Charging while towing

[Dan]

Charging your boat batteries while towing your boat. Heard of it and I think Stealth sells a unit but this one here looks interesting. Anybody familiar with this technology? Stay and Charge is what this company is called. Here is the website http://www.walleyesinc.com/walleyeinc3/onlinestorerstayncharge.htm

[bshaner]

I dont know anything about that website or that system, but I try to avoid buying things online from sites that forget the word "to" or spell "yo" instead of "you" and "your" instead of "you are (you're)"  more than 5 times and spell their own name 3 different ways in one small ad   Just my policy, that system could be genious and work perfectly though

If they sell it at Wal Mart or Meijer's with a return policy I'd definately give it a try though.  Sounds cool.

[MBell]

I've been looking at an on board charging system,  I found stayn' charge and stealth.  I asked about them on bassboatcentral and a few guys had the on board stay'n charge and liked them.  No on had the on that hooks up to the truck.  I'm going to get the onboard stayn charge pretty soon.  My  cranking battery is back to full after about only 2 minutes of running.  The real site is www.stayncharge.com

-Matt

[djkimmel]

Matt - do you mean after 2 minutes or 2 hours?

[blakstr1]

the stay n' charge seems to be a really good product and very reasonably priced...good product especially if you have a bit of a distance that you drive from the lake to your house, if you live and hour or so away you would probably be all set with just the stay n' charge unit, if your only a couple minutes away then you will also have to use a conventional charger.  Stealth chargers are great too, probably more suited to the 4 to 5 day a week fishermen..DOWD uses one and really likes it.

If interested in the stay n' charge or if you have questions call Jim Payne @ Stay'nCharge Battery Charging Systems 612.590.5833  www.stayncharge.com  Jim will even talk you through installation if you need it.

[MBell]

My cranking battery will be back above 13 volts after only a few minutes of running. 
-Matt

[bcbasser]

I have a stay n charge system and i love it!!! It is alot cheaper than the stealth and Jim Payne (owner) is awesome to work with and is a ton of help...but the unit is super easy to install. The all charge system will allow you to charge while you are towing...I have one but never hooked it up??? don't know why?? anyway I went all weekend last week while in Ky and never hooked up to power....I was on the trolling motor all day 6-8hrs both days!!! I am very impressed and would suggest the product to anyone...if you have questions or would like to know how to get one...let me know I would be glad to help!!!

[smbassman]

Just a correction on the stay n charge - the "all charge" charges up to 3 batteries (besides the cranking bat) while running the outboard.  The original stay in charge unit charges one battery when towing and up to four batteries when used with the "all charge".

I installed both units this winter and it seems to work well. 

[djkimmel]

Was it the All Charge that says batteries have to be hooked in parallel only? How do you get around that if you have trolling motor batteries for a 24v or 36v series hook up instead?

[smbassman]

I have never seen that on the all charge, and that doesn't match the instructions either.  They have to be in series to charge 36V.

[djkimmel]

I know you have to have 3 12V batteries in a series to get 36V. I read something on one of the web site links that said the batteries could only be in parallet. Didn't make sense since that won't get you 24 or 36V, just longer juice at 12V. It's possible what I read is now outdated too.

[smbassman]

Iit is possible that was regarding the original "stay in charge" unit that charges from your tow vehicle.  This system alone is only designed to charge a 12V system - meaning one battery or any number of batteries in parallel.  When used with the "all charge" unit the original unit still charges one 12V system, but the "all charge" unit switchs that charge from one TM battery for 5mins to the next battery for 5mins and so on.  It operates the same way with the outboard alternator, switching from one battery to the next and not all at the same time.

The beauty of this system (and all DC chargers) is they charge much faster than a AC charger and they put more charge into the batteries.  I am also hoping that this system will result in longer battery life because the batteries are never run down much before you fire up the outboard and charge them again.  This is the same process that automotive batteries use, and they typically last 2-3 times the life of TM batteries with the typical AC charge after a long day on the lake.

[Dan]

Man, I was all ready to go with the Pro Mariner and now that Stay n Charge system is really alluring. May have to shake the dice and go with it. Got to make a decision soon. I need to get on the water!!

[Dan]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my onboard charging system. Just got off the phone with Jim from Stay-N-Charge. He says I don't need any onboard charger. Just get his two units, the one that charges on the go and the other that plugs in to the truck as you tow. He claims between the two I won't need to charge the batteries, but if I do, all I need is a little portable charger which plugs into his system which then will charge all the batteries. His two units run about $225. I think I am going to give it a shot. 90 money back guarantee and three year warranty. The installation looks simple and I go from a pretty good size unit to a couple little 6x6 inch computer boxes.

[Dropshot]

Just make sure the charging unit is smart enough not to overcharge and you should be fine. Overcharging is the number one killer of batteries. I would read up on battery charging at this site http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden//index.htm and make sure the stay-n-charge unit complies with this FAQ.

[Dan]

Made the decision and ordered the two Stay N Charge systems. Have to yank out my old on board charger and wait for the stay n charge to get here. I'll keep you posted on how it works. I am mechanically challenged, but I feel pretty good about the installation. Got several buddies close by that I lean on and so many of you have offered your help as well I'm confident of a quick intall and hoping to get in the water soon.