Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Posted: **Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:29 am**

Ok folks, I have no power at my slip and would like to maintain a bait tank battery and trolling motor battery with a small 5w solar panel. I am not a heavy user of either battery. One battery has some age on the other, so I'm assuming I shouldn't run them parallel.
So I have in my possession.
Solar panel https://www.amazon.com/WirthCo-Battery- ... B004LF78DW
a small controller https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Energise-Wat ... 5HMWEGYJJE

I even have a switch if I need one. https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Battery-Sm ... 099&sr=8-5

How can I set my system up? Would it be overkill to use the isolator and Solar controller for just 5 watts?

Posted: **Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:35 pm**

ClaytorToon wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:29 am
Ok folks, I have no power at my slip and would like to maintain a bait tank battery and trolling motor battery with a small 5w solar panel. I am not a heavy user of either battery. One battery has some age on the other, so I'm assuming I shouldn't run them parallel.
So I have in my possession.
Solar panel https://www.amazon.com/WirthCo-Battery- ... B004LF78DW
a small controller https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Energise-Wat ... 5HMWEGYJJE

I even have a switch if I need one. https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Battery-Sm ... 099&sr=8-5

How can I set my system up? Would it be overkill to use the isolator and Solar controller for just 5 watts?

I'm also interested in knowing the answer to your questions, but I found your post when I searched 'bait tank' so what kind of bait tank do you have? Also I assume your slip is covered, are you mounting the solar panel on the roof of the dock?

Posted: **Tue Mar 09, 2021 11:34 am**

I have a Bait Jacuzzi bait tank.
No, my slip is not covered. I do have storage on the pontoon that will house the batteries. I will just lay the panel out in the sun, I guess.

I'm assuming I shouldn't run the two batteries parallel being that they are two different sizes and age. But I'm not sure how to lay it all out.

Posted: **Wed Mar 10, 2021 6:31 am**

I'm not a battery guy (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once). BUT - I might recommend doing a search for keys like "Battery Configuration", Dual Battery Set Up", etc. The advice/discussion gets pretty detailed in many of those threads.

There have been discussions before about all types of battery topics. Maybe some insight can be found there.

-Paul

Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

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