Battery charging

[rayg1022]

how long should you leave a battery charger on the battery? I know when its charged, but then it goes into trickle charge?

 

[VaMarine]

I have one of these Amazon.com: ProMariner Prosport 8 Gen 3 Heavy Duty On-Board Marine Battery Charger - 8 Amp - 2 Bank: Automotive

But I show up Friday evening, and set it up. I then leave it on all night, use the boat saturday, charge over night saturday night. Then use boat on sunday and wait to recharge the next friday.

 

[Dave burke]

I leave my boat batteries on a procharger all winter long.

I leave the battery on my old Vette on a battery tender all winter long as well.

Make sure it’s a true trickle charger designed for long term use though.

 

[grywlfbg]

If your charger has a maintenance mode, then you can leave it on whenever you aren't using the boat. I have a Noco Genius Mini.

 

[jsg73]

As others have described, it depends. What charger are you using?

 

[rayg1022]

As others have described, it depends. What charger are you using?

This is the one I'm using.

 

[212s]

This is the one I'm using.

Careful with any charger which is not sealed and marine rated - batteries can gas hydrogen when charging which is very flammable and unless your charger is "ignition protected" you need to keep it well away from the batteries or you risk igniting gasses and causing a dramatic fire and/or explosion.

Think of it like the blowers for your engine compartment - they remove any flammable fumes before you start the engine and those blowers are ignition protected and sealed so they can't spark a fire.

 

[jsg73]

Since that appears to be an automatic charger (where it automatically changes current based on draw from the battery), I would leave it hooked up all the time as long as everything was well ventilated,

 

[rayg1022]

Since that appears to be an automatic charger (where it automatically changes current based on draw from the battery), I would leave it hooked up all the time as long as everything was well ventilated,

Not sure which one to use I have 2 of them.

 

[jsg73]

The grey one is a trickle maintainer type. It would take a long time to fully charge a heavily discharged battery. The second one seems to maintain as well but it also provides more a lot more amps as needed so it would charge a very discharged battery much faster then go into maintenance mode.
Both need good ventilation. Of course neither are marine rated/designed.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

As others have described, it depends. What charger are you using?

@jsg73 .....EXACTLY the point. EVERY aspect of a charging discussion depends on the battery chemistry: (Flooded, Gel, AGM, AGM/TPPL) AND the battery charger: (old style 12v 2-12 amp with a trickle charge profile that will boil or sulfate your batteries OR new style with up to 6 dedicated and regulated cycles that are governed by constant battery feed-back) some batteries gas-out others have internal valves and don't gas out. Depends, depends, depends. ......FWIW my choice: (minimum) AGM with smart multi-cycle charger .....(best) TPPL with a smart multi-cycle charger.

 

[rayg1022]

Out of the 2 I pictured above which would be better?

 

[biffdotorg]

Out of the 2 I pictured above which would be better?

Speed and 1.5a should never be used in marketing. That being said, certain types of batteries like to be charged slow. Just don't expect that thing to be anything more than a maintainer. It probably has a similar output to the stator on your engine.

If you want it charged overnight, go more amps

 

[rayg1022]

@jsg73 .....EXACTLY the point. EVERY aspect of a charging discussion depends on the battery chemistry: (Flooded, Gel, AGM, AGM/TPPL) AND the battery charger: (old style 12v 2-12 amp with a trickle charge profile that will boil or sulfate your batteries OR new style with up to 6 dedicated and regulated cycles that are governed by constant battery feed-back) some batteries gas-out others have internal valves and don't gas out. Depends, depends, depends. ......FWIW my choice: (minimum) AGM with smart multi-cycle charger .....(best) TPPL with a smart multi-cycle charger.

So I assume use the blue one then the grey one?

 

[biffdotorg]

So I assume use the blue one then the grey one?

Ok, this thread has just gotten silly. Almost every response is telling you what each of your chargers is meant to do. Without you telling us what you are trying to do, and what kind of batteries you have, you will just have to read the recommendations and make a decision.

Unless you care to share that information, all we can do is tell you what your charger choices can do.

1. Do you want to charge overnight or over the week for the next weekend?
2. Do you want to maintain your battery in the off season?
3. How many batteries do you have and what size/type/composition are they?
4. How often do you plan on depleting these batteries and wanting to recharge?

That will tell you which one to use. Either way, they will both charge your batteries. But as stated above, if you have newer AGM or other higher end batteries, you may be in the market for a better charger with cycles. And if you have two on board that will need charging on a regular basis, a multi-bank onboard charger may be the best option.

 

[rayg1022]

Ok, this thread has just gotten silly. Almost every response is telling you what each of your chargers is meant to do. Without you telling us what you are trying to do, and what kind of batteries you have, you will just have to read the recommendations and make a decision.

Unless you care to share that information, all we can do is tell you what your charger choices can do.

1. Do you want to charge overnight or over the week for the next weekend?
2. Do you want to maintain your battery in the off season?
3. How many batteries do you have and what size/type/composition are they?
4. How often do you plan on depleting these batteries and wanting to recharge?

That will tell you which one to use. Either way, they will both charge your batteries. But as stated above, if you have newer AGM or other higher end batteries, you may be in the market for a better charger with cycles. And if you have two on board that will need charging on a regular basis, a multi-bank onboard charger may be the best option.

This is getting silly because I feel your getting to technical on me here, here's the pic of the boat battery and the chargers I want to do is maintain my battery until I go back out, not looking to spend $300.00 or more on a boat battery charger..

 

[Babin Farms]

Try each one. Leave seat off of compartment & have charger on the outside of battery compartment and charge. If it’s inside a building you will be fine charging any amount of time. If outside, charge when not raining.

 

[biffdotorg]

This is getting silly because I feel your getting to technical on me here, here's the pic of the boat battery and the chargers I want to do is maintain my battery until I go back out, not looking to spend $300.00 or more on a boat battery charger..

I'm glad you got your answer. That blue Schumacher is about as easy as it gets. You literally plug it in, and select your battery type and size and let 'er buck. It literally will go from full 15a charge to 3am trickle depending on it's status.

If you need more info, check this video out

Schumacher SC1359 6/12V Fully Automatic Battery Charger and 15A Maintainer

That charger is truly meant for those that have no idea really. And don't take that personal, it is a great charger. Use that one whenever possible. It looks like you have a standard lead/acid battery. Choose marine if it's deep cycle, as I cannot tell from your photos as all the text is covered.

Good luck