On Board Battery Chargers

[taxmancommeth]

Who has them? Are they worth the $$ spent on one?

They seem logical especially if you are a tournament type of fisherperson. Ran out of gas skiing before, but never batery problems while fishing.

Would think that it would be one of those nice extras!

Any thoughts

[Northlander]

Just a lot more convenient to use. All ya need is a extention cord and power and your charging all your batteries at once. My next boat will have one for sure.
Its great for boats with hard to reach battery's.

[Little_Bones]

I put one on my new boat last year. Just didn't want to have to take 2 batteries out to charge (24 volt trolling motor). I would not go without one. It is nice and convenient to just plug in and not have to worry about my batteries. I am just the average Joe who fishes most weekends and any other day I can get out. I think I only spent $70 at Cabelas to get one that charges 2 batteries at once. Well worth the money.
Jim

[Bushwacker]

I will be installing one in my boat this weekend. I was just sick of having to jump up in the boat and get into the compartment and remember to switch from my trolling batteries to top off my starting battery before I go out. I bought one for $70 through BPS and it is supposed to distribute 12 amps to two banks as needed. i.e. 2 amps to starting battery and 10 to the less charged trolling battery. It is just a nice extra for the boat that I think will be nice to have.

[MIDNIGHT777]

I am also thinking about putting a charger in my boat. Correct me if I am wrong.....But doesnt the charger work like an alternator does in a car, charging the battery as the big engine runs? Bush wacker I would be interested in finding out how the installition went. Keep me posted if you dont mind.

Matt

[Animal]

I have a three bank charger on my boat. All batteries are charged to full power overnight and are ready to go in the AM. Gander MTN has a two bank MnKota Charger on sale this week for $75 bucks. I had a MnKota on my last boat and had no problems after six years of use. Some of the onboards can get spendy up to $300 or more. They are easy to install. All you need to do is find a mounting spot and run the cables to each battery.

[This message has been edited by Animal (edited 04-30-2004).]

[Bushwacker]

MIDNIGHT777,
It looks fairly easy to install and I will let you know how it went. I think the biggest thing will be finding a place to mount it. It does not work like an alternator. The motor's electrical system does output power to charge the batteries, but I only have my starting battery connected to it. It charges like an alternator with times of 18V of charge. That is more than I would like to charge my deep cycle trolling batteries at so I have always just hooked them up to a charger when I got home from the lake. With an on-board all I need to do is plug one cord an I'm charging.

[nuts]

MIDNIGHT777,
I think you're thinking of a 'loop charge system', and yes, with that your batteries are getting charged when the main motor is running. A friend of mine had that put in his boat. It's more expensive than an on board charger, but a little nicer.

[MIDNIGHT777]

nuts, Any idea how much the loop charging system would cost? Also if it is difficult to install?

Matt

[analyzer]

I have a 24 v system up front with a 2 bank on board charger. The manual isn't real clear....

When I plug it in, one red light comes on and later the green light next to it. Does that mean I'm done? When does the other red and green lights come on?

Will the alternator on my 140 suzuki always be enough to keep the starting battery charged up, or do I need to occassionally put a charger on that one as well?

Thanks.

[Northlander]

I always top off my starter because there are some times out I dont use the main motor enough to keep a full charge. I always like to have a full charge. That way I know exactly how much time I can run my trolling motor and I know my starter always has the juice to fire up outboard.

[Giant_Jackpot]

Analyzer,

If that charger has an indicator for each battery then it is either busted or you have it connected wrong. If the directions that came with it are not clear then call the support number for the unit and ask them.

The Suzuki should have enough juice to keep your battery charged unless you don’t run it much on the lake. I know the 140 four stroke has a 40 amp alternator.

[STEP & 1/2]

Taxman: I put a three bank charger on my boat two years ago. When I come home from the lake I just plug into a outlet in the garage and I’m ready to go the next day. Another plus that I like is I don’t have to remove the three batteries from the boat in the winter. The charger monitors the batteries and when they drop one volt the charger kicks in and tops them off. I’m getting to old to care three batteries down to the basement in the winter and back up.
Battery Plus has single charges that I used I mounted one in the boat and the other one I mounted on a board that I would hook up to the trolling motor battery. I had no problem and I had them for five years, I also used them during the winter to monitor the batteries.

Have a good day

[Guest]

How About Solar to keep it topped off?

http://tm.wc.ask.com/r?t=c&s=a&id=30780&sv=za5cb0de0&uid=000A2AAC7B625F4F3&sid=1D767DE6A21864904&p=%2flinks&o=0&u=http://www.solar-batterycharger.co.uk/

[nuts]

MIDNIGHT777,
I'm not sure how much a loop charging system would cost. You may have to check with a local marine dealer to see how much they charge or even if they can do it. I do know it's a little complicated and should probably be done by someone who knows what they're doing.

I have an on board charger on my boat for my two trolling motor batteries and have never had any problems (as long as I remember to plug it in the night before).

[dfv87]

I just bought a 2 bank charger for my boat and installed it myself. And if I can install it it must be EASY. Sweet deal now to charge all the batteries just lower the trouble light from the ceiling and plug in. I have 2 batteries in parallel and it charges both of those at once and the 2nd bank for my starting battery. Works great.

[LocalGuide]

I use a 3 bank on-board minnkota charger. It works great just plug it in and unplug it when its charged.

I would recommend one to almost anyone.

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And keep those hooks sharp!