My boat sits in the slip for 3 weeks at a time hooked up to the shorepower with the battery charger charging the batteries. Would my batteries be better off with an "on/off" charging routine where I let them drain for a week and then charge for a week (or some other routine)?
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Depends on the battery charger.
Rip: You are the second RIP on the HOW site! If you have a proper 'smart' (3 or 4 stage) marine battery charger there should be no reason that you cannot leave the charger on 24 x 7. These charger have programs in them to sense the charge level and can monitor the battery condition. If you are using flooded battery technology they will also equalize the batteries on a regular schedule. I personally like the Statpower/Xantrex Truechargers. They are quiet and do a good job on all battery types (flooded, gel or agm).
Rip: You are the second RIP on the HOW site! If you have a proper 'smart' (3 or 4 stage) marine battery charger there should be no reason that you cannot leave the charger on 24 x 7. These charger have programs in them to sense the charge level and can monitor the battery condition. If you are using flooded battery technology they will also equalize the batteries on a regular schedule. I personally like the Statpower/Xantrex Truechargers. They are quiet and do a good job on all battery types (flooded, gel or agm).
I agree with Steve...
I have a TrueCharge 10TB on my Hunter 25.5 and it is on 24/7...Works great....but occasionly I turn the charger off, and run everything on battery, just to exercise the charging plares of the battery. Sometimes it's 3 or 4 weeks before I can get to the boat...Never had a problem...
I have a TrueCharge 10TB on my Hunter 25.5 and it is on 24/7...Works great....but occasionly I turn the charger off, and run everything on battery, just to exercise the charging plares of the battery. Sometimes it's 3 or 4 weeks before I can get to the boat...Never had a problem...
How can you tell?
I've a '95 Catalina 270 with the stock charger (I assume - I'm her third owner) - some way to tell if your charger acutally fits the bill? Mine will "shut off" once charged but I've been told that will still boil off the batteries if left on 23/7. Thanks, Bill
I've a '95 Catalina 270 with the stock charger (I assume - I'm her third owner) - some way to tell if your charger acutally fits the bill? Mine will "shut off" once charged but I've been told that will still boil off the batteries if left on 23/7. Thanks, Bill
What is It?
Bill It would really help if you told us the make and model. If it's a Charles charger, which seemed to be the type of charger that Catalina was and still is installing, it would not be the right one to leave on all the time. The only kind you can do that with is a true three stage charger, like the Statpower, Xantrex or Heart models. You can read about the proper type of charging at the West Marine Advisor website page. The link is to a thread about chargers that should also help you out.
Bill It would really help if you told us the make and model. If it's a Charles charger, which seemed to be the type of charger that Catalina was and still is installing, it would not be the right one to leave on all the time. The only kind you can do that with is a true three stage charger, like the Statpower, Xantrex or Heart models. You can read about the proper type of charging at the West Marine Advisor website page. The link is to a thread about chargers that should also help you out.
Yo, Steve
I'm with Bill P. I can't tell what the heck I've got, even with mirrors. It's a steel box inside the lazarette. I asked Hunter directly and they said they'd get back to me. Eh? Mine's on a 1995 Hunter 29.5. By the way, Diesel School in Wilmington NC said that charging on "All" is futile because the second battery only gets around 15% charge. So I guess the alternative is to charge one night and the other the next night. Eh?
I'm with Bill P. I can't tell what the heck I've got, even with mirrors. It's a steel box inside the lazarette. I asked Hunter directly and they said they'd get back to me. Eh? Mine's on a 1995 Hunter 29.5. By the way, Diesel School in Wilmington NC said that charging on "All" is futile because the second battery only gets around 15% charge. So I guess the alternative is to charge one night and the other the next night. Eh?
Huh, Bill?
The switch is on 'both' but the second battery only gets about 15% of the charge?? News to me. Same as two batteries parallel, no? So, how can that be? I'm assuming he's referring to alternator-produced charging current. Any more specifics? Rick D.
The switch is on 'both' but the second battery only gets about 15% of the charge?? News to me. Same as two batteries parallel, no? So, how can that be? I'm assuming he's referring to alternator-produced charging current. Any more specifics? Rick D.
Contact your mfg.
Bill & Bill: I can tell you that if you have a Statpower/Xantrex 20+ or 40+ that it will charge upto 2-3 battery banks and monitor them seperately. I have not had flooded batteries in my boat for 13 years and do not plan to ever have them again. My understanding is that the charger goes into float mode when the batteries are fully charged. Then the charger will equalize them on a regular schedule. You may be able to get some other advise on the Statpower charger from other member or from the mfg.
Bill & Bill: I can tell you that if you have a Statpower/Xantrex 20+ or 40+ that it will charge upto 2-3 battery banks and monitor them seperately. I have not had flooded batteries in my boat for 13 years and do not plan to ever have them again. My understanding is that the charger goes into float mode when the batteries are fully charged. Then the charger will equalize them on a regular schedule. You may be able to get some other advise on the Statpower charger from other member or from the mfg.
Original Battery Charger Question
Yes my boat is a Catalina 270 with a Charles charger. It is a two stage charger. Would it be better to leave it off the charger occasionally and if so for how long? Would 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off be a good system.
Yes my boat is a Catalina 270 with a Charles charger. It is a two stage charger. Would it be better to leave it off the charger occasionally and if so for how long? Would 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off be a good system.
Battery Chargers
Battery chargers. There are many different types out there. Ones that are automatic are the ones that you can leave on all the time. They have a auto sensing circuit built into them and once the amp draw is about .5 amps it goes into a float charge, only turning on and off occassionally to maintain a charge. Two stage and three stage refers to how hard it will charge when the batterys are drawn down. Most larger boats are equiped with automatic chargers as manufactruers are well aware that many boats are left plugged in at dock side. Most marine battery chargers charge and monitor more than one battery at a time and if the switch is not in the both position will charge each at its own level. With the switch in both the batterys will naturally equalize themselves and the charger will charge equally to bring them both to a full charge. One thing no one else has mentioned is DO NOT disconnect the battery with the charger plugged into shore power. The auto sensing circuit is current based and when it sees the loss of load (the battery) it will increase its output until it destroys itself. This is valuable lesson #2143
Battery chargers. There are many different types out there. Ones that are automatic are the ones that you can leave on all the time. They have a auto sensing circuit built into them and once the amp draw is about .5 amps it goes into a float charge, only turning on and off occassionally to maintain a charge. Two stage and three stage refers to how hard it will charge when the batterys are drawn down. Most larger boats are equiped with automatic chargers as manufactruers are well aware that many boats are left plugged in at dock side. Most marine battery chargers charge and monitor more than one battery at a time and if the switch is not in the both position will charge each at its own level. With the switch in both the batterys will naturally equalize themselves and the charger will charge equally to bring them both to a full charge. One thing no one else has mentioned is DO NOT disconnect the battery with the charger plugged into shore power. The auto sensing circuit is current based and when it sees the loss of load (the battery) it will increase its output until it destroys itself. This is valuable lesson #2143
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