View Full Version : battery chargers
rbsangler
11-25-2009, 03:37 PM
:banghead:I've managed to end up with 4 batteries in my lund explorer 1800. 2 for the 24 volt troller, 1 for the starter on the outboard engine, and 1 designated for my gps, radio, depth finder, inside lights, livewells... you get the idea.I have a 2 bank on board hooked to the trollers, and a small maintainer that I hook to the accesories battery. What options do I have to simplify this arrangement, in other words, what do other guys do in this situation? My starter gets sluggish if I don't fish every 3-4 weeks and I think I should be "maintaining it with a charger, am I right? I'm sure that the battery is fine (for now).
ffishman
11-25-2009, 04:28 PM
I have a AM-Fm radio on my boat, with a memory. Years ago, when I did not use my boat alot my battery was always going dead, the radio was the cause. I installed a disconnect switch at the battery, and since then never a problem. But, I also installed a on board charger for longer periods of non use.
It sounds like you are currently using the maintainer as a charger on you accessory battery. A 1-Amp maintainer could take several days to fully charge this battery if it ever gets there.
Personally, I'd punt the maintainer and add a second 2-bank onboard charger to take care of both the starter and accessories batteries. I've found that batteries are the most reliable when they are left on a good onboard battery charger.
If the 2 bank charger you already have is old, you could simply add a 4 bank charger to charge all 4 batteries.
Bob
rbsangler
11-25-2009, 07:44 PM
2004 model, need to keep it cause it's good, thanks for the input. maybe i'll get another 2 bank onboard, watcha think?
rbsangler
11-25-2009, 07:46 PM
Good advise, space is the only concern with this. (but isn't that always the case with "us boat owners"?)
hondo
11-26-2009, 07:46 AM
It sounds like you are currently using the maintainer as a charger on you accessory battery. A 1-Amp maintainer could take several days to fully charge this battery if it ever gets there.
Personally, I'd punt the maintainer and add a second 2-bank onboard charger to take care of both the starter and accessories batteries. I've found that batteries are the most reliable when they are left on a good onboard battery charger.
I agree with everything he said! You need to charge and maintain those batteries, which an on-board charger will do! I think adding a small 2 bank charger for those 2 batteries is your best option.
rbsangler
11-29-2009, 11:38 AM
Bought a 2 bank dual pro XL online for the other two batteries. Size was right and price too. Got it in the factory reconditioned area of the website, saved some $$$s, and got full warranty too.
Sounds like you are set up to go !
I think on-board chargers are the way to go!
Plug them in as soon as you are done using the boat.
Bob
Thembonez
12-01-2009, 05:51 PM
Not to hi-jack this thread or anything,but if you got two batteries running parallel do you charge them off one bank? Or hook each battery to it's own bank?
Hot Runr Guy
12-01-2009, 06:22 PM
Not to hi-jack this thread or anything,but if you got two batteries running parallel do you charge them off one bank? Or hook each battery to it's own bank?
IMO the best way to charge 2 batteries hooked-up in parallel is to use a 2-bank charger, one bank to each battery, and a "disconnect" to break the connection of one of the jumpers. This way, each battery is independently charged, and not influenced by the other. A disconnect like this: http://gamainc.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?item=BS100 could be attached to one post, and the jumper (probably break the positive side) goes to the other side of the disconnect.
HRG
rbsangler
12-01-2009, 06:25 PM
NO hi-jack...you're cool.. I think you could do it either way, but I would go to a website tech support and ask them. If you have a dual-pro for example, you could e-mail them. Are you doubling up to get longer runtime at 12 volts? My setup is two batteries in "series" to get 24 volts for the 24 volt troller. Then I just bought another 2 bank for my 2 other batteries. In the 24 volt part, I HAD to use 1 bank per battery, even though they are "hooked" together. The charger does not "see" this in that setup. I can only think that you may see a problem hooking one bank up to 2 parralel batteries, because the "amperage would be "split" between them and take alot longer to reach full charge.
Thembonez
12-01-2009, 06:49 PM
I'm using the two for longer run time (12volts). Currently I just disconect the negative connecting the two and have one bank charging each battery. It's worked for over 2yrs now just didnt know I was setting myself up for problem eventually.
rbsangler
12-02-2009, 05:59 PM
I'm still not certain if you are setting up a problem....what would it be? I still recommend asking the tech support of your charger manufacturer. Maybe you would find out that you don't need to disconnect anything...again, I'm not sure. Good luck. I just got my new dual pro today, UPS, and since I remove all of my batteries each year, I set it up on a couple....works great. It's a factory reconditioned from dual pro website...full warrantee and about 75 dollars less tha new.