I recently boughth a 1992 33.5 but it does not have a battery charger as the boat was kept on a mooring. Looking for advice on which battery charger to buy and how difficult to install. Thanks
battery charger
- Thread starter Ben L
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You first have to decide what your battery size
needs to be to support your expected loads. Take the current draw for your components (lights, fans, pumps, inverter, etc.). Multiply that by your expected hours of usage. Then, double that to get an approximation of the size of your battery bank. As an example, I'm putting together a system for my 280 and I expect my house bank will need to be ~150 Ah. That puts me near a 20A charger so I think I'm going with the Xantrex (Truecharge 20+) since it is chemistry-selectable and supports temperature compensation. Your needs may very well vary so do the arithmetic based on what you expect to require from your bank. That'll determine your charger needs. As for installation, you'll need to run AC to the charger from your AC panel(shore power installed?) and some 10-12 AWG to the batteries from the charger site which should be close to but not over the batteries. For an idea about installation of a charger check out Xantrex. They have a pretty good installation guide. Also, ask others with similar boats where their charger and battery are installed. What size battery system do you have now and how are they being charged? I'd also suggest Don Casey's book on marine electrical systems.
needs to be to support your expected loads. Take the current draw for your components (lights, fans, pumps, inverter, etc.). Multiply that by your expected hours of usage. Then, double that to get an approximation of the size of your battery bank. As an example, I'm putting together a system for my 280 and I expect my house bank will need to be ~150 Ah. That puts me near a 20A charger so I think I'm going with the Xantrex (Truecharge 20+) since it is chemistry-selectable and supports temperature compensation. Your needs may very well vary so do the arithmetic based on what you expect to require from your bank. That'll determine your charger needs. As for installation, you'll need to run AC to the charger from your AC panel(shore power installed?) and some 10-12 AWG to the batteries from the charger site which should be close to but not over the batteries. For an idea about installation of a charger check out Xantrex. They have a pretty good installation guide. Also, ask others with similar boats where their charger and battery are installed. What size battery system do you have now and how are they being charged? I'd also suggest Don Casey's book on marine electrical systems.
Clark's last question is the issue
your bank size first and foremost should determine your charging needs. The other issue is how much you draw. Once you decide that, the charger rating is straight-forward. Everyone has their favorite brand(s) so the only suggestion I'd make is stay away from the ferro-resonant car type chargers. Any of the marine 3 stage chargers will work fine.
your bank size first and foremost should determine your charging needs. The other issue is how much you draw. Once you decide that, the charger rating is straight-forward. Everyone has their favorite brand(s) so the only suggestion I'd make is stay away from the ferro-resonant car type chargers. Any of the marine 3 stage chargers will work fine.
My 33.5
Ben, the PO had a Guest 15 amp charger that crapped out on me a few years ago. I replaced it with a Xantrex True Charge 20. I have it installed in the aft starboard cockpit locker. It's mounted on the forward bulkhead in that locker. It works well charging my 4 group 31 batteries. Do opt for the battery temp sensor and perhaps the monitor. Jeff
Ben, the PO had a Guest 15 amp charger that crapped out on me a few years ago. I replaced it with a Xantrex True Charge 20. I have it installed in the aft starboard cockpit locker. It's mounted on the forward bulkhead in that locker. It works well charging my 4 group 31 batteries. Do opt for the battery temp sensor and perhaps the monitor. Jeff
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Jeff, you have a 4 battery bank on your 33.5? - I have 2 deep cycle "wet" batteries and was considering increasing to at least 3 so I could have a dedicated starter battery. I have one each in the port and starboard lazarretes - If I increased to 2 each, I wonder about access to the fuel tank gauge.Do you have enough room and what is your setup? - Also I assume the Xantrex 20 would be more han adequate for a 2 bank setup? Thanks
Jeff, you have a 4 battery bank on your 33.5? - I have 2 deep cycle "wet" batteries and was considering increasing to at least 3 so I could have a dedicated starter battery. I have one each in the port and starboard lazarretes - If I increased to 2 each, I wonder about access to the fuel tank gauge.Do you have enough room and what is your setup? - Also I assume the Xantrex 20 would be more han adequate for a 2 bank setup? Thanks
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