RE: (ET) Battery/charging question (not elec trak)

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

It depends on how the trolling motor is isolated from the engine.  If it 
is only connected at one point (high or low), you can probably do so 
without a hitch.

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Chapin, Tim [mailto:tchapin umich edu]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 1:04 PM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) Battery/charging question (not elec trak)


I am electrifying my pontoon boat this spring with a big trolling motor
(24v).  I am also leaving the gas motor for when batteries get weak or the
kids need to go to the bathroom (speed run to the house).  I was thinking
about keeping the weight down by only having 2 batteries and taping of the
first battery for the lights and electric start for the gas motor.  The gas
motor takes very little to start so as long as I educate people not to run
the trolling motor until it dies, that shouldn't be a problem.  Battery
balancing will not be a problem because I am going to use a bank charger 
and
charge the batteries separately.  My question is, will I hurt the gas 
motors
charging system (ie. Would the motor charging system be isolated) by just
taping in to the first battery or do I need to add switches to isolate the
gas to 12 volts and isolate the trolling motor to 24 volts?