Hi there. Im a happy new owner of a 97 H26 which is allways on a slip and had my first battery discharge. I took my battery out and had it charged at a local gas station. I was wondering how do you guys keep your batteries charged? I looked at the solar pads but I wouldnt want to have a space like thing on top of my deck, if it goes there. Anybody using one of them inboard chargers that you plug into the AC when you are in the slip? Any comments suggestions welcome.
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C
Corky
charger
I have a Hunter 260 and installed a permanentt charger. I mounted it on the back wall of the head in the sleeping berth and ran the wires under the bed to the battery. I keep it plugged in when at the dock. It is a float charge charger so it reduces the current when the battery is charged. I got it from West Marine. For shore power I just run an extenstion cord into my boat over the hatch boards under the cabin hatch. I happen to run it to a power bar so I can run other 110v appliances from the power bar. The power bar is next to the charger. I wired a plugin into the charger and plug it into the power bar. Has worked well this summer. I used the TrueCharge 10A, Two Bank Hard-wired Charger so I can add a second battery later. In the winter I pull the battery out and put in on a float charger to keep it ready for the next season. I you need more info let me know. Corky MeriCay
I have a Hunter 260 and installed a permanentt charger. I mounted it on the back wall of the head in the sleeping berth and ran the wires under the bed to the battery. I keep it plugged in when at the dock. It is a float charge charger so it reduces the current when the battery is charged. I got it from West Marine. For shore power I just run an extenstion cord into my boat over the hatch boards under the cabin hatch. I happen to run it to a power bar so I can run other 110v appliances from the power bar. The power bar is next to the charger. I wired a plugin into the charger and plug it into the power bar. Has worked well this summer. I used the TrueCharge 10A, Two Bank Hard-wired Charger so I can add a second battery later. In the winter I pull the battery out and put in on a float charger to keep it ready for the next season. I you need more info let me know. Corky MeriCay
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Ken Shubert
Lots of Options
I saw the neatest solar panel installation on an H240 in Colorado. They mounted the solar panel on a pipe that dropped into the mast crutch mount on the transom. It takes the space between the outboard and the swim ladder and is easily removed. The wires ran into the locker with the outboard wires. If you use a charger (almost all of us do) be sure it's the kind that cycles off and doesn't just cut back to a trickle charge. A trickle will eventually boil the life out of a battery. During winter storage, I just plug the boat in once a month for a day and top up the charge. A fully charged battery won't be bothered by sub-zero temperatures. If you are the tender-loving-care type, and remove the battery for winter storage, be absolutely sure it is not sitting on concrete. A battery voltmeter is a handy gadget to have. My GPS provides the "service" but a dedicated meter at the breaker panel would be much better. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
I saw the neatest solar panel installation on an H240 in Colorado. They mounted the solar panel on a pipe that dropped into the mast crutch mount on the transom. It takes the space between the outboard and the swim ladder and is easily removed. The wires ran into the locker with the outboard wires. If you use a charger (almost all of us do) be sure it's the kind that cycles off and doesn't just cut back to a trickle charge. A trickle will eventually boil the life out of a battery. During winter storage, I just plug the boat in once a month for a day and top up the charge. A fully charged battery won't be bothered by sub-zero temperatures. If you are the tender-loving-care type, and remove the battery for winter storage, be absolutely sure it is not sitting on concrete. A battery voltmeter is a handy gadget to have. My GPS provides the "service" but a dedicated meter at the breaker panel would be much better. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Jim Loats
Solar works for me!
My 26 has a 10 watt solar panel that is mounted on the aft rail above the tiller. It is never in the way of anything. Its output goes through a limiting circuit that disconnects the panel when full charged is reached. There is a LED indicator that lets me know that everything is topped up. I will be moving the batteries (2 gel cell units) to the bow storage area this winter to help balance the weight. I think that solar is THE way to go, but then I have few things that draw down the batteries. I especially like that it takes care of itself. Expensive up front, but worth not having to lug batteries around or deal with shore power. Take care, Jim "Grizzly Bear" Loats
My 26 has a 10 watt solar panel that is mounted on the aft rail above the tiller. It is never in the way of anything. Its output goes through a limiting circuit that disconnects the panel when full charged is reached. There is a LED indicator that lets me know that everything is topped up. I will be moving the batteries (2 gel cell units) to the bow storage area this winter to help balance the weight. I think that solar is THE way to go, but then I have few things that draw down the batteries. I especially like that it takes care of itself. Expensive up front, but worth not having to lug batteries around or deal with shore power. Take care, Jim "Grizzly Bear" Loats
Solar power works for me as well
I have a flexible 10W solar panel on my H23. It is self-regulating and keeps the battery fully charged. My demand for power is a bit above average because I sail at night quite a bit; running lights, steaming light, VHF radio, depthsounder, tiller pilot and stereo. I have not had a flat battery since I bought the panel a year ago. When sailing, I leave the panel on top of the main hatch or on the bimini to keep it in the sun. When I leave the boat, I hook the panel into the padlock on the main hatch. The panel hangs down over the hatchboards, where it gets plenty of light but doesn't collect any dirt or bird crap. One wipe with a damp rag and it's clean. The panel is tough and it can even be stepped on without damage. The cost of the panel (about $150) will be worth it when you realize that your battery will always be charged and you will never have to haul it back and forth to the boat again. With all that sun in P.R., it would be a shame to pass up that free electricity! Peter S/V Raven
I have a flexible 10W solar panel on my H23. It is self-regulating and keeps the battery fully charged. My demand for power is a bit above average because I sail at night quite a bit; running lights, steaming light, VHF radio, depthsounder, tiller pilot and stereo. I have not had a flat battery since I bought the panel a year ago. When sailing, I leave the panel on top of the main hatch or on the bimini to keep it in the sun. When I leave the boat, I hook the panel into the padlock on the main hatch. The panel hangs down over the hatchboards, where it gets plenty of light but doesn't collect any dirt or bird crap. One wipe with a damp rag and it's clean. The panel is tough and it can even be stepped on without damage. The cost of the panel (about $150) will be worth it when you realize that your battery will always be charged and you will never have to haul it back and forth to the boat again. With all that sun in P.R., it would be a shame to pass up that free electricity! Peter S/V Raven
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Jeff Davis
Solar is great.
I have solar on our H240 as well. My battery is always charged when I return to the boat. By the way, what's the issue with resting a battery on concrete?
I have solar on our H240 as well. My battery is always charged when I return to the boat. By the way, what's the issue with resting a battery on concrete?
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