Marine Battery Charger

[John_S]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

I would like to have two batteries, but for the start I can only afford one. So I thought I could plan ahead and get the charger for two batteries if that won't cause any damage

It shouldn't. Check the manual or call tech support for these power distribution type chargers. Worse case, you should be able to just electrical tape (isolate) each pole of the unused bank. On my Guest chargers, I can parrellel the outputs, so a 5/5 could be 10A in parrellel.

 

[JMack627]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Yikes! That sounds complicated lol. I will just do as you say and contact promariner before I order the charger. Thank you all again for your help!

 

[bulletine]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

I also have been searching for battery chargers, my requirements are different than yours, but the durability issue should be the same. You can check the other forums as I have done and come up with the same results.

For your use, I would suggest Minn Kota. This was at the top of the list but after contacting them about hard wiring their charger (4 bank) it would void the warranty.

 

[JMack627]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

I also have been searching for battery chargers, my requirements are different than yours, but the durability issue should be the same. You can check the other forums as I have done and come up with the same results.

Promariner and Xandex are not being reports as good chargers. I am now focused on Charles and Newmar.

For your use, I would suggest Minn Kota. This was at the top of the list but after contacting them about hard wiring their charger (4 bank) it would void the warranty.

Funny you say that! After doing FURTHER research I have found them to be at the top of my list. I have successfully ordered the Minn Kota on board charger and a few other goody's today from iboats. This was my first and definately not my last purchase from the site! Thanks to all you guys, I can get information and the products I need from the same place Thanks for your input Bulletine! Best of luck in your charger search! I opted for the MK 110, 1 bank charger since I think it will suite me for the time being, and got a size 29 battery. It says it will only take 4-6 hours to re-charge so that's more than fast enough!

 

[ProMarJim]

...

 

[bulletine]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Promariner,

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[bulletine]

Promariner

Promariner

A positive comment:

Wed Apr 28 09:54:00 EDT 2010

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I installed a Promariner 40 two years ago on my Sea Ray. Worked flawlessly and only had to add water at beginning of season. Very satisfied and because I was replacing a 23 year old Promariner the factory gave me a good deal on a new Promariner. I think I had to give them the serial number off the old unit. This is a nice piece of equipment that comes with a master fuse and fuse holder.

 

[ProMarJim]

Re: Promariner

Re: Promariner

Thx

 

[bulletine]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Jim,

I appreciate your sincerity, and the work you do there. We have spoken on the phone several times. Your support has been excellent.

Best regards...

 

[ProMarJim]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Jim,

I appreciate your sincerity, and the work you do there. We have spoken on the phone several times. My issue is having owned many boats, several with chargers, I never had one go bad until now. My goal to purchase a charger that will last for a long time. Although you did make a great offer on a new charger, I could not justify spending $350, the risks are too high for me.

Best regards...

EDIT: Sorry guys, we do not allow the arrangement of private transactions in the forum. Most members conduct this sort of business by PM.

All the best.

Jim Mitchell

 

[ProMarJim]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Okay

 

[Mobusapollo]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

I just bought a schumacher 6 amp speedcharge, I have a Duralast 685, 85 amp hour that I discharged to 20%. The 6 amp schumacher smart charger charged it back up in 9 hours, $30 a wallyworld. It says in the manual 4,6, and 8 amp for deep cycle which is confusing because their touted marine charger is 12 amps and bass pro marine chargers are 12-15 amps. But the guide says 12+ amps are for light trucks and shorten the life of the deep cycle battery by charging with higher amps, says slow and low amp charging is best for deep cycle.
I think the reason they sell higher amp chargers is to shorten the life and sell more batteries. I have read numerous places where people say they use 12+ amp chargers and their batteries last a year but then I read people use a 4 or 6 amp charger and their battery lasts 5-7 years.

 

[JMack627]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Ok I don't mean to change the subject of my thread but I didn't want to start a whole new one for this one question... What gauge wire do they use from your outboard to the battery? I need to buy about 15 ft of it so I can move my battery to the front of the boat. Thanks!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

How big is the outboard? That's a long wiring run (30 feet of wire); the longer the run, the larger the gauge you need.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

My $.02 on the battery charger debate...

When I was at Wellcraft many moons ago, we used Guest. When I was at Stamas Yacht, we used Charles, both the metal case and the "waterproof" ones. When I took a job as Production Engineer with Proline, we were using Guest. No real issues with any, but Proline did formerly use Charles until one caught fire (probably an improper install), so they switched to guest.

Along comes ProMariner (we were already using their galvanic isolators), repped by my good friend John Dority w Charles A. Perry. He had PMs new ProSport 20+ 3-bank with him for me to evaluate. One of the coolest things about the PM chargers is that when one battery reaches a charged state, the charger automatically takes the output that battery doesn't need anymore and puts it to use on the other batteries. Guest doesn't do that, that output just sits there going unused. Another cool thing is that the PM costs Proline $40 less than a comparable Guest. Our Guest rep had a hard time explaining that one!

So then John tells me it is 100% waterproof, so I attached the leads to a somewhat drained battery, plugged in the PM, and dropped it in a 5 gallon bucket of water, fully submerged...and walked away. 3 days later, I came back to the charger, the battery status LED on the charger was green, the battery checked 13.5V. I unplugged the charger, let her dry out. My buddy installed that very charger on his boat 2 1/2 years ago and it is still going strong...and he leaves it on all the time when the boat is docked.

So I guess this would probably a good indication where I stand on the subject of chargers...

 

[JMack627]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

How big is the outboard? That's a long wiring run (30 feet of wire); the longer the run, the larger the gauge you need.

I'm sorry NYBo, I mean 30 feet total. It's a 14ft boat and a 48hp Johnson outboard. I meant two 15 ft cables .

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Just to get this straight -- you plan to move the STARTING battery to the front of the boat? If so, you need battery cable (as in big and expensive). Better rethink that if that was your plan. .

 

[seabob4]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

Ok I don't mean to change the subject of my thread but I didn't want to start a whole new one for this one question... What gauge wire do they use from your outboard to the battery? I need to buy about 15 ft of it so I can move my battery to the front of the boat. Thanks!

2GA will do it...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

There are a couple reasons not to put a starting battery near the front of the boat. One is the battery cable issue but the second is that since there is more pounding near the bow, the battery gets way more shock and vibration.

 

[JMack627]

Re: Marine Battery Charger

There are a couple reasons not to put a starting battery near the front of the boat. One is the battery cable issue but the second is that since there is more pounding near the bow, the battery gets way more shock and vibration.

Well it is a deep cycle/ starting battery, size 29. So I want it up front for two reasons, because my trolling motor is up there, and to balance out the weight when I'm fishing solo because it rides a little low in the back when I am alone. I was told at the marina 6ga would work? I am thinking it's 8gauge atm but am unsure how to tell. I do plan on having the battery secured in the front of the boat btw so I am hoping that will solve that issue.