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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts
Initially Posted - 10/16/2006 :  13:08:07  Show Profile  Visit John P's Homepage
Here is something that we used to do as teenagers. When faced with putting the power boat in the water for the 1st time of the year, we would start the car, pull the car battery out, install the boat battery (usually just another car batter), then drive to the lake (35 miles away). By the time we got there, the battery was charged, we would pull the boat battery out of the car, install it in the boat, start boat and be on our way.

Is this possible with a Deep Cycle wet cell? I would think that it would work, and would easily rule out an on-board charger that was acting up.

I ask this as I have two deep cycle wet cells that are questionable, and Murphy's law has appeared, and my standard battery charger is not working right (that I can tell) and the Guest charger on board is toast.

I have been reading both the 12V bible and Nigel Calders Mech/Elec system books. Honestly I am scared thinking that the two batterys are about dead. Scared because I think that I killed them myself. However, if they are truly dead, then when the spring time comes and I install my new elec system, I will have a new power source with the new distribution system.
'84, C-25, SR/FK, #4663, "ILLUSIONS", Chazy, NY (Lake Champlain)
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/illusions
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 10/16/2006 :  20:34:39  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
We had considered running a line on the trailer to connect to the boat en-route to the ramp (about 60miles) so as to charge up on the journey.
Instead I just hook up my new shore power connector and adapter and connect to a long extension lead to the house. The onboard battery charger does the trick.

Paul.
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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts
Response Posted - 10/16/2006 :  21:11:34  Show Profile
I don't know if pulling the battery out with the engine running is a good idea with modern solid state ignition and charging systems. Might be ok, but it's not something I'd try rather than bite the bullet and buy a $25 battery charger... or borrow one from a neighbor.
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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts
Response Posted - 10/16/2006 :  22:41:01  Show Profile
Would it be possible to run a protected line from a plug-in in the vehicle to socket in the boat to charge while on the road? I don't like to have power on in the boat while traveling for safety but to charge while on a long trip could be worked out. I charge up the batterys before the first of the season using shore power.
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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts
Response Posted - 10/17/2006 :  06:30:17  Show Profile  Visit John P's Homepage
all interesting ideas. It was just a way that we dealt with a tired battery in the spring (hmmm, who would have thought of putting a battery on a charger throughout the winter...)
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 10/17/2006 :  10:25:25  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
My charger stays plugged in all winter in my driveway. If cars can charge travel trailer batteries while towing why not boat batteries through a similar harness?
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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts
Response Posted - 10/17/2006 :  17:06:52  Show Profile
Reading Calder's should have been enough to convince you that automotive charging is not appropriate to completely charge deep cycle batteries. You could, however, get them up to about 80% of charge. The automotive chargers will peak at 13.8 v, which is less than the 14.2 (generally) needed for the bulk phase of true three stage charging -- not gonna get into the difference between wet cells and gel cells here.

It could work, wouldn't hurt, but why not do it right?
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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts
Response Posted - 10/18/2006 :  08:49:25  Show Profile  Visit John P's Homepage
Stu, I agree totally.In fact one good thing about Calders book is that it preaches to the reader to keep those systems/components separate.

I have lived through too many "car-stereo" nightmare installations in boats, to know that there is a right way and wrong way when it comes to Marine Electrical systems.
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 10/18/2006 :  12:18:00  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
Aren't RV batteries deep cycle?
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cat1951
Admiral

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USA
636 Posts
Response Posted - 10/18/2006 :  12:57:18  Show Profile
By coincidence I just happened to read through this tutorial before reading the thread. It covers the why charging a deep cycle battery via a auto system is not a good thing.

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html
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Ericson33
Admiral

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USA
892 Posts
Response Posted - 10/18/2006 :  13:12:51  Show Profile  Visit Ericson33's Homepage
I have had a solar charger on the boat for 2 years, it has done a great job of keeping the battery charged, but during the winter I have always taken the battery out of the boat and taken it home. With our boat now in a slip and not on a mooring, I really wanted to just keep the battery on board and not have the hassle of having to carry the battery back and forth to the lake. I didn't want a charger for the boat, I just needed to get something that would maintain the charge in the battery.

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196830236.htm?bct=t13037503%3Bcielectrical-plumbing%3Bcibattery-systems%3Bcibattery-chargers

This 37.00 I am going to call it a peak charger has kept the battery topped off and charged up. Our battery was at 10.5 volts and now its peaked off at 13.5 volts, the peak charger will not overcharge your battery, and it monitors the charge so that the electrolytes will not bubble and cause the battery to expel gas. So far I have been very happy with this solution.
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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts
Response Posted - 10/19/2006 :  07:51:16  Show Profile  Visit John P's Homepage
Nice, I like that one.
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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.