charging batteries
Submitted by Gav475 on Sat, 2015-08-15 20:57
I have dual batteries fitted with a colehursey isolation switch. When attaching a battery trickle charger is it necessary to disconnect the leads from the batteries or is it ok to leave them connected when charging and leave the batteries in the off position. Over to the gurus for some advice. Cheers lads.
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Yes it's is best if you can
Yes it's is best if you can charge you batteries individually. As you have already assumed, just turn your isolator off and connect to each battery in turn.
If you really want to take care of your batteries, ditch the trickle charger and get a decent multi stage charger.
JohnF
Posts: 2836
Date Joined: 07/07/10
trickle charger wont do much
trickle charger wont do much better than 80 percent charged, as above get a multi stage charger. charge separately and dont connect batteries in parallel if you can help it when in operation.
Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.
Taffy
Posts: 183
Date Joined: 04/11/10
Would have to Agree
Would have to Agree with both above Posts,
Get yourself a Ctek Charger ,Great for all sorts of Batterys including Agm Batts
bushbeaver
Posts: 159
Date Joined: 08/07/13
Agree, can't go wrong with a
Agree, can't go wrong with a Ctec charger. I have a Ctec wiring loom connected to each battery, which makes connecting the charger a snap. Both batteries in the off position, charge them separately.
Gav475
Posts: 393
Date Joined: 16/11/11
ctec
thanks lads. It is actually a ctec, I thought they were called trickle chargers generically, shows how old school I am lol. Appreciate your sound advice as usual.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
charge separately and dont
charge separately and dont connect batteries in parallel if you can help it when in operation. How can you keep your accessories battery charged during operatiuon if it is not in parallel? Even if you are controlling it via a smart relay, it is still in parallel.
jng
Posts: 488
Date Joined: 03/08/07
I was thinking the same
I was thinking the same thing ranmar, I use a BEP VSR to keep the house battery topped up. If my boat isn't used for couple of weeks I put the ctek on the battery (individual)
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Yeah
Yep was thinking that too, I charge ( or keep topped up ) up to 4 batteries with the one charger, no problems.
Of coarse if a battery is low I charge it separate .
A good charger like a Ctek is designed to do this, that's why they are permanently mounted in nearly all RV campers. And they usually run a bank of batteries.
However if you add a Ctek D250s Dual to your batteries,this pretty much takes control and decides what battery to charge first and allows a solar panel to be added too.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Yep ctek is the way to go. a
Yep ctek is the way to go. a 250s dual is awesome and even better wth smartpass!
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8051
Date Joined: 07/05/12
I am looking at a charger for
I am looking at a charger for my batteries and looking at the Cteck to charge them but once I have charged them individually can I leave them on trickle charge in parallel? The only other option would be to buy two chargers to trickle charge them individually.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Individual for bulk and
Individual for bulk and absorption charging, then paralleling the batteries for float charge is OK. A twin charger would be better but you really wouldn't gain much.
crasny1
Posts: 6986
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Now I feel truely dopey
But is this charger possible to run off mains, or do you have to use a panel, running engine etc to charge it!
I had a quick look and it appears that it uses the best available source to charge but couldnt see whether you can charge from main elec.
I know dumb question potentially but not a sparkies neurone in my brain!!
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
The 250sDual is a dc-dc
The 250sDual is a dc-dc charger so not it can not be runs off the mains.It is used as a VSR to charge house batteries. The mains version are the mxs/m for marine charging !
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
This might help
This might help explain it a bit more.
And yes, to charge from mains power you need a separate charger and you just hook it to the aux battery ,and the d250s takes over distribution of the charge.
crasny1
Posts: 6986
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Tah Lads
Realy appreciate this.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk