Do I have to disconnect battery to charge?

[Switchee]

Affixed to the battery box on our 04 switch v is the dreaded sticker: Disconnect battery before charging--failure to do so will result in damage to electronic equipment. I'd like to hook up a Battery Tender charger to maintain charge without disconnecting the battery. Battery Tender claims that it won't damage electronics. What do you all do to maintain your battery's charge? Thanks!

[GIZMO]

I dont disconnect the battery when charging, but I have 2 batteries and I turn the battery switch off. Just make sure everything is off before hooking up the charger and you should be fine.

[raythompson]

Battery Charger

I installed a dual bank battery charger in my boat. The charger independantly charges each battery. The maximum charge rate is 10 amps and is porportioned between each battery depending on the need of the battery. It is supposed to be safe for electronic instruments. But to be safe I just turn the battery switch to OFF before connecting the charger. That way all the instruments are disconnected and will not be affected.

I installed the charger as I have found over time that keeping boat batteries on a trickle charge, especially during the winter, prolongs the life of the batteries.

For the trivial cost of the charger I think that Tige should consider providing it as an option for their boats. The charger does not take much space so that is not an issue.

[Switchee]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll keep the battery switch off and keep the battery connected. A built-in charger would be cool. Beautiful boat, Ray. I've also been keeping track of its construction.

[raythompson]

Thanks Switchee

I took the delivery ride in the boat and that only took about 1/2 hour. There was not much to explain about the operation as I have owned a boat for 20 years and been around boats for 30+ years. I just needed to make sure it all worked. Spent much of the 1/2 hour digging in spaces, checking for water, checking all the lights, etc.

Sunday took the boat out for about 2 hours with about 1 hour of actual running time.

I am somewhat concerned about the fuel guage as it is has not moved from the full mark. I am going to have to watch that one closely after all the previous reports of fuel guage problems that were supposedly solved.

Also, there are no lights in the speedo or tach as in the other instruments. I am hoping that is because the guages are digital and do not display a light until they are actually working. The jury is still out on that one. Also the instrument lights work on the NAV lights switch rather than independently switched.

I was surprised that the lights in the rear compartments are not LED as are the courtesy lights. The lights are also independently switched at the light rather than the console. Not quite sure what the rational behind that arrangement.

I do like the docking lights and they were a worthwhile option. Tower lights were not ordered but the switch is still on the console along with the shower switch and no shower ordered.

[GIZMO]

Ray, On my boat the tach and speedo lights must be turned on by the arrow up buttons on them. The up and down buttons work like a dimmer switch. As for the fuel guage when it moves off full thats about half a tank. The hour meter is much more accurate for keeping track of fuel once you figure out your average gallons per hour. Mine is about eight. Also keep an eye on those compartment lights, they are easy to leave on. Tige should put a switch in the lid.

[raythompson]

Thanks for the Info

Originally posted by GIZMO
Also keep an eye on those compartment lights, they are easy to leave on. Tige should put a switch in the lid.

Actually, Tige should have placed the compartment lights on the courtesy light switch so they can be switched off from the console. I can see where it would also be easy to activate the lights when stowing something.

[Tige M.D.]

you customers are great. lots of good ideas that make all the sense in the world. pass those ideas onto andrew reyes at tige inc. he is a moderator on this site and you can pm him these ideas. maybe you can make a difference.

[Tige M.D.]

and one more thing. on the battery charging subject, in the past i've seen hour meters run while the engine is shut off. mostly with the old pilot gauge. i'm not sure if the new commander series gauge operates the same. what happens is, the hour meter will start running if it sees more than 13 volts. a battery charged to 100% is only 12.75 volts. a charger will make more than 13 volts. so, keep an eye on the hour meter and switch the batteries "off".

[raythompson]

I think the new guages require ignition pulses from the engine to properly register engine hours. There is a setting in the meter that you can adjust the number of pulses corresponding to the number of cylinders.

Besides, I thought engine hours where related to so many RPM's over a certain period. 500 RPM for 2 hours is considered the same as 1000 RPM for 1 hour. At least that what I thought engine hours were, not actual hours in operation.

Enlightenment would be appreciated if I am incorrect.

[jsz]

I have another question about charging. I bought a 2002 21v last August. I keep it at my house and have been starting it about once every month through the winter. Each time before I started it I would test both batteries with the charger. Each time they showed a full charge and then started just fine. Because of these results I have yet to leave it on the charger and I've had it for 8 months now. Am I ok to keep doing this as long as the readings keep showing a full charge? Am I shortening the life of the batts by not regularly charging them?

[raythompson]

What I have been told on batteries is that they loose a small amount of charge over time and develop crystals on the plates that reduce the capacity. Charging, effectively a reverse current, reduces this crystal growth. Also letting a battery that is not a deep cycle completely discharge is supposed to severely reduce battery life.

On my prior boat I put the charger on about every two weeks and topped off the battery. I will do the same on my Tige. The prior boat never suffered battery problems but I also replaced the battery every 5 years regardless of condition.

I would guess that your running the boat once a month is probably about the same thing as putting on a charger. It also circulates the fluids which is a good thing.

[jsz]

Thanks

[Tige M.D.]

according to my interstate batteries rep, a battery has between 9-13 discharges in its life. that means if the battery gets down below 12vlts it is discharged, and it will only recover that many times. i've seen a new charge on the market that pulses the battery to get rid of the crystals and scales on the plates.

[jsz]

I start it about once a month and so far it fires up fine but I wonder if towards the end of the month I'm under 12 and breaking into those 9-13 lives. I look at the volt gauge when I first start it and after it's warm. I can't remember the exact #'s but I notice a definite Climb in the volts after the boat's warm. Could the boat still start if my 2 batts were under 12 volts? How low do you think the volts could get and still have it fire up?