Onboard Charger / Battery Tender

[Waldo]

For the last year I have been using a Battery Tender to maintain my batteries on our boat. I leave it on indefinitely when the boat is stored. Usually it works great. Everything charged, no problems. Lately (last two times I've pick up our boat) I have noticed when I pick up the boat the volts are a little low. I don't know if I just so happen to be picking up the boat when the tender is on its "decharging" mode or if my charger is kaput! I'm thinking about an onboard charger.
What's the deal with onboard chargers?
Do they only "charge" your batteries when in use?
What about in the winter when the boat is stored, do they save some amps to get you going?
Can you hook them up like my "tender" during the winter time to maintain the juice?
Anyone use them?
Thanks in advance.

[TrojanDan]

I installed the Pro Pak IV on our boat a few months ago and have been very happy with it. I plug it in when I leave the boat in the garage and the charger does everything automatic to maintain a charge. I had the cables custom cut to length so I don't have excess wires (cost an additional $15).
We used to dick around with those battery chargers but never got a full charge on all three of our batteries overnight. Now I just plug an extension cord into the charger's plug hidden in the side of my upholstery and get all my batteries charged overnight. Pretty slick and beats climbing into the engine compartment and connecting the charger to the batteries every night.
The website is http://www.culmrite.com The man who answered the phone was pretty cool and answered a lot of my questions.
There's also some other on-board chargers like Guest that are offered at West Marine. But I don't think Guest are waterproof like the Culmrite ones.
:cool:

[dimarcobros]

We use a battery switch for both our batteries. When we store it we turn both of them off and when we go back in the summer they are still fully charged. Might be somthing to think about. On our old boat we use to disconnect the battery which worked just the same.
DMB

[TrojanDan]

Originally posted by dimarcobros
We use a battery switch for both our batteries. When we store it we turn both of them off and when we go back in the summer they are still fully charged. On our old boat we use to disconnect the battery which worked just the same.
DMB
Are you referring to a Perko Switch? Most boats have that now a days. Consider yourself lucky that you haven't had dead batteries, especially if you store it in the desert.
How do you know that the batteries are fully charged? Do you test them first or just tell because the engine turns over?
It's going to suck bad the time you go out there and find out you have dead batteries. Plus keeping your batteries charged pro-longs your battery life. :cool:

[al cole'holic]

I am hoping that Froggy will show up for this thread....this has been a big problem for me and I have given up! I have gone through 3 chargers and have now resorted to replacing my batteries every season because of charging issues. If I am lucky and bring em back before the 1 year warranty expires I don't pay. I have replaced 6 batteries a total of 4 times...

[Waldo]

Sounds like you might have a short somewhere???
I have a perko switch that I keep on at all times since I'm either using the boat or charging it. I have had good luck with the tender this year but wasn't sure if it was capable of being used in a constant nature (several months).
I like the sounds of that ProPak system. What did it run you?

[dimarcobros]

Originally posted by TrojanDan
Are you referring to a Perko Switch? Most boats have that now a days. Consider yourself lucky that you haven't had dead batteries, especially if you store it in the desert.
How do you know that the batteries are fully charged? Do you test them first or just tell because the engine turns over?
It's going to suck bad the time you go out there and find out you have dead batteries. Plus keeping your batteries charged pro-longs your battery life. :cool:
I don't know what they are called but you can switch it from the #1 battery to the #2 batter or both, and off of course. We even put it on our 77 DiMarco. Every time we go out the motor fires right up and has planty of juice. Maybe we are just lucky.:confused:
DMB

[Three Days Only]

Originally posted by Waldo
For the last year I have been using a Battery Tender to maintain my batteries on our boat. I'm thinking about an onboard charger.
I have a On-Board battery charging system. It is more or less the same idea as a tender, except for the fact that it is wired and installed into your boat. The charger supplies a heavy boost charge, then a lower amp charge for deep cycle charging, and then goes into a trickle charge tending mode. Your Battery Tender is more then likely working fine, you batteries are just more then likely going to shit and not excepting a charge.

[Tom Brown]

Originally posted by al cole'holic
I am hoping that Froggy will show up for this thread....this has been a big problem for me and I have given up! I have gone through 3 chargers and have now resorted to replacing my batteries every season because of charging issues.
The problem is those Optimas don't like over voltage. You should probably look at getting rid of them and switching to a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries. They are more forgiving during the charge cycle.

[al cole'holic]

Originally posted by Tom Brown
The problem is those Optimas don't like over voltage. You should probably look at getting rid of them and switching to a couple of 6 volt golf cart batteries. They are more forgiving during the charge cycle.
I don't buy Optimas, these are Interstate. I believe the problem is the chargers I buy from AutoZone...I am not sold on the 6 volt's yet.

[mbrown2]

Chris, since you have a ton of batteries and don't mind the weight, and are not convinced of the 6 v's, I would drop the weight and go with 1 battery for the boat isolated and two batteries isolated for the stereo...two 8D Lifeline Batteries....look at the specs, but they are also 162lbs apiece...I think Shadow is getting 4-6 hours out of 1....and his system is pretty sick...
Get a good charger like a guest with three stage smart charge...I would recommend Xantrex, but I have burnt two lately, so f them...

[shadow]

4-6 Hrs out of one? All ****ing day and no 6v mess!:D
Call Dave at Lifeline (626)969-6886 Tell him Darrell gave you the # from ***boat boards and he will get you a better deal.

[al cole'holic]

Originally posted by mbrown2
Chris, since you have a ton of batteries and don't mind the weight, and are not convinced of the 6 v's, I would drop the weight and go with 1 battery for the boat isolated and two batteries isolated for the stereo...two 8D Lifeline Batteries....look at the specs, but they are also 162lbs apiece...I think Shadow is getting 4-6 hours out of 1....and his system is pretty sick...
Get a good charger like a guest with three stage smart charge...I would recommend Xantrex, but I have burnt two lately, so f them...
I remember talking to Shadow a while back and looking into those. Duration isn't a problem, it's the charging. Like I said, all my chargers have been from AutoZone so I've never had a really good charging system established...

[Magic34]

I am using a Minnkota charger (installed in boat) for my setup (6V), and no problems yet. I always leave it plugged in while in the garage. The longest I have tried to play my system at once (80% volume+) has been for 3.5 hours so far, and it lasted fine. My system draws about 155-157 amps at peak, and the batteries have been perfect. The true test will come when I go to Havasu in June.

[TrojanDan]

Originally posted by Waldo
I like the sounds of that ProPak system. What did it run you?
Around $330 for the 4 bank charger (although I am only running 3 batteries). Do a web search since there are a few dealers that sell them. When I called the manufacturer, he wanted to send me to a dealer but ended up selling to me directly anyways. E-mail him if you have any questions. They are pretty quick at responding.
:cool:

[shadow]

Charging is the only issue for me. But at night I always put my boat on the trailer while at the river and just throw my roll around charger up in the boat and charge them at night.With 2 of the lifelines with a full charge you can go all weekend without a charge if you want.Last weekend I cranked mine all day Fri then all day sat and won the stero contest sat afternoon at the Ultra regatta.There were also a couple of other guys with nice systems that deserve some props.

[Rexone]

I've used battery tenders for years on all my boats and stored vehicles with excellent results.
However you must realize that batteries do eventually get old and die, just takes much longer with proper charge. Also is essential to keep proper water level in lead acid batteries even with tender on the water will evaporate if not checked over winter.
my 02

[Havasu Hangin']

Originally posted by al cole'holic
Like I said, all my chargers have been from AutoZone so I've never had a really good charging system established...
I have one of those Autozone chargers...the one I have is not made to be a tender (it will overcharge if left on), so I bought a Guest tender that can be left on indefinately with overcharging.
Maybe that's why you are killing your batteries.
The onboard chargers for multiple battery banks is the way to go (like Three Gays Only), as they will not overcharge, and charge each battery individually.
Doesn't everyone have shorepower?