battery charger question

junkman41

junkman41

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hello everyone, I have question concerning charging my batterys. I plan on useing a second battery for trolling on my 24'er
my question is what is the differance between a on-board charger and the dc charger? and what would you preferr? this is all new to me. i will be useing a 12 volt trolling motor and lights on the second battery. #1 battery will be used just for starting the outboard motor.... thank you Jack
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

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28,771
Re: battery charger question

All chargers (on-board or portable) are DC chargers. Batteries provide 12 volts DC (direct current). So the answer to your question is it doesn't matter. The difference between an on-board charger and a portable is that the on-board gets mounted permanently in the boat. You plug it into shore power (or an extension cord) when at the dock or at home. You can use any portable charger in the same manner. It just isn't left in the boat because they are not water proof. If you have two batteries and prefer an on-board charger, get one with two outputs so you can keep both batteries topped off. Charge batteries immediately after use for best battery life.
 
lncoop

lncoop

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Re: battery charger question

Nice barge, junkman. I'd highly recommend an on board charger. Relatively inexpensive, installs in minutes, and makes your batteries happy and makes you happy too. Every time I get home from the lake and all I have to do is hook up that cord in my boat to the extension cord I keep handy I pat myself on the back for adding one.;) And, when I dock in a transient slip for a lake vacation I just make sure I have said extension cord with me so I can keep the batteries topped off with minimal effort. Sure beats lugging around a portable charger or removing batteries.
 
jjohnson120

jjohnson120

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Re: battery charger question

How expensive are these chargers? Anyone have a pictures of the setup? I have a dual battery setup and have been interested in doing something like this.
 
lncoop

lncoop

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Re: battery charger question

jjohnson120 said:
How expensive are these chargers? Anyone have a pictures of the setup? I have a dual battery setup and have been interested in doing something like this.
Click to expand...

J, you can get a two bank model at your local big box store for a C note. Installation is a matter of screwing it to something suitable and hooking the red wires to the positive posts and the.......; well, you get the picture.;) I'll be your hero once you've done it.:p
 
jjohnson120

jjohnson120

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Re: battery charger question

lncoop said:
J, you can get a two bank model at your local big box store for a C note. Installation is a matter of screwing it to something suitable and hooking the red wires to the positive posts and the.......; well, you get the picture.;) I'll be your hero once you've done it.:p
Click to expand...

Yeah I've always thought this would be useful, of course the best thing I've done so far was adding a second battery. Nothing will ruin a lake trip faster than a dead battery.
 
captain zac

captain zac

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Oct 15, 2007
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Re: battery charger question

I just put one in for my friend
I got a 2 source smart charger (Guest10a) just over 100.00 West Marine
I also got a universal ac plug holder (I think it was made by mariner) 13.00 West Marine
took about 2 hrs
the plug holder made it very nice

Harry
 
River_Lizard

River_Lizard

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Re: battery charger question

Definitely get the type that monitors your battery charge level, this way you can keep it plugged in at home/dock and if your battery calls for more juice, it will auto charge it. Unless deep cycle batteries have changed, they should be drained at least down to 25% left before recharging or the battery's memory will continue to drop on every charge. Which means the battery won't last near as long as it should if you would charge when most of the juice is discharged. For some reason (I don't know why) but I was told by a battery dealer that I shouldn't be recharging a deep cycle if I haven't drained at least 75% of the juice out of it, or the memory will drop faster. This was back about 12 years so deep cycles might have changed since then.
 
jjohnson120

jjohnson120

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jjohnson120

jjohnson120

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Messages
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Re: battery charger question

lncoop said:
Think you'll be happier with something like this unless you don't have power near your shed.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boat...794380;cat104698080;cat104465880#productChart
Click to expand...

I do currently, but I may have to start storing my boat elsewhere at which point the solar panel would give me some flexibility. My batteries stay pretty much charged during the summer, it's the winter that I think this would be a good idea. The reason I like the solar panel idea is because it's basically a slow trickle, which I think would be best during the winter.
 
lncoop

lncoop

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Re: battery charger question

While the solar options are maintainers, the onboard chargers are chargers and maintainers, so once they restore the battery to full charge they do the same thing. I'm not knocking the solar ones. I've just been exceptionally happy with the onboard type.
 
captain zac

captain zac

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Re: battery charger question

The problem I would have with the solar is I can see
myself getting off the lake sat. evening and wanting to be back on the lake
Sun. morning
no way will the bat charge in the dark
but you might not boat the complete weekend
also the solar bat charger/maintainers are about the same price as the smart charger
One thing that I would like to know is will the solar charger maintain 2 bats or would you have to buy 2 solar chargers?

Harry
 
DavenLC

DavenLC

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Jun 7, 2011
Messages
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Re: battery charger question

I have 2-650amp marine batteries in parallel and one solar charger clipped on... Don't have any issues yet.. does very well. I do have a WalMart cheepie Battery Charger/Maintainer as well...

But, like Incoop said... probably better to have both types of chargers. Ya Never know...
 
junkman41

junkman41

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Re: battery charger question

I was looking at the minn kota battery charger, on there web site. and seen two types, the on board charger and a on board DC alternator charger that charges from the alt. on the motor, has anyone used this type charger
 
jjohnson120

jjohnson120

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Re: battery charger question

lncoop said:
While the solar options are maintainers, the onboard chargers are chargers and maintainers, so once they restore the battery to full charge they do the same thing. I'm not knocking the solar ones. I've just been exceptionally happy with the onboard type.
Click to expand...

True. I do have a normal batter charger I can always use, although it's not mounted anywhere on the boat. I really never run into issues with my batteries even using it all weekend. I'll probably snoop around Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and if I come across an onboard charger for a decent price I'll probably end up picking it up.
 
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