Keeping bait tank going over night

[OnTheRocks]

I've got a 30gal greyline, and a separate 12V deep cycle for the tank. I was planning on going to catch some bait this evening for first family lake trip tomorrow morning. I usually go early enough to catch my bait and then go fish, however with a wife 5 year old and a 8 year old they will most likely be up that early. How can I set up my charger to keep the bait tank battery going and not have a dead battery and a bunch of dead bait in the morning? Do I set it to 12V deep cycle slow charge or what? This will be my first attempt at this so I need some insight. My battery charger is a die hard (not sure the model). My on board charger will be charging the trolling battery and cranking battery and it's only a 2 bank. Any help is appreciated thanks!!

[mwardncsu]

The pump draws around 3 amps. What size battery is you tank on? If it's full already when you go get bait around 10p-12a you'll use a few hours - and get it back on the charger overnight. Chances are if its a grp 24 or larger deep cycle you'll have plenty of juice not to even worry about it, but at least set it to 3 or 5a.

[johnr]

I've had my tanks run for up to 2 weeks at home. It's easier with 2 batteries but you can do it with one.

I have a digital portable charger that reads the battery and adjusts amperage as necessary. I leave it on the 6 amp setting at all times when I am not there, and turn it off when I am there to let the battery chill out. I've had no issues this way.

I've also done it with an older charger that didn't vary the amperage, and had no issues short term.

[johnr]

Also fwiw, my tests have revealed 12+ hours of tank time on a freshly charged group 24 battery, and around 6 hours on a lawn tractor battery.

[OnTheRocks]

It's a blue top deep cycle optima, it's at around 60% right now,,.on the way home from work now, so may be a little more since I hooked it up at 8am this morning on slow charge.

[johnr]

You could always go out and get bait alone then have the wife and kid meet you when it gets light out. We do that these days with a young kid in tow.

[striperjohn]

If you have a smart charger just hook it up. It will sense the load of the pump and up the charge amperage to compensate. I use a 12volt power supply (radio shack) and charge batteries while it runs the pump. But the charger alone will work.

[OnTheRocks]

I'll probably just get up early like John suggested, and have the wife and kids meet me at the lake around 7....saves a lot of gas being an hour from the lake also!