shorepower charging

[ericcarr2000]

Ok guys, we recently purchased a new to us 1990 250 sundancer and one question I have is when im hooked up to shorepower for any length of time, will it hurt anything if after I hook up to turn the breaker panel on and switch the converter switch to the on position? I was told that in order to charge the batteries while at dock to hook up to shorepower, turn the breaker panel on and the switch the converter switch to the on position and making sure to turn the battery selector to both batteries so both batteries get the charge while away for any length of time.
Give me your thoughts on this, I just dont want to burn anything up while being docked for weeks on end.

 

[oldjeep]

That sounds like a bad setup. Your charger is attempting to charge 2 batteries off a single output?

 

[H20Rat]

As jeep mentioned, not the correct way to charge. Also, many converters/chargers are notoriously bad chargers, and will boil off electrolyte if you don't have enough constant load to drain some of the current off.

The CORRECT way is to get a marine rated multi-bank charger ($100, give or take, probably here on iboats), and plug that in. It charges the batteries individually and also usually does some battery management. (float charging/desulftation)

 

[oldjeep]

As jeep mentioned, not the correct way to charge. Also, many converters/chargers are notoriously bad chargers, and will boil off electrolyte if you don't have enough constant load to drain some of the current off.

The CORRECT way is to get a marine rated multi-bank charger ($100, give or take, probably here on iboats), and plug that in. It charges the batteries individually and also usually does some battery management. (float charging/desulftation)

And to add to that, once you installed a proper charger you would need to leave your perko in either Off or 1 or 2 but never both when charging.

 

[agallant80]

The setup is correct. The charger is hooked to your starting battery, by flipping the switch to all charge will run in to the house bank. It is configured this way to insure your starting bank is always charged.

 

[oldjeep]

The setup is correct. The charger is hooked to your starting battery, by flipping the switch to all charge will run in to the house bank. It is configured this way to insure your starting bank is always charged.

How is the charger supposed to properly charge the house battery when you have the house and starting batteries tied together? Worse yet, one is likely a starting battery and the other is a deep cycle.

 

[agallant80]

My bran new 2013 Bayliner is configured that way. I reached out to them and they explained to me what I just posted. The charger goes to bank 1 which is the starting bank. When you flip the switch to all it bridges the two banks in to one which will charge the house batteries too. The idea is that you will always put charge on your starting bank regardless of what position the perko switch is in. It kinda idiot proofs the whole thing in terms of you killing your starting bank. The batteries in my boat are exactly the same, which yes is something you will have to keep in mind.

You can also buy a multi bank charger and put one charge lead on each bank. You will still have the same issue though with different battery types. My charger has three charging leads but I can only select one type of battery for the whole setup (sealed, flooded, deep cycle etc). So the issue you pointed out about different batteries may not go away.

 

[oldjeep]

delete

 

[agallant80]

ProNautic 12-30P. As for the bad battery situation, they heat up. There is a temp lead that will let you know if you have a bad battery in your bank and sound an alarm. Nothing is fool proof though, you need to inspect your equipment and keep an eye on it regardless of how it is connected.

 

[agallant80]

Too late Old Jeep, I saw your grumpy old man side before you deleted it

No worries, there is no universal correct way to do things. There will always be an element of risk introduced based upon human error. The lesson is you have to keep an eye on your equipment, check it and not assume that its just ready to go. I never see oil in the bildge but I still check the level before I start the motor same care should be used with other systems on the boat. This seams to be the way bayliner/searay likes to do things on their boats. You could add in one of those auto relay switches which would reduce risk but what happens if that breaks? You still have to watch things always....