switch required to charge battery

[salmonee]

Is a switch required to charge the battery? I always took off the terminals but hate doing so. I should know this question. I'm talking about just a single switch to open/close between motor/electronics and my one battery. I know I need two, my boat don't have enough room/space.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: switch required to charge battery

Think about this. Your engine charges the battery whenever it is running. Why do you feel the battery needs to be disconnected when you charge it with a portable charger? Auto shops charge car batteries all the time without disconnecting them and have been doing so for 100 years without issue. NO! You do not need a switch, nor do you need to disconnect the battery to charge it.

 

[boat1010]

Re: switch required to charge battery

I concur. The battery doesn't know if it is charging from the boat or from a battery charger. I have a marine charger installed in the boat. When it will be setting for any length of time I just plug it in to keep the batteries toped off. Works great.

 

[salmonee]

Re: switch required to charge battery

Think about this. Your engine charges the battery whenever it is running. Why do you feel the battery needs to be disconnected when you charge it with a portable charger? Auto shops charge car batteries all the time without disconnecting them and have been doing so for 100 years without issue. NO! You do not need a switch, nor do you need to disconnect the battery to charge it.

I looked at it like this. If I charge the battery w/ the load (motor, etc) connected, I'd figured it would drain the battery while everything is hooked up and just sitting in my garage. Else if the battery is charged by the motor while on the lake, why would I need to charge the battery when I get home? I understand it doesn't charge the battery completely.