Cougar On board charger installation location

This topic has 19 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 4 months ago by scubaman154.

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February 4, 2015 at 4:25 am #291017

shastss
Participant

Hi, I have an 03 Cougar and am replacing my onboard charger with a new Minn Kota MK460PC. the location of the existing charger is mounted on the transom and the Minn Kota is to big for the area. Any other suggested options in locating the charger?It would fit very nicely under the passenger seat, was wondering if there would be proper/recommended way to pass through cables into the bilge area. Obviously proper sealing would be appropriate and tipping the seat up to keep heat down while charging would be required.Thoughts? Opinions?Last edited by shastss on February 5th, 2015, 12:05 am, edited 3 times in total.

February 4, 2015 at 1:28 pm #291018

clownshoes
Participant

Cut loops off minn Kota, buy good clips, dont install and use as external.C.O.D. Jr. III

February 4, 2015 at 2:46 pm #291019

dbasketman
Participant

+1 !NN is absolutely correct on this one !!!

February 4, 2015 at 3:22 pm #291020

catdude28
Participant

If you want it on board, go down to Home Depot and buy some aluminum and build some sort of shelf to fit over the plumbing. That is what I have seen a lot of people do with the same issue in their bass boats. It will be easily removeable if you need to get to the plumbing.

February 4, 2015 at 4:57 pm #291021

shastss
Participant

Catdude28. Thanks for the idea, will look at that. Minn Kota does say in their installation guide not to mount it above the batteries as the gases that are expelled will cause corrosion in the unit. Im wondering if anyone has installed it under the passenger seat as mentioned. @Negative Nancy and dbasketman. Are you suggesting replacing the Ring Terminals that you attach to the batteries? If so why. See photo added to original post.

February 4, 2015 at 5:29 pm #291022

dbasketman
Participant

We are saying DO NOT MOUNT IT IN THE BOAT ! It just gets beat up and wet and hot and ,,,,,Instead, buy some good clips to replace the round connectors so you can just carry the unit and clip the leads on the battery terminals and use it as a portable charger. Make a handle out of rope or similar, and carry in your truck. Less weight in the boat, too.

February 4, 2015 at 7:29 pm #291023

shastss
Participant

Ah! Well thats not the response I expected. Not sure how many folks take the approach of buying an onboard charger and using it as a portable, but I can see it happening. Thank you for your response. Its not what I am trying to achieve.

February 4, 2015 at 8:52 pm #291024

dbasketman
Participant

Have you ever seen a three or four bank portable charger ?Well, there you go !

February 4, 2015 at 10:59 pm #291025

clownshoes
Participant

shastss wrote:Ah! Well thats not the response I expected. Not sure how many folks take the approach of buying an onboard charger and using it as a portable, but I can see it happening. Thank you for your response. Its not what I am trying to achieve.I have used the 4 bank 15 amp minn Kota monster this way for 6 years. Have only had 1 starter battery in 5 years and trollers last 3 years on average this way. I do at times melt the plastic on the clips but has really worked well.C.O.D. Jr. III

February 4, 2015 at 11:39 pm #291026

Corey C
Participant

I have a friend with a skeeter and his is under pass seat. It has worked well for him , leave seat up to aide with cooling if u have a transformer charger.

February 5, 2015 at 12:12 am #291027

champion jon
Participant

I would not put it in an under seat storage area if thats what you are saying. Sounds like you would be giving up space, drilling unnecessary holes and creating a potential fire hazard. Not familiar with the dimensions of the charger you have or what your battery compartment looks like. But building a “bridge” across the battery boxes with a piece of diamond plate and screwing the charger into that may be an option.

February 5, 2015 at 2:57 am #291028

Troy
Participant

I replaced my Noco charger but the hole pattern was different. The original was on the transom. I made a frame out of aluminum angle that was next to the seat pedastal pole and extended out over the oil reservoir without covering the oil tank cap. It turned out good,but I was frustrated I could not mount with the original configuration.

February 5, 2015 at 3:40 am #291029

clownshoes
Participant

Troy wrote:I replaced my Noco charger but the hole pattern was different. The original was on the transom. I made a frame out of aluminum angle that was next to the seat pedastal pole and extended out over the oil reservoir without covering the oil tank cap. It turned out good,but I was frustrated I could not mount with the original configuration.Once again, another reason I dont want mine in there. Hell I even have a brand new never used Noco from 2009 that I never installed sitting in a box in my boat storage.Saving it for when I sell mine.Use it external. They all break and then its a PITA to get it out. C.O.D. Jr. III

February 5, 2015 at 4:14 pm #291030

pant 2
Participant

I have in the past made a aluminum plat that bolted to the original bolts on transom and then drilled holes for the new charger. Worked very well. Good luck with your project. A bridge over the pumps in bilge should work also. Just make sure you seal any mounting holes before screwing into the glass.pant 2Bob

February 5, 2015 at 4:50 pm #291031

dbasketman
Participant

BCB as far as I know still does not “recommend” on board chargers or hotfoot throttles, but they are mostly standard items now for customer preference. At one time they didnt advise hydraulic steering, not sure on that stance now.The best thing about the onboard chargers to me is that if you run your cranking battery down and engine wont start you can pull up to a boat dock and borrow some electricity(if you carry a cord, and get permission from the dock owner), and get going pretty quickly.
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