onboard battery charger?

[ordonyez]

I just bought a new Skeeter bass boat and am looking at putting a charger on it. I have 2 batteries in series one for my motor and the other for my gauges, fish finder and trolling motor. It also has a battery switch (which I still don't understand).

Im looking at onboard chargers but non marine chargers are way less expensive. My last boat had a non marine charger mounted in the boat and I never had a problem with it. What are the advantages to having a marine charger versus mounting a non marine charger in a waterprrof storage area in my bass boat?

Thanks

This is a great forum, I'm learning a ton.

 

[rbh]

Re: onboard battery charger?

if my memory servce me right if you hook up in series you will get 24vdc and not 12vdc, parrellel?, twice the amps same voltage?
rob

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: onboard battery charger?

I have 2 batteries in series one for my motor and the other for my gauges, fish finder and trolling motor. It also has a battery switch (which I still don't understand).

I'm confused (which is nothing new!) about your post.

Series wiring is 24 volts. It will have the negative terminal of one battery connected to the positive terminal of the other. A 24-volt trolling motor will connect to the two free terminals. A switch in this case should not be able to switch between the two batteries -- one of them will produce a direct short to the battery. If there is a switch there, it's probably a disconnect switch that used to break the connection between the pos of one and neg of the other.

Parallel wiring is 12 volts. It will have the negative terminals connected together. The positive terminals will connect to "1" and "2" of the battery switch. The "common" on the battery switch will then connect to the starter and aux devices. The switch is used to charge either battery and to shut off the power altogether. The "Both" position is normally used if both batteries are drained and you need the extra power to start the boat.

 

[flargin]

Re: onboard battery charger?

Agree, ordonyez, you may want to post pictures ect, and the team here will help you figure out your switch and charging setup. That may help you in the future.

As for your original question... the big reason for the Marine charging setups has to do with preventing of fire and waterproof. If you mount a normal charger on your boat, it will die due to rust pretty quickly. As for the fire problems, marine units are protected to not produce sparks. Not your standard charging systems.

You can just buy a charger at your local Auto store and use it. A battery is a battery, if you are wanting to permanently mount it-- go for a marine one.

once we understand what type of battery setup you have, might be able to help you determine which ones.