motion Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Hey guys, I need some help choosing an on board battery charger. I have a boat with a 12 volt starting battery and 2-12volt batteries for the trolling motor. Any advice on type and size would be appreciated. I only know of the ones Bass Pro carries but I am a little confused on what I should get and how you hook them up properly. I believe I would need a 3-bank charger??? Any ideas on where to buy them reasonably? I am live in Vaughan with my boat up near Orillia. Thank you in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I picked one of these up last year and it's pretty decent. It will charge regular lead acid, deep cycle lead acid and AGM batteries. All you have to do is hook one set of cables to each battery and plug it in. It will cycle through the batteries giving up to 15 amps of current and when the batteries are charged will maintain them. It also conditions the batteries to extend their life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeontroller Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I personally don't see the reason behind having an on board charger for your cranking battery...Anyway, one bank per battery, if you want to charge all three you will need a 3-bank charger, just 2 then you would obviously need a 2-bank charger. They are easy to install, follow the mounting instructions. There are two leads per barttery as you would expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 As Dax points out.. if your charging circuit is working properly on your outboard there should be no reason to be using an onboard charger for it's cranking battery/accessory battery. The motor should have it fully topped by the time you get back to the dock/trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBR Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 My boat and most others run every thing but the TM off the cranking batteries. Fishing up in your great province for a week or more I didn't have a 3 bank charging the cranking motor so on about day 3 msybe 4 there was not enough left in the cranking battery to start the big motor. Fortunately I had jumper cables on board. Another reason for a 3 bank is that battery life is improved if you get them fully charged after every use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motion Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 As Dax points out.. if your charging circuit is working properly on your outboard there should be no reason to be using an onboard charger for it's cranking battery/accessory battery. The motor should have it fully topped by the time you get back to the dock/trailer. Understand your point Wayne, however, would it not make sense if I had to buy an on board charger that a 3-bank would keep the cranking battery topped up durind extended periods of time when I am not using the boat? My starting battery is only a could of years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Understand your point Wayne, however, would it not make sense if I had to buy an on board charger that a 3-bank would keep the cranking battery topped up durind extended periods of time when I am not using the boat? My starting battery is only a could of years old. Yes it does make perfect sense. That is the reason I have a 3 bank charger on my boat. As I said the charger I bought will ignore any fully charged batteries and only charge those that need charging. Plus it conditions the batteries and reduces sulfation of the plates as well as float charging them so they stay topped up when not used. Just plug in at the end of the day and forget about it until the next trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motion Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Yes it does make perfect sense. That is the reason I have a 3 bank charger on my boat. As I said the charger I bought will ignore any fully charged batteries and only charge those that need charging. Plus it conditions the batteries and reduces sulfation of the plates as well as float charging them so they stay topped up when not used. Just plug in at the end of the day and forget about it until the next trip. Dave, I would also assume you leave the two TM batteries hooked up together (24 volts) while charging?? I dont need any other switches. Is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 (edited) Dave, I would also assume you leave the two TM batteries hooked up together (24 volts) while charging?? I dont need any other switches. Is that correct? Correct, the charger separates the batteries internally. You have 3 cables (each with a + & -) (one for each battery) and a power cord. So easy a caveman could install it. The only thing you have to do is tell it what kind of battery is on each cable so it can properly charge it. All done through a button or two. Easy enough if you follow the instructions. Edited May 2, 2011 by DRIFTER_016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Forgot to add, the Nautilus charger I posted has a 5 year warranty and is made by Schumacker Electric. Here is a link to the manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I agree with having a 3 bank charger to include charging and MAINTAINING the starting battery. I no longer remove my batteries from the boat in the winter months. Just plug the charger in and forget about it. Using a smart on-board charger my starting battery lasted 9 years and I only replaced it because of it's age...I didn't want to push it beyond that because I'm fishing Lake Erie a lot during the summer. I believe the charger that Drifter mentioned might be the same as the one I'm using with a different brand name. Here's the one I have on my boat....http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/AutoBoat-Batteries-Chargers/On-Board-Chargers-Inverters%7C/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104465880/Cabelas-Advanced-Anglers-ProSport-II-On-Board-Marine-Battery-Chargers/734150.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-auto-boat-batteries-chargers-on-board-chargers-inverters%2F_%2FN-1100565%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104465880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104698080&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104698080%3Bcat104465880 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garnet Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 A lot depends on your electronics. I have 2 hd units plus a global map 3300c and a flasher I still use running down the lake. Then add live wells running all day. Also these merc pro xs take huge power to crank. Charging my cranking battery is nessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherriff Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 I have the same brand as Drifter (from Cantire) and as mentioned, has a 5yr warranty which is awesome. Mastercraft Nautilus 15A Onboard Battery Charger I had a Bass Pro brand that only lasted 3 years and at $300.00 with only a 2 year warranty, that hurt the wallet. I enjoy just plugging in the boat when I get home and know it is ready to go anytime I am. Sherriff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motion Posted May 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Picked up the Nautilus charger at CTC last night. Looks like a sweet unit and can't wait to install it. I am happy that I wont have to lug the batteries out of the boat now that I have an electrical outlet close enough to charge them on board. Thanks for all your help guys and an extra special one out to Dave for your advice (and links) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Clemens Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 I am happy that I wont have to lug the batteries out of the boat now that I have an electrical outlet close enough to charge them on board. Exactly why I had one installed last year for my T/M battery. Heavy sucker I got tired of lifting out of the boat and carrying back and forth to the cabin all the time. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIFTER_016 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Picked up the Nautilus charger at CTC last night. Looks like a sweet unit and can't wait to install it. I am happy that I wont have to lug the batteries out of the boat now that I have an electrical outlet close enough to charge them on board. Thanks for all your help guys and an extra special one out to Dave for your advice (and links) No problem Don't forget to put the bill in a safe place in case there's a problem & remember it's got a 5 year warranty. :thumbsup_anim: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefish Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Out of curiousity what setting do you run when your chargeing...AGM, Gel, or regular flooded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplumma Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 agm is Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries. Gel is gel and Regular is a wet cell battery that you add water to as needed. Each battery is identified on the battery shell. You should not use any other setting then the one that applies to your battery.They charge differently and for different amp or time and can damage the battery if set wrong. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 agm is Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries. Gel is gel and Regular is a wet cell battery that you add water to as needed. Each battery is identified on the battery shell. You should not use any other setting then the one that applies to your battery.They charge differently and for different amp or time and can damage the battery if set wrong. Art What Art said...oh, and don't forget to plug it in whenever not fishing for best results. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyefish Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 thanks art thats what i have mine set at..but best to be sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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