Charging Marine Batteries

[BW]

I have a Cat 30 and have a standard battery charger to use with shore power. The charger has a deep cycle setting and a 15 amp charge rate and a 2 amp charge rate. Does anyone know if it is ok to use either charge rate with the deep cycle charge?Also, will it hurt to use battery power while charging on either amp setting? Thanks in advance.Bill

 

[Rick]

Charge

You wont hurt anything with either charge rate, even if you are using your batteries at the same time. Just make sure that your batteries have enough water in them. Only add distilled water if needed.I would only use the 2 amp setting if you leave the charger on during the week when you are away from the boat. 2 amps isnt enough to power 2 light bulbs so during normal usage you would still be draining the batteries if with the charger on. I personally dont like to leave my charger (or anything else) on when I am away from the boat so I charge at a high rate when I am there. Your alternator is probably 55 amps or more so when you charge at the 25 amp rate you are not going to hurt anything.

 

[Debra Blatnik]

Probably shouldn't leave the charger on constantly

If you have a "standard" charger, that probably means it doesn't have a float stage. The new smart chargers can be left on all the time. An old single-stage charger will probably cook your batteries.