does anyone use an onboard battery charger? i know a lot of bass boats have them but i never seen one on a center console. are they worth the money? how do they work? will they charge two batteries(cranking and deepcycle)?
they work wonders.I have one on a 32CC,with 4 batteries.
just don’t forget to check the water in your batteries on a regular basis.batteries will cook.
we install them often, mostly on boats with trolling motors
Just got one from Henry’s Sporting Goods to replace current unit. New one is Guest 10 Amp Charge Pro Series charger for 2 batteries - Mod 2611A. It’ll charge my 3 Optimas. Old charger took several years of banging and kept things ready to go. Just not pushing my luck.
Be sure to order the inlet sleeve / cover.
Each positive lead has a 15a buss fuse that I replace with a 7.5a.
I operate it 1 day a week while waiting…
It weighs 6 lbs so be sure the mounting is done accordingly.
On my old Sea Hunt one had been installed but they just used 2 self tapping screws - not good enough for outside the harbor trips.
It cost about half of what each battery cost so to me it’s $ well spent.
my on board charger is one of the best additions I have made to my boat, period!
KNOTHEAD
can anyone tell me how they work?
My Pro Mariner 3 bank charger works great! In my boat warehouse I have a reel cord mounted in the ceiling. It hangs down right where the plug is. I plug it up and my batteries are always fully charged. I have 2 Optimas and 1 Group 31 deep cycle house battery.
My only problem is remembering to unplug it. I have pulled it out of the ceiling a couple times.
Cape Horn 24OS
twin 150 Optimax
I don’t want to be rich,
I just want 1 dollar more than I can spend!
it is just like a regular battery charger
only difference, this one is mounted inside the boat, and wired to the battery.
that way all you have to do is plug it in when you get home
“does anyone use an onboard battery charger?”
Yes.
“i know a lot of bass boats have them but i never seen one on a center console. are they worth the money?”
Yes.
“how do they work?”
It probably depends on the brand, but all the ones I’ve had worked just as they should, and I know the Guest brand works well.
“will they charge two batteries(cranking and deepcycle)?”
Yes. Buy a two-bank charger. If you have three batters, get a three-bank. Take note of the Amps per bank. The higher your Amp hours on your battery, the longer it will take to charge. The higher the Amps per bank on the charger, the faster it will charge. So, the higher the Amp hours of the battery, the more Amps per bank you want (within reason). I have 5/5/5’s on my smaller boats with 80-105-amp-hr batters, and they do fine. I would have put a 10/10/10 on them, but they were not readily available in town. If you buy a Guest charger, Guest also makes a snap-in socket mount, made so that the plug snaps right into the back of it, for a nice, flush finish to the recepticle. They also make one for other brands, but you’ll just have to manually strip and terminate the wires (no big deal at all).
One more thing: I’d buy a plastic, sealed one for use in the salt. I don’t really like buying electrical devices with metal housings to be used in a salt environment if I can avoid it. That’s just me.
“just don’t forget to check the water in your batteries on a regular basis.batteries will cook.”–Bolbie
Very true and good advice.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
quote:
Originally posted by brianhMy only problem is remembering to unplug it. I have pulled it out of the ceiling a couple times.
YEP DONE THAT:frowning_face:
Nothing like 100 drop cord trailing behind the boat:smiley:
I have two on my boat, one is for my starting/electronics batteries in my bilge. Just makes sure never have dead battery at the ramp
The other is for my tm batteries
I have two Guest Chargers and they work fine
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
I have a 24ft CC and had installed when I bought it. I put a plug on the outside of the house where I park the boat and use a 6ft cord to keep it pluged in when its not in the water… I havent had a battery issue yet and I am goin on 4 yrs… I will never own another boat without one… so yes well worth the money
May your reels continue to sing and your lines stay tight
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238 SeaPro w/225 verado
http://www.stealth1charging.com/
I have one on my boat. Charges all 4 batteries (2 trolling, 1 cranking, 1 house) all while on the water. It even has an option to charge batteries while you are towing boat. I have had for 3 years and had to plug in twice and I did this because some kids were playing on boat and killed the house and cranking battery. All electronics are potted. Just give them a call and ask for Danny (owner). He will even send diagrams for set up if needed. He does a lot of bass boats. Kevin Van Dam uses his product.
quote:
Originally posted by gotchacovered“does anyone use an onboard battery charger?”
Yes.
“i know a lot of bass boats have them but i never seen one on a center console. are they worth the money?”
Yes.
“how do they work?”
It probably depends on the brand, but all the ones I’ve had worked just as they should, and I know the Guest brand works well.
“will they charge two batteries(cranking and deepcycle)?”
Yes. Buy a two-bank charger. If you have three batters, get a three-bank. Take note of the Amps per bank. The higher your Amp hours on your battery, the longer it will take to charge. The higher the Amps per bank on the charger, the faster it will charge. So, the higher the Amp hours of the battery, the more Amps per bank you want (within reason). I have 5/5/5’s on my smaller boats with 80-105-amp-hr batters, and they do fine. I would have put a 10/10/10 on them, but they were not readily available in town. If you buy a Guest charger, Guest also makes a snap-in socket mount, made so that the plug snaps right into the back of it, for a nice, flush finish to the recepticle. They also make one for other brands, but you’ll just have to manually strip and terminate the wires (no big deal at all).
One more thing: I’d buy a plastic, sealed one for use in the salt. I don’t really like buying electrical devices with metal housings to be used in a salt environment if I can avoid it. That’s just me.
“just don’t forget to check the water in your batteries on a regular basis.batteries will cook.”–Bolbie
Very true and good advice.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
You are talking about potted electronics correct?
quote:
Originally posted by Bolbiethey work wonders.I have one on a 32CC,with 4 batteries.
just don’t forget to check the water in your batteries on a regular basis.batteries will cook.
With AGM’s you do not have that problem.
One more think forget something you have to plug in all the time.
quote:
Originally posted by UT_VOLS13quote:
Originally posted by gotchacovered“does anyone use an onboard battery charger?”
Yes.
“i know a lot of bass boats have them but i never seen one on a center console. are they worth the money?”
Yes.
“how do they work?”
It probably depends on the brand, but all the ones I’ve had worked just as they should, and I know the Guest brand works well.
“will they charge two batteries(cranking and deepcycle)?”
Yes. Buy a two-bank charger. If you have three batters, get a three-bank. Take note of the Amps per bank. The higher your Amp hours on your battery, the longer it will take to charge. The higher the Amps per bank on the charger, the faster it will charge. So, the higher the Amp hours of the battery, the more Amps per bank you want (within reason). I have 5/5/5’s on my smaller boats with 80-105-amp-hr batters, and they do fine. I would have put a 10/10/10 on them, but they were not readily available in town. If you buy a Guest charger, Guest also makes a snap-in socket mount, made so that the plug snaps right into the back of it, for a nice, flush finish to the recepticle. They also make one for other brands, but you’ll just have to manually strip and terminate the wires (no big deal at all).
One more thing: I’d buy a plastic, sealed one for use in the salt. I don’t really like buying electrical devices with metal housings to be used in a salt environment if I can avoid it. That’s just me.
“just don’t forget to check the water in your batteries on a regular basis.batteries will cook.”–Bolbie
Very true and good advice.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
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I have the Promariner 3 bank charger. Has a 2 year warrenty. Stopped working just before warrenty was up and they sent me a brand new one at no charge.