Which charger to use????

[rickdb1boat]

I have 2 batteries on my pontoon boat that I would like to be able to charge without the hassle of removing them. They are stored in a compartment that is partially open but a real bear to get to when I need to hook up a charger. One is a deep cycle for the troller and the other is my starting battery. The only thing I run with the deep cycle is the troller. Everything else is hooked to the starting battery which, of course, is charged by the motor. I want something that will let me charge quickly or just trickle charge during layup. Anyway, something I could mount inside the compartment that hooks to the batteries for charging and yet have access on the outside to plug it up for charging easily. Here's a pic from the back of the boat showing where the batteries are located. There is a shelf located inside that area that is about even with the bottom of that white side panel(Next to the text) that is a pain to pull out to get to the batteries. Any ideas of a simple set-up? Thanks,

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Which charger to use????

I use an on board charger with the AC input connected to one of these: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/cata...arClassCode=3&hvarSubCode=4&hvarTarget=browse

When I get home I plug the extension cord in and forget it. Problem is I forgot it too much and pulled the boat out with the cord still plugged in a couple of times. LOL

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which charger to use????

Thanks Bill. That's exactly what I was looking for. Gonna get a 2 bank onboard charger and that plug. Do you have recommendations as to the charger to get?

 

[JB]

Re: Which charger to use????

Though I have only one battery which I use for everything I have a trick that someone else must have thought of. In my small (15') boat I don't have space for an on-board charger, so I use my regular automatic charger. It cuts off when the battery is fully charged and turns back on if the charge drops.

I rigged up a second plug to plug into the outlet for my troller. I simply connect the charger to that and plug it in to charge my battery.

If I had your rig I think I would rig a troller socket outside the compartment connected to the starter battery to do the same thing.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which charger to use????

That's a good idea, JB. I guess I could even splice in a male troller plug onto the charger so that I could just plug it in to the female. I already have a troller plug up front. So I would have to find a spot to mount one in the rear for the starting battery. Might look silly coming through the side panel. I don't use the trolling motor very often, but I would like it up to snuff when I want to head out. My charger does the same thing. Charges until full, then cuts out until needed. What I have done to top off the starting battery, is to take the motor hood off and hook up the charger overnight to the battery cables at the starter solenoid. Works fine, but looks a bit odd...Thanks for the ideas...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Which charger to use????

You can buy a single output Guest 6A smart charger for about $50. It will take care of the trolling motor battery just fine. My last two boats have been equipped with them and they are just fine. Plug it in and forget it. You don't need a two-bank charger. Another $20 bucks gets you a Schumacher battery maintainer (1.5A output) that can be connected to the starting battery. My last two boats have had one of those as well. Wire them so one plug feeds both. Both batteries will always be ready to go. You don't need to spend extra bucks for another bank of 6A or more to keep a starting battery topped off. It will never use that capacity anyway.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Which charger to use????

Bass Pro has a 8 Amp 2 bank 3 stage charger on sale for $59.88 right now.

It's nice to have the bigger charger on the starting battery too. if you are working on your boat and cranking the engine, it can get run down a bit. this will bring it right back up.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which charger to use????

Thanks for the info ST. But if I'm up to $70.00 for 2 chargers, would it not be better to just get a 2 bank(10 Amp 5 X 5) charger for just a bit more? Then I only have to mount one charger and only have one plug in. I realize that I don't need 5 Amps on the starting battery, but it would be there if I ever did. I'm really looking to keep the whole thing simple as it's a real pain right now...What do you think.?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Which charger to use????

Rick, I use a 3 bank ProMariner XPS with 5 amps per bank. If one bank doesn't need charging, it automatically puts the current on the bank where it is needed. When all batteries are charged, it goes into a maintenance mode. It will charge my trolling motor batteries (24V) over night.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Which charger to use????

Absolutely!

, would it not be better to just get a 2 bank(10 Amp 5 X 5) charger for just a bit more?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which charger to use????

Ok. That's the way I'm going with it. Going to Bass Pro and get the XPS 2 bank 10 Amp(5 X 5) charger. I was looking at this one anyway but since Bill gave that brand good reviews, it a clinch. Good buy at $79.00 and then I'm also going to get the Onboard Charger Inlet that was suggested for $13.00. Still under a $100.00 and solves my problem and then some. Sounds like it would make a good birthday present for the Wife to get me next week. Thanks for all the ideas and advice from all. That's why this site is cool.....

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Which charger to use????

Onboard charger is the way to go. I only run a single bank onboard charger for my trolling motor battery. I just plug it in and forget about it. I have never had a need for the main battery to sit on a charger, but in the off chance the main battery loses charge, I always have the trolling battery to jump off of to get started, then the motor will charge the main battery.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Which charger to use????

Remember that if one bank of a two or three bank charger takes a dump most are not repairable as they are potted assemblies. If you replace the bad output with another single bank you now have three chargers on board. Just throwing out options. Initial purchase is not always the only consideration.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which charger to use????

Thanks ST. That is something to consider. How are the multiple bank on-board chargers as far as reliability? I've had my plain old charger for I can't remember how many years now. But the newer ones are no doubt more complicated....

Now you and Jason have me thinking. Maybe a single on-board would be best....Huuummm

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Which charger to use????

They are fairly reliable but like anything electronic, as they say "stuff happens". I've not had one fail. But mine are both single bank and if one did die, I simply replace it with another single bank unit. If it were a two bank unit and one side failed I now have a choice, spend the money another two bank unit costs or add a new single bank. Isn't life confusing? d Since both of your batteries are next to each other a dual bank probably makes the most sense. In my boat the troller battery is up front and start battery is at the stern. My Schumaker maintainer is mounted in the start battery compartment and the Guest 6A is up front. I can plug in either or both as needed. If I had a dual bank, I'd need to run a set of wires all the way to the back for the troller. I made a special cord with two female plugs on it and a single male. I simply plug connect one or both female plugs to the chargers and the male end at the outlet at the dock.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Which charger to use????

On my boat I charge both batteries thru a battery isolator with my I/O's 60 amp alternator.

To charge batteries when home and over winter I ran a 12 gauge wire up to a plug on the bow. I made an adapter so my battery charger can plug in there. The other end go to the same battery isolator my alternator feeds. Battery charger is fully automatic so plug it in and it will shut down when charged.
In winter when it nasty and bad outside I use a long extension cord from the charger into the same connector on the bow. It will charge slower but still reach full charge.

One last thing I did was to run a heavy 12 volt wire from my truck back to the trailer. I use this 12 volt line for several things but one of the things I can do is plug in to my bow power plug and charge both batteries from the trucks alternator while going down the road.

Since the battery isolator is allready in the boat all I had to do was run a 12 gage wire to a bow power plug.
Made a adapter to plug into my charger and the bow power plug.
Ran a wire from the trucks Battery thru a circuit breaker back to the trailer plug.