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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Most cost efficient battery charger

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bmelchionda
1st Mate

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63 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/22/2006 : 06:48:41

I'm looking for a battery charger to utilize during the winter months while the battery's are removed from the boat. Obviously, it would be great to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and use the same charger during the sailing season permanently connected to the batteries.

What are the group’s recommendations on these types of products?

Thanks!
Bryan

'86 Catalina 25 Tall Rig

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 07:08:33

I'm guessing you have an AC connection. Guest generally makes a good marine environment charger. You could wire that to your shore power/ac panel and just run the AC over the winter through that connection via a cord that will allow you to have 110 on one side and the shore power connection on the other.

Other options - go with a solar charger that will remain for the season - this obviously won't require electricity. Pull the batteries, buy a 25 dollar charger from Wallyworld and then charge the batteries in your basement.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 07:38:04

I had bought a Guest CHarger from West Marine. Forget the model number but they have one that provides 10amps - 5 amps to each battery. It has separate wires to charge each battery for a 2 battery bank system. It was a smart charger in that depending on how depleted the batteries are, the charger automatically adjusts to charge quicker, slower or trickle charge each battery. I do not remember the cost but believe it was between $50 - $80.

I leave the batteries on my boat all year...and I sail all year. I only put the winter cover on when frigid conditions/snow are predicted. Then usually remove the cover after a week or so and sail for afew days before having to put the cover back on again. This is in the Wash, DC - Northern VA area with winters that can see temps down to single digits but usually only for very brief spells. Not sure where you have your boat and if keeping the batteries oboard is an option.

I have a 20 watt solar panel (details on my website), so that is more than enough to keep the 2 batteries charged. I have a controller that reduces the charge when the batteries are fully charged to avoid cooking the water in the battery. I recently hard wired the battery charger into my 110VAC onboard. That is for when I go to a visiting marina/use the batteries a lot for cabin lighting, etc. I found that wiring the charger into the AC onboard at the panel was ..harder than pulling out one of the AC outlets and just hard wiring the battery charger from there. I have two outlets each wired directly to the AC panel and so each outlet has the extra terminals free since they do not lead to addl outlets on the boat. Those terminals (on the outlet - starboard side) is what I used to hard wire the charger and wiring threaded behind the seatback to the panel.

If you do not have AC onboard, well then still recommend buy the Guest 10amp (5+5) charger for 2 battery banks and use it at home. Then you can mull over future projects...solar panel...or just utilizing the charger onboard for times when electricity is available and can be utilized for whatever.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 07:40:26

I'm with Duane. I have 6 batteries (4 boat batts) on 1.5 amp battery maintainers, charging in my basement during the winter months. I usually pull them from the boat in October, service and put them on the maintainers,and dervice them again in January or February. I don't use a dedicated charger on the boat, but rely on a 10 amp solar charger to keep the house batt charged.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 07:51:24

Correction to my post..."I used to hard wire the charger and wiring threaded behind the seatback to the panel."

This statement was not exactly clear. Here is what I meant. I hardwired the AC power to the battery charger utilizing the terminals behind my 110VAC outlet located on the side of the starboard seat near the quarterberth. The outlet has terminals inside on it's side that normally would be used to set up addl outlets but they are unused since I have only that outlet on the starboard side...so I used those terminals to power the battery charger rather than connect the charger to the AC panel which on my boat is not very accessible.

The battery charger power leads are then behind the outlet it is connected to and the leads were then pulled thru behind the seat/seatback under the decking to the charger which for now I had temporarily non-mounted on the quarterberth cushion and placed on the floor when used. As of this past weekend, I built a standoff mount and so I will permanently locate the charger just below the quarterberth cushion wood rail with all wires to pass thru holes under the quarterberth front wall going to the outlet for the AC and to the positive wing terminals of each battery and the negative wire wing nutted to the common negative between the batteries..

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 09:26:41

I bought a 'Shumacher' [sp?] 1.5 amp mounted 'smart' marine charger from AutoZone... about $25 at the time. (Several years back).

Works fine, lasted long time. Most any of the new microprocessor-controlled chargers won't toast your batteries. Here's a link.

http://www.shop.com/op/~SCHUMACHER_ELECTRIC_SE_1_12S_1_5A_On_Board_Charger-oprod-11120092-~32804

BTW: Not endorsing this vendor, just a good look at it.

Rather than mess with hardwiring it, I used a holesaw to cut an opening in the aft end of the settee and led the power cord up to the regular outlet below the windows. Made up a short extension cord and secured it in place with some 'sticki-backs'... and Bob's your Uncle.

Edited by - ClamBeach on 11/22/2006 09:35:23

djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 10:13:59

You might want to check with WM. They are closing 37 stores this year and when the store here closed I picked up a Guest onboard charger for 60.00; the retail was 280.00. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 11:43:43

Always a fascinating subject. I intentionally buy expensive batteries and expensive chargers and never need to be concerned about either. In my 82 I had a Guest, it worked well but it ran fairly hot, in my 89 I run a Charles that is all aluminum so the entire thing is a heat sink, it runs silently and cool. I remove a perfectly good factory Guest ferro-resonant charger from the 89 when I got it because it was noisy and not smart enough, two stage not three. It was for sale but I figure it may be of use around my shed so I am keeping it. After many threads on this subject I have come to the conclusion that the people with cheap chargers figure out how to use them well and get good service out of them. I will not change my style but there are obviously options open to people deciding how they are going to deal with their batteries.

Edited by - on

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2006 : 21:58:37

Because I use 27 size batteries they never come out except if they can't hold a charge. I have a Autozone charger that is mounted, hard wired to a plug that I plug into a 10 guage wired plug that is fused directly to the battery selector switch which means it can charge both, either or none. While cruising the charger is disconnected and connected when on shore power. The plug-in can be used for a spot light or a high use tool.

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2006 : 08:54:52

I have a guest ,3 stage, 6 amp charger off the boat.
It takes 5 hours to charge a group 24 battery.
$50
then I have a true charge 20 amp by xantrex on the boat ,
I havent used it yet I hope it charges under two hours ,
for 2 group 27 batteries.
$200

Edited by - on

jotruelove
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2006 : 19:33:58

I have had success with the Diehard Trickle charger from Sears. It charges, maintains and does a nice job at it. Cost about $30...

Edited by - on

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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.