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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Trickle charging 2 batts with one charger

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dblitz
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240 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/30/2006 : 17:45:16

Figure some of you probably buy new batteries every year, but for those of you that don't, how do you keep 2 batteries on trickle charge over the winter using one charger? What ga. wire do you use? Would the wiring diagram be to put the + from the charger on the + of batt. 1 and the - on the - of battery 2 and wire bridge + on batt 1 to + on batt 2 and also the - on batt 1 to the - on batt 2. Am I ok, or any other suggestions? Any dangers to keeping batteries on constant charge in one's garage over the winter?

Daniel 86 "Solar Wind" #5339 C-25 FK/SR I/B Diesel

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 18:02:56

After I've serviced them, I keep my two C25 boat batteries, my wifes Bayliner battery, an electric trolling motor battery, and my lawn mower battery each on their own 1.5 amp tricle charger while in winter storage, which lasts about 6 to 7 months. About half way through I service them again. I've had the C25 batteries for five years. I keep them charged up on my mooring with a 10 amp solar panel.

You can get the tricle chargers from any auto parts store, Home Depot, etc. They can be used on your boat dockside to keep your batteries charged if you don't have an on-board intergrated charging system. Just make sure you keep the batts well ventilated when you leave the boat.

Edited by - aeckhart on 10/30/2006 18:04:36

boatgt
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117 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 18:17:49

I use kind of a convoluted system but I charge my batts up with a nice Deca brand batt analizer/charger/floatcharger then I put my Guest brand float charger that came with my boat on the battery (West Marine, #343400, Battery Charger - Maintenance, Magnum, 3A-12V, $79.49) Then for my second batt I do the same but use a float charger I picked up at the local Harbor Freight. It’s a nock off of the Guest but only cost $9.99(actually on sale this week for $5.99) I just started using it this year and it has worked well for me so far and I haven’t experienced any over/under charging. I have been told by my good friend, (with a masters in electrical engineering), that if the batts are charged the float charger should handle 2 batts just fine. It’s when the batts are low and the float charger tries to charge twice the load, bringing 2 batteries up to peak power that things heat up as they draw too many amps. I figure for $5.99 I will just run another charger.
Gene

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 18:34:51

Like Al, I use solar panels to keep my 2 deep cycles topped off. No worrys about leaving a charger running all the time.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 19:20:37

Hi Daniel, I have trickle chargers for each bat. I keep them near the furnes(sp) in the garage up off the floor. In the boat I have a built in charger/conditioner. Cheers.

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Champipple
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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 21:35:37

We have four batteries sitting on a shelf in the basement, two from the wasp and 2 from a couple of summer only vehicles. Over the winter, each batter gets a weeks worth of trickle charge every fourth week.

dw

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3482 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2006 : 21:40:29

I do not have a trickle charger but I bought a Guest battery charger from West marine for those times when I visit a marina and they have electricity for transients. The charger is one of those "Smart" ones that delivers the charge according to whether the batteries are very low or are close to fully charged. The charger delivers 5 amps separately to each of my two batteries.

My marina charges $20/month for electricity. I chose not to pay it but if I want it for one day, then they charge $3/day. I have a rigid 20 watt solar panel hooked onto my stern rail and a Morningstar Pro-15M solar controller mounted inside the cabin. Supposedly, you need only 5 watts per battery to trickle charge it thru the winter. Any more than that and it cooks off the battery water unless a controoler is used. My solar panel has been keeping the batteries in fine shape. It delievers a max of 1.2 amps/hr but on the average it provides between .4 and .8 amps/hr. I keep the panel tilted somewhat toward the sun during the fall, winter and spring months. In the summer, I keep the panel horizontal.

You can get a 5 watt flexible panel that you can lay on the deck and hook two of them up directly to each battery. That is one way to keep the batteries fully charged thru the winter.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 08:03:03

From the Exide FAQ's...

What is the proper way to store marine batteries? 

Clean battery case and terminals with baking soda and water, being careful to make sure the solution does not get into the battery. Always check to ensure the battery is fully charged before storing. Batteries stored in a discharged state are susceptible to freezing and an increased rate of further discharge. Store in a cool dry place (not next to a furnace or other heat source) and out of reach of children and pets. Check the state of charge every 45-60 days and add distilled water if needed.

Will placing my battery on concrete drain the charge? 

A battery will not lose its state-of-charge strictly from placing it on a concrete surface, but will discharge it over a period of time, due simply to neglect.

Dennis, you may want to move your batteries away from your furnace. Something about the furnace flame and the batteries emitting explosive gases!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 10:13:53

I have a real marine grade three stage charger on my boat, the boat gets plugged in while on the hard in my driveway, the batteries never move. I do not understand why so few people have proper three stage chargers installed in their boats. All this talk about cheap chargers and trickle this and that seems penny wise and pound foolish. A couple hundred dollars buys a proper charger that should be an integral component in a boat's electrical system. If you have to bring the batteries home then bring the charger home too, plug it in and enjoy life. Same thing for you mooring folks, bring the solar panel home with the batteries, set it up where it will work and let it go. If you don't have the solar charger regulated in some way then buy what you need to do that. I have plenty of mill stones, I don't need battery maintenance as one of them. harrumph.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 20:40:14

Logically, you could hook up two batteries in parallel to one charger, but I don't think any expert would recommend it--just as they don't recommend using the "Both" position on a dual-battery switch. One problem is that if one battery has a weakness (distorted plates causing an internal short), it likely will both consume the charging power and weaken the other battery. Keep them on separate "smart chargers" or trickle chargers, or do what Duane and I do--just switch the charger from one to the other from time to time. I switched between my two about once a month.

And yes--get them away from the furnace! That possible plate distortion I mentioned generates hydrogen gas. Batteries do explode some times--that's why. If kept reasonably charged, they won't freeze.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2006 : 20:58:26

keep them off the concrete basement floor too. Put them on a small piece of plywood.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 07:50:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Duane Wolff
 keep them off the concrete basement floor too. Put them on a small piece of plywood.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Because...

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 08:14:21

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 11/01/2006 : 13:51:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 I have a real marine grade three stage charger on my boat, the boat gets plugged in while on the hard in my driveway, the batteries never move. I do not understand why so few people have proper three stage chargers installed in their boats. All this talk about cheap chargers and trickle this and that seems penny wise and pound foolish. A couple hundred dollars buys a proper charger that should be an integral component in a boat's electrical system. If you have to bring the batteries home then bring the charger home too, plug it in and enjoy life. Same thing for you mooring folks, bring the solar panel home with the batteries, set it up where it will work and let it go. If you don't have the solar charger regulated in some way then buy what you need to do that. I have plenty of mill stones, I don't need battery maintenance as one of them. harrumph.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Same here. I have a 'smart' charger too, that will charge and maintain up to three batteries...turn it on and forget about it, other than watering the batteries.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/02/2006 : 14:32:56

Okay, so its a myth....The two guys on Myth busters need to get on that one.

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