Battery Chargers

**Cornfed** · May-05-2008, 12:49 PM

Got a question for you fishin fools....

So for those of you who don't know I am at the 2/3rd mark of repowering and revamping my boat. I have done quite a few things and still have quite a few things to do...

The new engine (350 MAG MPI) is in...just need to do a little work to fit the seawater pump.
Other additions include Furuno 1715 radar, Taco outriggers, 3rd set flushmount rod holders, relocation of batteries from back to front, swapped out kicker, second bilge pump, new stereo system, saltwater washdown...there are probably more but my fingers are getting tired...

Anyhow, i would like to keep my boat at westport this next summer, but I really don't want to do that without a battery charger. I don't have any ridiculous power rqmts at the dock besides the running of the radio to check weather and the stereo system, but would like the added security of battery charging in the event that the bilge pumps get overloaded. What do you guys think? Is this necessary? How many of you guys have chargers? I had my boat in the water for 3 months last summer without issue, but if you run into that kind of problem....its a big freakin problem. I am hoping that we will be keeping a tight monitor on each other's boats this summer, but I need to determine if I really need a charger this year or not. I have a 25' Starcraft Expedition. Electrical items to run on the water: Lowrance, radar, downriggers, running lights, stereo, radio, live well pumps. Thats really about it.

So what do you guys think? What charger would you get or do you have?

fishnazzi · May-05-2008, 01:42 PM

you can get an onboard charger from minn kota they offer 12,24 and 36volt.Should work out for maintaing your system.........also for whatever it is worth you can install a second switch in your bilge(higher then the pumps switch) to fire a loud alarm let the neighbors know there is trouble..

Green Wasabi · May-05-2008, 01:45 PM

I don't have an onboard charger. But was thinking about it like you.

Tower Todd · May-05-2008, 02:44 PM

How is your boat setup? On my boat, if the battery switches are on (even if DC power is off at the panel) then the bilge pumps are powered. So I leave the batt switches on and DC breaker off. If there is a leak during the week, and the pumps kick on it would run down the batteries. Of course if the leak is severe then the whole operation is on bottom anyway. So I plug in the charger in the event of the leak as mentioned above.
If you are going to do it, put a little extra effort in a get a good SCR Multi-Stage type charger. This type charger will rapidly charge a battery to 75-80% charge, then gradually reduce current until batteries are fully charged, then switch to "float" mode and remain that way until charging is again necessary or a load is impressed. These are the best style charger for deep cycle lead-acid batteries and gel cell type batteries.
Another consideration is how many batteries do you currently have and do you plan to add more in the future? If so get a charger that can handle to addittional bank.

TT

Keta · May-05-2008, 04:51 PM

First install an ACR between your batteries, then any quality marine charger will keep your batteries charged.
Wire your bilge pump directly to a battery, through a fuse. Then you can shut down your batteries when you leave.

Reel Nauti · May-05-2008, 06:14 PM

I have a on board charger wired through my 120v system. Can't remember the name but it is a multi stage too not cook the battery banks. It has 3 stages (bulk charge 8-10 amps) (absorption 2-8 amps) (floating 1-2 amps) The charger has two outputs, one for the start bank and one for the house bank.

I also have a Blue Sea battery link and a blue sea battery switch that lets me control my house bank and start bank separately and it has a third switch to combine both banks if needed.

The battery link lets me set high and low voltage setpoints for each bank. When charging from the alternator it will charge the start bank first then the house bank second. When both are up to setpoint of my choice it will automatically combine both banks(keeping both banks topped off). If and when the house bank drops below set point, the battery link will disconnect the start battery from the circuit(insuring I have start power) until the house bank is charged back up to setpoint. If there is a draw on the start bank, the battery link will disconnect the house bank so both banks don't go dead. If I find a bad start bank, the combined switch will let me take start power from the house bank. All that is on my start bank is the main engine, blower and kicker.

My 3 bilge pumps ( 1 is alarmed ) and two CO2 sensors are wired directly to my house bank through the smaller of the two 12v breaker panels in the boat. The smaller breaker panel is always hot even with the house bank turned off. The bigger breaker panel runs everything else, but the electronics. All my electronics come from a dedicated blue sea fused power block. Both are wired through the house bank on the battery switch.

In my old boat, I would have to switch to BOTH for the run out and Switch back to BAT 1 or BAT 2 when I get there, same for the run back( usually forgot and left it on Both all day. On the dock (stand alone) If I fell asleep with all the everything on(it has happened) I would have to beg for a jump the next morning. If I had a bad bank, I would find out the hard way.

With my new boat, the battery link does all of this for me. If I find a bad bank, the combined switch on the battery switch will save my sorry ass again.

fishnazzi · May-05-2008, 09:39 PM

Dude I'm olod and out dated but........make sure!!!!!!!!!!you have power to your pumps and an alarm system to wake the DEAD if it can't keep up..........fish'n with MO in a couple weeks.........maybe ready to come out of my shell..............Dominator on the bd here is an old crew..........family by Crew.........hard to explain but.........I ain't dead and I got some if you want work world............gotta work everyday or........... GOOD LUCK

Willapa · May-05-2008, 10:13 PM

I have a 3 bank Guest charger. It's the multi-stage type that the others have recommended. I just plug it in when I leave the boat and it keeps the batteries topped off. My kicker and the main both charge all 3 batteries when they're running. My two bilge pumps are wired directly to the batteries so I can leave the battery switches off when I leave the boat.

fishnazzi · May-05-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willapa

I have a 3 bank Guest charger. It's the multi-stage type that the others have recommended. I just plug it in when I leave the boat and it keeps the batteries topped off. My kicker and the main both charge all 3 batteries when they're running. My two bilge pumps are wired directly to the batteries so I can leave the battery switches off when I leave the boat.

THATS WHAT I'M TALK'IN ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!

**Saluki** · May-05-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willapa

I have a 3 bank Guest charger. It's the multi-stage type that the others have recommended. I just plug it in when I leave the boat and it keeps the batteries topped off. My kicker and the main both charge all 3 batteries when they're running. My two bilge pumps are wired directly to the batteries so I can leave the battery switches off when I leave the boat.

Exactly.

Xantrex Technology Inc. - Boats - XC Battery Chargers - 12V & 24V - Product Information

Is what we installed in our 24' Skip Jack F/B
1-12v battery for the engine
1-12v battery for the elctronics
2-6v batteris for the house

dragonballs · May-06-2008, 08:37 AM

tommy what ever you do make sure it is not an automotive charger. I tried this at first to save a little coin. but now I am set up with a system like chandler stated. the most important part is the combiner this allows the batteries to cycle and charge to use or combine for starting power.

**Cornfed** · May-06-2008, 09:12 AM

Thanks for all the info. I am trying to put a list together from what I have heard from you guys and from my brother (he is currently putting a charging system in his boat). I don't consider myself an electrical expert so I will have to read up before installing the different components.

Mark - I think you are talking about a charging relay, correct? when you describe your "blue sea battery link" This lets you control which battery gets drawn from for each system and it keeps your engine batt. from getting too low, correct?

Fellas - I don't have anything right now except my two batteries (one engine, one house), my battery switch, and $700 worth of battery cable that runs from my relocated batteries (I moved them to the front of the boat to get weight out of the back) to the location where I used to have everything wired too. I have a stud mount at this aft location that all of my accessories are wired to.

Sounds like I need:

A quality multi-stage charger (I have heard good things about Xantrax) that has the ability to control 3 banks.

A charging relay to regulate the charge between the house and start batt.

A fuse block/panel? I am not sure if I need this. If I have a charging relay that doesn't let my start battery get low, then what is the harm in having my other items direct wired to the battery switch and batteries? I can turn the switch off at night and when I leave and still have the bilge pumps direct wired to the battery. I just don't have the luxury of turning on and off individual accessories. Maybe someone can clarify this for a rookie?