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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Advice on which battery charger

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/29/2003 : 15:21:35

Hi,

I'd sure like to have a few opinions on recommendations for permanent mount battery chargers. I'd like to have a charger that I can leave on all the time when I'm at the dock. A charger that will automatically charge both batteries and keep them continuously topped off. I have one wet cell battery and one gel cell. I plan to replace the wet cell soon.

Thanks

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 15:43:12

Mark,

I installed the [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=29820&catalogId=10001&classNum=683&subdeptNum=544&storeNum=9"]Xantrex 10 amp Two Battery charger[/url] and have been very happy with its performance.

J.B. Manley
Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
36°29'58" -94°59'59"

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 15:53:59

Mark, Just a warning about the marina allowing you to leave your boat plugged in when you aren't around. I used to leave a small electric heater on, set very low to keep the dampness of winter out and make the boat more comfortable when I arrived for a sail. For the first few of years I had no problems. Then 2 winters ago the marina folks started go around every morning and unplug unattended boats. I wasn't happy and went to the office to protest. Apparently there is only a 20 amp service for each of the docks. That is 20 amps spread over 80 slips. And that 20 amps has to power the dock lights. Instead of a dedicated charger you might want to consider a 10 watt flexable solar charger. I haven't needed to plug into the limited shore power for 2 years now.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 16:36:20

My boat came with a Sear's Craftsman fully automatic onboard battery charger/maintainer that is mounted in the settee next to the battery compartment. I leave it on pretty much all season long and have not had any problems.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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Mark Loyacano
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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 16:37:58

Our boat has one battery. I leave a five watt solar panel connected when I'm away. I also have a 3 phase charger (for deep cycle batteries) which I got at West Marine. It is used about once a month or working around the boat while at the dock. It takes less than a minute for it to indicate full charge. Solar chargers are that good.

For two batteries I would use at least a ten watt solar and add to it a regulator (for solar panels with leads for two batteries). All sold through West Marine.

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

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jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 18:47:56

Make sure you get a multi-stage charger that will give a trickle charge without harming the battery. West Marine carries some adequate reasonably priced units.

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 18:49:51

Mark:

I use two deep cycle batteries, so I'm not sure how applicable this is, but it's probably a good idea to splurge for a multistage charger that won't cook your batteries over time. I installed a StatPower Truecharge 10A for dual batteries last year. I keep it on all the time and have only once had to add a little water to the batteries. It's smart enough to stop charging once that batteries are full. West Marine has a good advice column on chargers that you might want to check out. See: [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001"] Smart Battery Charging[/url]

John Matsche 1985 TR/FK #5171

Edited by - matsche on 09/29/2003 21:56:43

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 20:20:19

Mark,

I have three flooded cell batteries, and both a StatPower Truecharge 20A and two 10W UniSolar panels. The smart charger is great for charging heavily drained batteries as fast as possible without damaging them. However, I've discovered that the solar panels are more than adequate for keeping up with occassional daysailing loads, especially with a little help from the engine alternator. If you have more than one battery, I suggest you look into installing one or more battery combiners. And read the West Marine advisor on why the traditional [OFF/1/BOTH/2] switch is no longer considered the best way to go.

-- Leon Sisson

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 01:11:52

Thanks for all of the generous and informative responses.

The Xantrex Truecharge 10A, two Bank charger looks to be a likely candidate. I have a solar panel that was included with the VW I just bought my wife. I think it is only 3 or 5 watts, but I thought I'd use it on the boat. Is it manditory that some sort of regulator be used with this?

Ed, I also have experienced the Marina unplugging my shorepower during the winter. I was thinking that I could use the charger only while I'm at the boat while in the slip and use the little solar panel all other times. I forgot to ask you about a solar panel regulator that afternoon you showed Sheri and I your boat.

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 01:27:00

I found the answer to my solar panel regulator question.

West Marine advisors had this to say:

How much output can I expect?
Our design rule is that a solar panel will contribute as much as half of its wattage, in amp-hours, each day if aimed at the sun and perhaps 25% if randomly oriented. This means that a 48-watt panel will contribute as much as 24 amp-hours per day if aimed at the sun and perhaps 12 amp-hours if randomly oriented.

Do solar panels require regulation?
As a general design rule, panels that produce less than 1%-2% of the battery's capacity in Ah don't require regulation. This means that a 2-amp panel is the largest you should use without a regulator on a 100-amp-hour battery. Regulators should be used almost anytime you have two or more large panels connected to your batteries. The regulator will shut off the panels when the battery's charge exceeds 14.3 volts.

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 09:37:49

I am electricaslly challenged, but do careful and exact wiring. I installed a 10 amp guest charger from West (on sale--about 0ne boat unit), works fine to keep two deepcycle wet batteries up from dockside power.I am informed by elec experts that one should NOT mix batteries, as it makes the chargers job harder, as : either gel or wet, not one of each, suggest you ask an expert about this, god bl;ess, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 12:24:38

"I am electricaslly challenged, but do careful and exact wiring. I installed a 10 amp guest charger from West (on sale--about 0ne boat unit), works fine to keep two deepcycle wet batteries up from dockside power.I am informed by elec experts that one should NOT mix batteries, as it makes the chargers job harder, as : either gel or wet, not one of each, suggest you ask an expert about this, god bl;ess, ron srsk Orion SW FL"

I agree with this. Untill I can get the one wet cell replaced, I keep my battery switch on bank one or bank two, not both.

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

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Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 14:32:36

Another note about solar charging ship's batteries.... if you use a regulator there is no need for diode(s).

Mark L.
Cat 25 SR/SK #549

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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.