I don't believe my 31 has a battery charger. There are no extra wires going to the two batteries. I have been looking through all the different brands and types. I would like to know what type and or brand work best. I would like it to provide DC power while plugged in to shore power. Thanks, Jake
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Xantrex/Statpower
The Xantrex/Statpower is an excellent unit. It is a smart charger and has setting for all battery types.
The Xantrex/Statpower is an excellent unit. It is a smart charger and has setting for all battery types.
Guest
Hi Jake. I have a 1988 Hunter Legend35. When I bought the Boat 5 years ago, it had an Automotive Battery Charger in it,sitting loosely next to the Battery Banks. Not Good. I purchased a Guest Smartcharge 10 amp Charger. I hard-wired it to the Batteries (real easy)and connected to the rear birth bulkhead approx 3' away from the Batteries. It has 2 Leds on it.The one shows the Charger has power to it and the other lites only when it is Charging. Being a Smartcharge, it ranges from 10 amps down to trickle charge,and with my twin bank Batteries, I never have to worry about them.It also looks Professional.
Hi Jake. I have a 1988 Hunter Legend35. When I bought the Boat 5 years ago, it had an Automotive Battery Charger in it,sitting loosely next to the Battery Banks. Not Good. I purchased a Guest Smartcharge 10 amp Charger. I hard-wired it to the Batteries (real easy)and connected to the rear birth bulkhead approx 3' away from the Batteries. It has 2 Leds on it.The one shows the Charger has power to it and the other lites only when it is Charging. Being a Smartcharge, it ranges from 10 amps down to trickle charge,and with my twin bank Batteries, I never have to worry about them.It also looks Professional.
Jake
You don't need and will not see extra wires to the battery with a charger. In most cases, the wires leaving the battery will go to a switch that can turn the battery off so to speak (disconnect to from the grid). The other wire on that switch will go to a bus bar (that's how it's connected to the grid). The charger would be attached to the bus bar. Why? Because electric current flows though the entire grid and when it's not being used, it heads to the battery. Note: if the battery is at full charge and the charger is still sending current, then the battery starts to cook, but smart chargers can determine this and stop charging. How can you tell if you have a charger? Besides looking all over the place for a metal box with wires to it, take a multi-meter (you got to get one if you don't have one) and check the volts at the battery (or just look at your guage if you have one). If you have a charger and it's working, there should be at least 13 volts when you turn a lot of stuff on. My advice, find that bus bar and find out what every wire is. Later on you just may need to know this so it's a good idea to get a head start.
You don't need and will not see extra wires to the battery with a charger. In most cases, the wires leaving the battery will go to a switch that can turn the battery off so to speak (disconnect to from the grid). The other wire on that switch will go to a bus bar (that's how it's connected to the grid). The charger would be attached to the bus bar. Why? Because electric current flows though the entire grid and when it's not being used, it heads to the battery. Note: if the battery is at full charge and the charger is still sending current, then the battery starts to cook, but smart chargers can determine this and stop charging. How can you tell if you have a charger? Besides looking all over the place for a metal box with wires to it, take a multi-meter (you got to get one if you don't have one) and check the volts at the battery (or just look at your guage if you have one). If you have a charger and it's working, there should be at least 13 volts when you turn a lot of stuff on. My advice, find that bus bar and find out what every wire is. Later on you just may need to know this so it's a good idea to get a head start.
Battery Bus Bars
I just purchased an 85 31' Hunter. The previous owners had a dual output 10 amp battery charger run straight to the batteries. I added two 6 volt golf cart batteries and a 20 amp Xantrex battery charger (probably should have gone 30 but my wallet was getting a little thin by this time). Go to West Marine or any of the Marine online stores and buy a couple of bus bars like a previous poster mentioned - makes life a whole lot easier when messing around with DC circuits. You can also buy 10 or 12 gauge primary wire for the charger leads at any auto parts store for a whole lot cheaper than marine wire and it is basically the same thing.
I just purchased an 85 31' Hunter. The previous owners had a dual output 10 amp battery charger run straight to the batteries. I added two 6 volt golf cart batteries and a 20 amp Xantrex battery charger (probably should have gone 30 but my wallet was getting a little thin by this time). Go to West Marine or any of the Marine online stores and buy a couple of bus bars like a previous poster mentioned - makes life a whole lot easier when messing around with DC circuits. You can also buy 10 or 12 gauge primary wire for the charger leads at any auto parts store for a whole lot cheaper than marine wire and it is basically the same thing.
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