12v outlet/cig. lighter

guido469

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
33
Can I charge my battery by plugging the charger into it? If so do i have to wire it directally to the battery, or can i run it through a buss bar along with all all my acc.? Its my deep cell and is not connected to the motor,so gets no charge from it.
 

richw46

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
118
Re: 12v outlet/cig. lighter

My Ranger came with an adapter that allowed me to connect a charger to my trolling motor plug. I used that exactly one time and found it to be almost useless because of the length of the cables to the battery. I just hooked up directly to each battery and charged it that way. I eventually bought an on board Pro 3-bank charger and have been very happy with the purchase. It was a little expensive but it's been about 5 years now and I've never regretted the purchase.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: 12v outlet/cig. lighter

Look at it this way, if the receptacle is wired with wire whose current carrying capacity is less than the out of the charger, it goes up in smoke. It is an accessory receptacle, not a charging port. And by the way, accessory outlets may look like a cigarette lighter socket but they are not. Chances are it will work but you need to also remember that there are lots of ground wires in a boat that are very small (locators for example). If you have a loose ground wire somewhere in the charging path, that battery charger output will seek ground wherever it can and may just smoke other wiring. Besides, you would need to butcher the charger leads to install the applicable plug. Use the charger as it is intended.
 

guido469

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
33
Re: 12v outlet/cig. lighter

thanks for the info. gonna buy a good charger .
 

seabob4

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
1,603
Re: 12v outlet/cig. lighter

thanks for the info. gonna buy a good charger .

That would be a good idea. And install one of these while your at it...from ProMariner.
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Makes for a nice, neat install and you don't have to cut the plug off like the Marinco outlet.
 
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