Chargin Battery while boat is in Storage

[Kaase12]

How do you guys charge your battery when its in storage? Is there a device that will shut off a trickle charger?
Thanks,

[IDBoating]

An intelligent battery charger. One popular brand is "Battery Tender". Do a search on eBay, Amazon, etc. They're everywhere, including your local auto parts store. You don't need to shut them off, they are intelligent enough to manage themselves while remaining continuously connected.

It's advisable to turn off your battery switch(es) while connected to a charging device. By definition the charger has to hit the battery with higher-than-the-battery-voltage, and some onboard electronics may not like that. Many marine electronics devices specifically tell you to NOT let them be connected to a battery charger for this reason. Don't take a chance, just turn off the switch(es).

[Av8tor]

Some people have mentioned the NOCO genius charger setup https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00...EAVMO3JC0&vs=1


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[chpthril]

Definitely search ebay and amazon, I hear their weekend and after hours tech support is unbelievable.

If your boat is parked in a location to which you have access to AC, then a marine on-board multi-stage smart charger is the way to go. If you have a dual bank, battery setup, go with a dual bank charger. This allows each bank to charge based on their state of charge.

Lots of good chargers out there. The key is to go with one that best suites the batteries. Mainly, their AH/reserve capacity. Too small, and the charger works harder or cant provide enough bulk charge to de-sulfate the depleted bank.

[Av8tor]

Chargin Battery while boat is in Storage

I should have said to contact @Chpthril. He's the best for a lot of info, service, and the sale.

[Z1owner]

I use a ProMariner 2 bank intelligent charger. I't s designed for one bank to connect to the starting battery, and the other to the deep cycle house battery. It's water proof, so I just mounted it in the back, hooked up the wires and simply unplug the 120vac when I leave the garage, then plug it back in after the outing. I left it plugged in all winter and have had no problems with my batteries.

Like others mentioned, make sure you turn off the battery isolation switch before connecting the charger.

https://www.amazon.com/ProMariner-Pr...mariner+2+bank

[JohnnieMo]

I run the NOCO genius 2 bank tender. However I don't see why it needs to be disconnected from the boat. You don't do it for a car, so why a boat? Alternator also runs a higher voltage and that is normal.

I'm looking to be educated on this topic.

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[chpthril]

J Mo,

I like the idea of having a master disconnect for boat, whether single or dual bank, for a few reasons. Since this thread is about a charger, ill keep it short and pertaining to the use of said charger. By disconnecting the main battery switch, you isolate the two banks from each other. This allows for the charger to condition and recharge each bank independently. This is crucial when you have a dedicated cranking bank and a dedicated house bank. Different batteries that are used differently, will need to be charged at different rates. Bulk rate and time will be different, float rate and duration will be different. if you combine a main cranking thats likely full to a house deep cycle thats likely depleted, they will start to equalize and be seen by a charger as one battery. neither is done a favor in this manor.

[D&P Powell]

By disconnecting the main battery switch, you isolate the two banks from each other.

Chpthril- Please forgive me in advance for asking the stupid question, but when you mention disconnecting, would turning the perko switch to the off position suffice, or would you need to completely disconnect it?

[chpthril]

The switch does the disconnecting. On your 2014, you have the Blue Sea Dual Circuit Plus switch. In one motion, it disconnects the main cranking from the boat loads and disconnects the house battery from the house type loads. So if the boat has a dual banks switch and all is wired ideally, then no mechanical disconnecting should need to be done, just crank the switch to OFF.

[D&P Powell]

Thank you sir! I appreciate all of the knowledge you so willing share in this forum.

[JohnnieMo]

I'm even more confused now. Unless the switch is set to "combine" are not the two circuits completely independent?

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[chpthril]

Using the term "off" makes it clear that the switch, regardless of type, is not in the BOTH or COMBINE position. Not being OFF, could be BOTH or COMBINE.

Now, to take it a step further. Depending on the setup, leaving the switch in any other position other than OFF, may allow an ACR/VSR to close upon seeing charger voltage, and thus combine the banks. The OP's 08 RZ4 would not have this issue. Actually, he would not have any of these two issue of the combining through the switch or through an ACR. His 08 has a single ON/OFF that only prevents the engine from cranking and a diode isolator. Charger can only see the two banks independently of each other.

[IDBoating]

Definitely search ebay and amazon, I hear their weekend and after hours tech support is unbelievable.

Oops, I did not know you sold battery tenders. OP, if ChpThril sells something you want, he is your first and only source. I did not mean to distract business from him, I didn't know he sold such things.

My apologies, ChpThril.

[chpthril]

Totally missed my point. Places like amazon and fleabay sell cheap cause they have nothing invested in the transaction. In most cases with amazon, those are 3rd party sellers behind a laptop in their homes. They dont stock inventory, absolutely do not have product knowledge, and the order is shipped out of a community warehouse. They have an inventory list and thats it. Have a question on which charger is best, differences between them, how to hook it up. How to rewire the ACR because its wired wrong from the factory, etc, good luck getting help. However, if you hook it up wrong due to lack of support, or it doesnt seem to work right and you dont know why, they are happy to take it back and send you a new one for the same results.

Dont hesitate to give a local place a shot, even though they might be a few bucks more.