Charging a 24 v system

I have a 24 v (2 12 volt batteries connected to 24v) for my trolling motor and a separate 12 v battery for my starting/electronics battery (charged by the motor alternator). I currently unhook the jumper between the 2 12 volt batteries and charge them separately with a 12 v charger. The boat came equipped with the 2 trolling motor batteries connected in series as a 12 volt system connected to 1.5 amp trickle charger. What are some suggestions for upgrading my charging systems? 3 bank alternator? 3 bank on board charger? With any of these setups, would I be advised to wire a switch to interchange my 24 setup to 12 v before charging? Thanks in advance.

I run a Minkota 20 amp 2 bank, on board charger on the 2 battery 24V system (bow mount) and a 6 amp single bank Guest onboard for my 12V starting/charging battery. Just keep em plugged in all year long.

A three bank charger would by your best bet
You can leave your jumper wire hooked up while charging.

Ron

DItto on the 3 bank. We got a Minnkota 330 charger. It’s a 3 bank 30 amp charger and It’s awesome!!! It’s nice to not have to let them charge for days at a time to get a full charge on them, and it’s got an automatice shutoff so that it just maintains the bettery at a trickle charge once they’re fully charge. The best place to get them is probably here: Jolly Ann

Exactly what JR said! I think the Mnkta still has their rebait going on.

I leave them on the charger over winter 3 maybe 4th season now. A quick glance at the three leds before unplugging it tells me we are good to go.

PS Keep in mind how much you use your main motor. Those altinator chargers only charge when it’s running. If the distance to your fishing hole isn’t very far, your trolling batteries will never get charged.

3 banker. one plug does it all for you. I don’t think you need to unhook the jumper when you charge the 24v batteries either. I leave mine connected and they have been fine. The maintenance a bank charger does on the batteries makes them last longer too! I have a Cableas brand and a Minn Kota and I would suggest Minn Kota. Great 3 yr warranty and solid product.

3 banker just like everyone else said. Too many go with a 2 banker and find they need to replace the starting battery sooner than the trolling batteries. The problem lies with if you are running any electronics, livewells, bilge pump, off the starting batt. Takes longer for the engine to charge that battery.
3 banker all the way and 30amp if you can afford it.

i think i use the same minn kota MK 220 works great! run the cord pluger in and your good to go.
The on board charger is the way to go. Then for the out board just let the alternator charge the battery.

I have the two bank as I thought the big motor would keep the starting battery up…wrong.

Go three bank, just one plug and elect cord to deal with.

Al

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i think i use the same minn kota MK 220 works great! run the cord pluger in and your good to go.
The on board charger is the way to go. Then for the out board just let the alternator charge the battery.

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It really depends on how much you run the big motor and how many volts the alternator puts out. Mine for instance only puts out 4 volts and I don’t run the big motor for long periods of time. If you have newer big hp motor and you use it quite a bit you might be OK.

The way I see it is why not have a bank the starting battery? This way I know I am going out the lake with a fully charged starting battery every time I go out.

Thanks for all of the input, I think I’m going to get a MK 315. The 3 bank sounds like a must, but as far as I can tell the 330 just charges faster, and that really isn’t much of an issue for my use. I was also mainly concerned that I’d need to unplug the jumper wire, but it sounds like I don’t, and that is exactly what I wanted to hear!