filled it back up with distilled water and they seem to charge up now close to the same time.

Now I've notice i have electrolysis going on on my Terrova motor, white powder stuff forming. on a few scratched areas and the bolt that holds the prop on.

Called a Marine dealer, said i should unplug my motor when I'm charging, Or my charger is making contact to my boat where I have it mounted, charger shouldn't have any contact to boat aluminum, should have it mounted on plywood between.

[Raycaster]

I have not checked the levels but its been on my mind also.

The few times I have taken the batteries out I always wondered if there is spillage as the Legends front compartment for batteries is very tight and requires the 2nd battery to be tilted in to fit…

I may reuse the front left livewell as a battery compartment in the future.

 

[AKRISONER]

1 minute ago, Raycaster said:

I have not checked the levels but its been on my mind also.

The few times I have taken the batteries out I always wondered if there is spillage as the Legends front compartment for batteries is very tight and requires the 2nd battery to be tilted in to fit…

I may reuse the front left livewell as a battery compartment in the future.

 

as a rule of thumb, if youre running flooded wet cell batteries in a boat, you should be topping them up every year. My batteries were constantly losing water from being bumped around. I now run all AGM for this reason. Will most likely be going lithium next.

[CrowMan]

I always seemed to have problems with my lead-acid batteries in the boat...I was lucky to get more than 3 seasons out of them. Buddies would get 5 yrs +, but not me for some reason. It was like I was cursed. Maybe it was a lot of towing on bumpy roads into back lakes. They would always let me down at the most critical time...I would carry around jumper cables and a booster pack after being stuck a couple of times.

I then switched to lithium for the TM and AGM for the cranking..they've been flawless. The peace of mind has been well worth the investment.