I have a dual battery setup on my Arima along with a kicker motor with a pull start.    When I go prawning with my fishing buddies, we usually drop 4 sets of prawn traps.  Each set has 2 prawn traps(each trap weighs approx. 14lbs) attached to 450 feet of leaded line.   I am always concerned about how much my batteries are depleted when hauling up these 4 sets.   Wondering if someone ever tested or knows approximately how much draw hauling up those 4 sets would do on a single battery using an Ace Line Hauler?  Would it deplete the battery that is fully charged down to 75%?, 50% ?   I just dont' want to continuously deplete the batteries too low in order to maximize their lifespan.  The batteries are the standard lead acid marine/RV batteries and both are the same.  I don't have a house battery and starting battery.. I just alternate between the 2 batteries each time I go out.   

If the Ace Haulers depletes the 1 battery down to less than 50% perhaps I should use the combine feature of the switch to have both batteries connected so that both batteries are depleted but to a lesser degree.  As I mentioned, should I have any issues depleting them too far I could also pull start the kicker motor as backup to get the batteries charged.

Can you give me the Amp hour rating of your battery that has the puller on it.

Dev

So the Ace puller is around 20 to 30 Amps per hour
So let's use the max amps... 30A/60 min = 2A per min of use
If you Ace is pulling 450' in 5 minutes then you are using 10 AH per pull (2A per min * 5 minutes of use)
If you are pulling 4 sets at 10AH each then you are at 40AH.

Most manufacturers of batteries recommend that you don't normally cycle beyond 50% of its AH rating.


Here is a link with some more detail

http://trailertraveler.net/calculate-rv-amp-usage/

FYI
I'm have been running two lead acid deeps for years, I also have have a ACR (automatic charge relay) that combines the batteries when I'm running, this makes sure that the house is charged alongside my staring deep.


Dev

Devmah, they are interstate marine/RV batteries.   It doesn't give the AH but only states it provides 550CCA. 

So you combine both batteries together when pulling up traps so that they draw is equally shared between 2 batteries?

Quote from: JamesB on February 12, 2020, 04:26:39 PM
Devmah, they are interstate marine/RV batteries.   It doesn't give the AH but only states it provides 550CCA. 

So you combine both batteries together when pulling up traps so that they draw is equally shared between 2 batteries?

No I have two group 27 deeps only the house battery is under load, the ACR charged both batteries while I have my main or kicker running.

What about reserve capacity rating.

Dev

Those batteries have an RC MIN @ 25 Amps value of 140.  I assume that means if you have a constant 25amp draw it will provide up to 140amps capacity?  If both batteries are in good shape and I had the switch onto combine, would hulling up all 4 sets get me to a level of charge on both batteries where it will greatly reduce their life span? 

Quote from: JamesB on February 12, 2020, 08:30:08 PM
I believe the RC on those batteries are 140

Ok so from a fully charged battery you can run 25 Amps for 140 minutes before it's discharged to 10.5v. I don't think you should be worried on combining.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/experience/2014/02/battery-reserve-capacity

Dev

great.  thanks.  By the way, I am old and slow so it takes me a bit of time to get each trap setup etc... When dropping the traps and later on coming back to retrieve them, the whole process(prepping, dropping, retrieving, sorting out catch etc) takes me close to 2 hours when I add everything up.  While it would be easier to keep the main motor running to ensure the batteries are topped up,  your calculations tell me I don't need to do so.   But my other question is, is starting and stopping the main engine after each setup when dropping and during the retrieve bad for the engine?  Does starting/stopping the engine during each drop/retrieve put more stress on the engine than what is saved from the logged hours?  The way I see it, If I go out 10 times during the prawning season per year and the main engine runs 2 hours during the day(setup,drop, retrieve, sort), that's an extra 20 hours per year of hours on the engine.. I'd say that's close to 50% of the hours that's normally put on an engine per year just to drop and retrieve pots.  If the wear and tear on from starting /stopping is worse than the 20 additional hours per year added then I'll just leave the engine running.

I only run my engine between driving between pots, I never keep my motors running while using my puller. So I start and stop my engine multiple times.


Dev

My only concern with combining both batteries while using the puller is if you happen to drain both batteries in the process, that leaves you with no battery to start the motor.

I would look into a higher AH rated battery for the house loads.

IMO

He dose not need to combine his batteries to use his puller, the batteries are more that's sufficient.

140 RC is a decent capacity.

Dev

If you have a 4 stroke main, there is little worry letting it idle while shrimping.  20hrs a year nothing.  I typically leave the main going until the last pot goes in. Then I shut down and fire the kicker for the shrimping. My honda kicker charges pretty good and I never run low even if it takes 3-4 trips through the gear to get it done.

Quote from: DevMah on February 12, 2020, 08:35:42 PM

Quote from: JamesB on February 12, 2020, 08:30:08 PM
I believe the RC on those batteries are 140

Ok so from a fully charged battery you can run 25 Amps for 140 minutes before it's discharged to 10.5v. I don't think you should be worried on combining.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/experience/2014/02/battery-reserve-capacity

Dev

Wow...  That may be the calculation, but I sure can't get anywhere near that from my Optima...even when new.  25 Amps for two hours? 

Quote from: First Cabin on February 17, 2020, 06:34:51 PM

Quote from: DevMah on February 12, 2020, 08:35:42 PM

Quote from: JamesB on February 12, 2020, 08:30:08 PM
I believe the RC on those batteries are 140

Ok so from a fully charged battery you can run 25 Amps for 140 minutes before it's discharged to 10.5v. I don't think you should be worried on combining.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/experience/2014/02/battery-reserve-capacity

Dev

Wow...  That may be the calculation, but I sure can't get anywhere near that from my Optima...even when new.  25 Amps for two hours?

The optima blue top are rated the same RC for group 27 (hit the view full specs)

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/bluetop-dual-purpose-deep-cycle-and-starting/d27m

Dev

I use the Ace Brutus Puller...I always run my main Yamaha 115 when pulling. I think it gives the puller a little extra grunt when pulling too. I keep it a maximum of 2 traps per line/ buoy.  That way not too much weight coming up..even that can be a bit when traps are full of prawns.  I find by splitting up the sets you also have a chance to try a slightly different area or depth. Kind of spread out the risk of a bad set. Also I don't know if you are in WA or BC? But in BC I believe the fishing regs state you can only have 2 traps per line/ buoy with your name on it.  But if you do set 4 traps on a single you have to mark both ends with buoys so a lot more line gear in the water. (Kind of like how commercial guys have buoy at each end of a set line) Here is the DFO regs from their website:


Each licenced individual is allowed 4 traps maximum. Each single trap must be marked with a buoy or, if 2 traps are attached to one ground line, the ground line may be marked with a single buoy. This applies to all traps fished from a dock, shoreline or by boat. A maximum of 4 traps is allowed on a single ground line with a floating tag or buoy required at both ends. Mechanical devices are permitted to recover traps.