Wiring Master Bat. Switch And Trolling Motor

[Bergertime]

I have a friend that just purchased a small 15'5 Palm Beach CC and it does not have a battery switch between the battery and the boat.  I recommended to him that he install one for safety reasons.  The dual battery switch is the same price as a single on/off so I encouraged him to get the one designed for two batts in the event he wants to add a second for redundancy.  

However - I have a question.  His boat has a trolling motor with a large battery under the small helm for that.  I was thinking that it would be good to hook that battery into the circuit so the engine could charge that one as well when running.  Would I need two switches with a second (On/Off) to isolate the output to the tolling motor exclusively.  Guess I need some suggestions on how to wire this properly and economically.  Any one done this sort of thing?

Thanks all,

Bruce

[Capt. Bob]

Bruce,
SB will be all over this but here's a start to familiarize yourself with an option you could go with.

Remember, I'm assuming your friend has a deep cycle for trolling energy and a starting for the motor itself.
A lot of scenarios here and future planning so read up.

Good luck.

[seabob4]

Who, me Bob?  Bruce, since he has a 12V TM, actually it's very simple...unless he wants the "house" to be isolated from the TM batt as well.  If he's really not running anything on the boat while operating the TM (except maybe a fresh charge from the livewell pump occasionally), then just have him hook up the TM batt to batt 2, with the TM positive lead coming off the common post.  Just switch over to batt 2 when using the TM.

If, however, he plans on running the livewell pump full time, and maybe the stereo, then I would recommend a Blue Seas ACR tied into his start batt, as his house loads will eat in to the reserve to operate the TM.  Not having an ACR would mean nothing to his start batt, but his ability to run the TM at full thrust would be diminished...

[RickK]

Plus the ACR would allow charging of his Trolling battery when cruising  

[GoneFission]

Don't forget a 50A breaker on the TM...

[Capt Matt]

Depending on the motor he runs he might not push many amps,  so unless he is running for hours it won't be much of a charge. New motors pushing a alternator I could see the advantages
I like to keep the starting batteries and trolling motor batteries totally separate, no switch accidents killing your starting battery
Just have a on board charger for the trolling motor
Just my thoughts
Capt Matt

[Bergertime]

Thanks guys for the insight!  Some great food for thought here..  

Have a great weekend!

B