battery charging

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pathunt

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I've just purchased a 25 amp automatic leisure battery charger and I've been told by a friend that I should disconnect the batteries before charging,will it damage the alternators if I charge with the batteries connected /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Hope not; mines been permenantly connected for years & charges all the time we are on the mains! Also never disconnect the car battery if i ever need to charge that.
 
Your 25 amp charger will probably raise the voltage on the battery to well above 14 volts. That is if it is really going to push 25 amps into the battery. (unless it is a really big battery bank) However more likely the 25 amps represents the max that the charger can provide usually into a fairly flat battery. It will probably in practice put about 10 amps into usual battery bank mid charge.
The higher voltage should not bother the alternator and I am sure you will have the charge circuit power turned off. (usually power to the engine)

So the usual suggestion is ensure you have both ampmeter and voltmeter on the system. So you know what is happening. olewill
 
I've never heard of an alternator being damaged by a charger.

There are so many boats out there with both systems permanently connected there would have been a flurry of irate owners by now.

But yes, a voltmeter and ammeter on the battery bank is always a good idea, helps you to monitor other problems which may occur on your boat and deal with them swiftly.

Tony.
 
Thanks for the responce guys I feel a lot happier now! It is a supply on demand charger with a max of 25 amps on flat batteries, the batteries it will mainly be charging are the two 110 ah domestics. The charger has an ampmeter, I dont have a voltmeter, but I do have a battery gauge test switch for both banks. Thanks again /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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