Battery Chargers
Submitted by Happy Hooker on Thu, 2011-07-28 08:16
Hi all
Wondering how everyone keeps their batteries charged/maintained over winter when not in use. Have dual batteries and dont want to keep swapping a charger which keeps battery in float, like a CTEK charger, from one to the other constantly . Can you connect them in parallel or in a bank system ? I have seen chargers in the US that you can connect both batteries to as a bank with individual wiring for each battery but not in Oz.
Boat sits oustside and althoughhave a solar panel, still same issue changing it over (and for security reasons dont want to keep panel outside in view)
Have same issue with the landcruiser which is now parked up in the garage as have a work car. Jumped into it and dead flat.
Cheers
Mulie
Posts: 546
Date Joined: 20/02/11
Battery
Mate, I just disconnect the battery on my old boat tower (Maverick trayback) and she seems to keep going, but I do take it for a spin every week whether I'm putting the boat in or not.
Mulie
whipasswaverunner
Posts: 181
Date Joined: 25/09/09
Use the boat all year.
I don't really have that problem as I use the boat in winter as well.
Cheers
bulla
Posts: 87
Date Joined: 11/05/10
could fit a battery isolator switch
if you take the batteries out store them on a piece of wood,placing charged batteries on bare concrete draws the current out of them,
Stop complaining and get on with it !!
Gaz Mero
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 19/04/10
CTEK MXS 5.0
Gday mate Ive got dual 1150 cca batterys in my tub and a CTEK MXS 5.0 and I just leave the battery selector in the 1+2 position and just connect to one battery .
Im not sure if this is the right way to do it but Ive volt metered both batterys after just a week and they are both up at the same voltage about 13.9v. Just make sure all your radios and stuff are off.
Cheers
Gazza
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
I have a pair of AGMs and
I have a pair of AGMs and they have held their charge. Boat has hardly been used due to work.
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
i dont have a problem either
but if you are having a problem buy a decent solar panel just sit it on the boat and it will charge just nicely even with the clouds about!
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
Happy Hooker
Posts: 305
Date Joined: 12/11/08
Thanks for the tips Sav and Bulla.
Not sure if you read my thread fully snappermiles, I have a solar panel.Clouds not the issue, it might grow legs and walk away !!!
Dont want to keep connecting and disconnecting the batteries constantly, am thinking of gatting a couple of Cteks with the comfort connectors that you leave on the battery terminals and just plug in so I can run just the cords to the boat.
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
I have an 8amp multi stage
I have an 8amp multi stage Projecta charger. Hook it up to one of the batteries, parallel the batteries with the battery isolator switch, and charge away.
Anything less than an 8 amp charger I would only charge 1 battery a time.
If you use a multi stage charger that has a float stage you shoud be able to leave the charger on for long periods without risking battery damage.
Tomcat
Posts: 614
Date Joined: 24/02/11
Charger
Have a Minn Kota 2x10 amp marine charger fixed in boat keeps both charged separately shuts down automatically and cut back in when charge drops
Ringy35
Posts: 138
Date Joined: 30/04/11
with your batteries you can
with your batteries you can charge both at the same time in parallel if you have a charger that chargers 24 volts....
Batteries in parallel doubles the voltage
batteries in series doubles the amps
Thats back from trade school days, but i was either hungover or still pissed...... pretty sure thats right mate.
If your battery does drop below 6 volts then charge them seperately to save the life of your battery the parallel charge is better just for a top up
fishy fingers
Posts: 1719
Date Joined: 28/04/07
thats wrong
Parralell =same voltage higher amps series = double voltage same amps
Ringy35
Posts: 138
Date Joined: 30/04/11
sorry your right i got it
sorry your right i got it the wrong way around
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
Charger
I have a 24V battery system for my Minn Kota.
The 2 12 V batteries are charged at once as I simply join them together with a wire (positive one battery-negative the second battery.)
Them I simply plug in the Ctex and attach the clips to the respective positive/negative of the two batteries.
Charges in about 4-6 hours.
It's exactly how you wire them up to the Kota.