05-02-2025, 02:49 AM
(05-02-2025, 01:12 AM)Mildog Wrote: Scott,
Sounds great the Merc pro kickers have alternators that work at lower trolling speeds it will charge the battery faster than any drain finders or riggers will draw. You will never have power issues I would guess with that set up!
I got the 9.9 pro kicker and run my riggers and start off a dual purpose battery.
I have 12 v but only 50 amps life po4 and as mentioned I’ve run out on 2 different days, long days.
I can easily switch over to other battery it’s in same compartment donates are right there, and might consider always running it off the other battery it’s hooked to big motor and kicker so always being recharged. I’ve heard you get better images if you isolate battery. Yet for years we all ran them off same battery and many still do, apparently with no issues?
I got the Mercury 150 xs because I fish Powell and we run such long distances to fish 30 plus miles much of the time, so cruising a bit faster makes more time to fish and if you need to get off quick you have that option. I still like to cruise a lower rpm and not often at WOT. But feels good to have it when needed.
You are correct that the Pro-Kicker has a fantastic alternator, particularly the EFI models. It is why I stick with Mercury kickers - I can get almost 12 amps charging at idle, something none of the others (Yamaha, Honda, etc.) can even come close to. With that said, I've found the limit.
I have the 15hp EFI pro-kicker, and it does not quite keep up when I am running all of my "nonsense": two 12" Garmin 126UHD's, a 9" Garmin 93sv, LVS34 Livescope, heated captain and passenger chairs, diesel heater, forward, deck, and courtesy lights, nav lights, 4 cannon Mag 10s, stereo, washdown, livewell pump, recirc system, etc. etc. With that said, it's really not an issue because the occasion to need all of that at once is rare.