Confused on what type of charger I need for my 30# thrust trolling motor and 12v battery. Do I need a charger or maintainer? Or a trickle charger( whatever that is) can you also recommend me a specific one (preferably under 30) thanks!

What type of battery charger do y'all use?

You want a battery charger, a maintainer, or trickle charger is used to keep a battery fully charged when it is not in use for longer periods of time.

 

You want a battery charger, a maintainer, or trickle charger is used to keep a battery fully charged when it is not in use for longer periods of time.

Ok thanks a lot. Does it matter if it says it's for automobiles or something?

 

Ok thanks a lot. Does it matter if it says it's for automobiles or something?

No, it shouldn't matter.  Deep cycle marine batteries have the same internal chemistry as your car battery.  They're just built a little different to withstand repeated cycling.  Any good quality automatic charger should work.  I would get one that's capable of putting out at least 6 amps.  That should get a drained battery charged back up in a couple hours.  A 2 amp trickle charger would work, but you'd have to keep it hooked up overnight to get the job done.  You might have a little trouble staying under $30, but you can surely get something in the $50 range.

 

Ok thanks a lot. Does it matter if it says it's for automobiles or something?

Nope that doesn't matter, it'll work for what you want. 

I would suggest you go to your Local Wal Mart and get one of these they work on all lead acid, agm or gel batteries. It checks your battery, determines the correct charge program and does it well. I used three of these when i had an all electric reservoir boat.I still use on on my outboard's battery during long winter storage times.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-15-Amp-Marine-Battery-Charger/13005745?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=13005745&placement_id=irs-2-m3&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=9860545d-d491-461c-8ad9-778d57d99788&customer_id_enc&config_id=2&parent_item_id=13005744&parent_anchor_item_id=13005744&guid=a0b9bd03-1536-4860-8c9b-5191032adc78&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

3 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

I would suggest you go to your Local Wal Mart and get one of these they work on all lead acid, agm or gel batteries. It checks your battery, determines the correct charge program and does it well. I used three of these when i had an all electric reservoir boat.I still use on on my outboard's battery during long winter storage times.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-15-Amp-Marine-Battery-Charger/13005745?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=13005745&placement_id=irs-2-m3&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=9860545d-d491-461c-8ad9-778d57d99788&customer_id_enc&config_id=2&parent_item_id=13005744&parent_anchor_item_id=13005744&guid=a0b9bd03-1536-4860-8c9b-5191032adc78&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

So will some chargers only work on certain batteries?

Advanced glass mat or AGM batteries and Gel Cell batteries require different charging patterns to bring them up to full charge without harming them. Most regular old charging/starting chargers will handle any lead acid battery including deep cycles.  With that particular charger even with lead acid batteries. the charger will blink a bunch while it tests the battery, then hit it hard for a while to break any memory to the charge, then charge it to about 80 percent. At that point it will almost pulse it till it is full and then do a "maintenance" or "condition" to it till it finishes. When it is done it will turn a green indicator on and stop charging. I would come home and hook 1 charger to one set of two batteries, a second charger to a second set of two batteries and then the third fed the single battery for the front trolling motor. By morning all were ready for full action

3 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

Advanced glass mat or AGM batteries and Gel Cell batteries require different charging patterns to bring them up to full charge without harming them. Most regular old charging/starting chargers will handle any lead acid battery including deep cycles.  With that particular charger even with lead acid batteries. the charger will blink a bunch while it tests the battery, then hit it hard for a while to break any memory to the charge, then charge it to about 80 percent. At that point it will almost pulse it till it is full and then do a "maintenance" or "condition" to it till it finishes. When it is done it will turn a green indicator on and stop charging. I would come home and hook 1 charger to one set of two batteries, a second charger to a second set of two batteries and then the third fed the single battery for the front trolling motor. By morning all were ready for full action

So will a battery charger that will charge a lead acid battery also charge a deep cycle one? Or are those the same thing? Thanks

All automotive batteries are lead acid filled batteries. These have the removable caps so we can maintain the fluid level above the lead plates.   Marine deep cycle batteries come in standard lead acid filled , or AGM batteries that are sealed. or Gel Cell batteries that are also factory sealed.  If you look at Cabelas you will see the type of AGMs I use look here

 http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/auto-boat-batteries-chargers/marine-deep-cycle-batteries|/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104446080/cabela-s-advanced-anglers-8482-agm-battery-size-30/1674789.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmarine-deep-cycle-batteries%2F_%2FN-1100564%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104446080

Here is another popular agm battery http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/auto-boat-batteries-chargers/marine-deep-cycle-batteries|/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104446080/optima-174-batteries/738054.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmarine-deep-cycle-batteries%2F_%2FN-1100564%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104446080

Here is an example of a standard lead acid deep cycle/starting batteries http://www.cabelas.com/product/boating/auto-boat-batteries-chargers/marine-deep-cycle-batteries|/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104446080/cabela-s-dual-purpose-lead-acid-battery/1982385.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmarine-deep-cycle-batteries%2F_%2FN-1100564%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104446080

Not all Marine batteries are deep cycle and starting batteries. Some lead acid batteries are made just for starting and some only for deep cycle use. The difference is a marine starting battery may be designed for the high amperage needed to start an engine and not the slow 10-20 or 30 amp slow draw a trolling motor would pull.  A dual purpose battery is designed to work both ways so that is why we tend to use them for starting our outboards and powering things like livewells and lights.