these are cool if you on the water nowhere near a plug
http://i21.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/0f/5b/b6_1.JPG
My boat batteries are also on a charger at the end of every day. I think that is why my Optima's have lasted so long despite a 2300 watt stereo. My bats are on their 5th season
these are cool if you on the water nowhere near a plug
http://i21.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/0f/5b/b6_1.JPG
I use the Dual Pro Charger. It came highly reccomended from those in the know, and there are several board members running them. Fully automatic, with no fear of over charging. I just plug it in at the end of the day, and the batteries are ready to go fully charged the next day. I keep the boat plugged in to the charger all the time when it is not being used, and it maintains the batteries, which should let me get the greatest amount of time with them before they need replacing. It wasn't the cheapest charger out there, but far from the most expensive also, but I don't remember exactly what I spent for it, but it was money well spent, very convenient just to plug the boat in at the end of the day.
http://www.dualpro.com/images/Dualpro.jpg
I dont know anything about this stuff, so I was just wondering if it is really worth spending 100 dollars more on this one than the dual pro 6 volt.
http://images.westmarine.com/full/1903467.jpg
I just got one of these, after reading the testimonials of other users on West Marines website I am leary of installing it.
If you have 6 volt batteries, the 6 volt would be the way to go.
Looks like I'm spending 100 bucks more
I am using a Schumacher 2A automatic charger I picked up at Walmart for about 35 bucks CDN (that would be less than 30 USD). It works slick.
It charges my Optima and then turns off completely. Of course, I don't have a big stereo or anything. I have a small stator on my outboard but don't have a lot of electronics so it doesn't take long to top the battery up, even at 2A. It has a mount so that it can go right in the boat and it's totally sealed.
If I had a bigger load to drive, I'd definitely go with a bigger charger than 2A... unless you can leave it plugged in for a few days.
I use a Statpower 40+:
http://www.onlinemarine.com/online_s...40_charger.gif
Cost about 3 hundy. I have an Optima starting battery and two of these for the stereo:
http://www.trojan-battery.com/images...ages/j185h.jpg
http://www.cascadeaudio.com/prod/powersupp.html
I use a Cascade 90amp power supply in the new boat, it plugs into the generator when on the water and right into an extension cord when not. It has an intelli-charger type system that goes from hard core charging to a trickle charge. Batteries are always fresh. Even with a 4000W stereo. I had a 60 amp supply in the old boat and that worked awesome too. I got that one from Camping World. They are basically RV power supplies.
Right up the alley if you're looking for a great overnight charge with long term battery conditioning.
http://www.promariner.com/images/Pro...ProSport12.jpg
I went with this one. I was sold on the DualPro, but noticed this was about the same price (actually $20 cheaper) and still had dual isolated banks. This one, however, sends the majority of it's 12 amps to the bank that needs it most, then divides evenly once it is brought back up to the level of the other bank. Kinda nifty.
Is that dual 12v, or 6v per bank (adjusted with charge up to 12v)?