Battery Charger and AC Power

[Marcio Bodnariuc]

I just purchased a 1985 Hunter 34 and would like to ask the following.Is there any harm in leaving the charger on 24-7 ?I usually leave my boat pluged to shore power only when I am using the AC outlets, but recently I started to leave the shore power as well as the charger on all the time.Consequently my three instruments (Data Marine) Wind Speed, Depth Sounder and Knometer are gone, so sign of live. The breaker panel is lit when I turn the depth sounder on but nothing is happening at the cockpit ? Any idea what could have gone wrong ?Also should I continue to leave to charger on 24-7 or only when the baterry needs charging ?Appreciate some help.Marcio Bonariuc

 

[Don Berger]

power

Leaving the charger on continuously shouldn't cause you to lose instruments, however, unless you need to keep the boat powered all the time for maintaining refrigeration, etc, don't do it so as to avoid corrosion problems. If you don't have a good isolated three-stage charger, get rid of whatever is there as it will inevitably cause problems. I'd check to make sure there is 12 v getting to the instruments as it's too coincidental for all of them to die simultaneously.Don

 

[Paul]

second that

I leave my shore charger on all the time, since I have a fridge. It doesn't harm your instruments, or nearly any other electrical equipment. Light bulbs are an obvious exception.Something else is wrong there. All three instruments probably share the same 12V source line and probably the same ground point. If you're not an electrical type you're going to have to get someone to troubleshoot it for you.Your batteries may always need charging. Flooded batteries self-discharge at a fairly high rate, around 10%-15% per month. If the motoring time between your hoist and drop area is short, you may not be keeping up with even modest loads.

 

[Terry]

Hi Marcio, most all boat systems have in-line...

fuses or breakers to protect them against harmful surges. Instruments in particular may have these fuses behind the electrical panel. That is where I found ours for the speed, depth, etc. meters on our H28.Terry

 

[Debra B]

depends on charger

Some are meant to be on all the time others are not. If you have a modern 3 or 4 stage charger you are probably OK as long as the charger is sized for the batteries you have. Too large a charger can still cook the batteries even if it is a "new" model.

 

[Marcio Bodnariuc]

Thank you all !!!

Thank you guys for all the suggestions and recomendations.I will go to the boat this P.M. and hopefully will solve the problem.Cheers,Marcio