trickle battery charger?

[monk-monk]

i seen a product that was for slowly charging your battery when not using your boat...what is it? whats the best one on the market?

 

[Uraijit]

Re: trickle battery charger?

What do you mean, "what is it". You named it in the title, and described it in your post.

It's called a trickle, or "float" charger. They all work about the same. There's nothing special to 'em. You can get 'em at Wal-Mart, or Harbor Freigh for next to nothing...

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: trickle battery charger?

What do you mean, "what is it". You named it in the title, and described it in your post.

It's called a trickle, or "float" charger. They all work about the same. There's nothing special to 'em. You can get 'em at Wal-Mart, or Harbor Freigh for next to nothing...

Trickle chargers are indeed available almost anywhere. The common ones are about the size of the battery itself, and need to be hooked up to the battery and plugged into the wall socket when used and disconnected when done.

There are different sorts of trickle chargers that are intended to be a permanent installation under the hood (or in this case in the battery compartment of a boat). I have one in my pick up truck - it substitutes for a warming battery blanket or pad for winter use. The current put into the battery from the trickle charger no only keeps the voltage up, but also keepst the battery warm. It's a small box about 3" square by an couple inches thick mounted somewhere under the hood (I can't remember where, it's been about 5 years since I installed it, and I'm too lazy to walk outside and look!). It is wired directly to the battery terminals and has a cord to the outside to plug into the wall. I plug it in along with the oil pan heater, water heater, transmision heater, etc. in the winter.

This might be the sort of unit OP is talking about. - something that can be permanently installed and wired to the battery, and plugged into wall current with an extension cord.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: trickle battery charger?

Yes, plenty of trickle chargers come with a cable for permanent connection to the battery.

The cable disconnects from the charger, but remains connected to the battery.

But again, there's not much difference between any of them. They all work on the same principal, they're all free of moving parts, so they will all last about the same, as long as you don't dunk 'em under water...

 

[freddyray21]

Re: trickle battery charger?

there are also one's called battery tenders. They are different than trickle chargers in that they are able to read your battery and shut itself off or turn it self on as needed. A trickle charger always puts a small charge to the battery. Long periods of trickle charging can deplete the water in the battery.

 

[monk-monk]

Re: trickle battery charger?

thanks freddyray, that is exactly the item i was referring to, just forgot the "battery minder" phrase...thanks for taking time to evaluate my question and just what it was that i needed...you answered it!!