Yet another battery charger question.

[1986mariner150]

Hi and thanks for looking at my post. I have just got home with a new battery charger from walmart.<br />It is a schumacher speed charge, computer smart. I must say I am pretty impressed with it so far. It tests as well as charges, has a digital volt meter built in that read volts,or percentage of charge or percentage of alternater output. The manual says it hits it at first with as many amps as it can handle then levels off till the percentage gets to 100 then switchs to a maintenance mode. Also has automatic desulfate cycle when it detects you need this. All for $40. <br />They also have a less amperage model with all the same features for $25. I have been considering onboard charger for the boat for a while now and was told that other than the multiple output banks the other main difference was the way they switched to different charging rate to maintain peak power. I am wondering if the technolgy is the same and if 2 of the $25 units left plugged in 24/7 would be safe and as good as an onboard? I forgot to mention above there is a deep cycle setting.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Yet another battery charger question.

I have several charger and also got a new one from Wallmart around Xmass. Mine has all the same features but is a Vector brand. I also have 2 older Schauer 10 amp automatic chargers that I have used for 20 years or more and they have been great.<br /><br />I think it would work ok for charging and maintaining but not the same as a unit designed to be on board. Ones designed to be on board are pretty close to water proof, won,t rust, smaller, and made for easy mounting. If I wanted a onboard charger I would spend the extra bucks.<br /><br />I always trailer my boat and have used my Older Schauer charger to charge both my batteries since 1982. I just added a 12 volt plug to the bow of my boat and wired it back to the input of my battery isolator to charge both batteries. Never had a battery that did not last 6 years on the boat. The charger I added a plug for the output wires. Then made a cord to plug into the boat at the bow. Made a seperate cord to charge car batteries. When I get home I plug in the charger before unloading, then unload and clean fish. Batteries are topped off before I get boat unloaded, so when done put it away. The reason I did this is got tired of climing under the cover in winter to hook up charger and charge batteries every month. Added bennfit is have a 12 volt line back to the trailer and a cord that I can plug to trailer and then plug into the boat and charge batteries from truck alternator while going down the road. When boat camping can charge from boat ramp to camp site.