Need Help With Battery Charger Please?

[Dougal]

Hi guys
Having just found a manual for my boat's 230v battery charger, I'm left more confused than before! It's a Dolphin (Reya) 12volt 40Amp unit, which has separate DC outlets for individual battery banks. The batteries consist of one cranking battery and two paralleled deep cycle. All are so called 'maintenance Free' wet batteries.

This is the part I don't understand in the manual...

It is essential that DC1 outlet is connected to the main battery
Connect DC2 & DC3 outlets to the motor battery and the auxiliary battery respectively

Surely, the 'main battery' IS the 'motor battery'???

The online manual is here: http://www.youblisher.com/p/127851-Manual-for-Dolphin-2-12v-30a-12v-40a-and-24v-20a-battery-charger/
Although mine is an earlier model.

Anyone any views or experience with this?

 

[VicS]

I would connect DC1 to the largest battery, in your case that is presumably the house battery bank and DC2 to the starter battery.

What it does not say is what you should do with the third output when you only have two battery banks.

 

[JumbleDuck]

This is the part I don't understand in the manual...

It is essential that DC1 outlet is connected to the main battery
Connect DC2 & DC3 outlets to the motor battery and the auxiliary battery respectively

Surely, the 'main battery' IS the 'motor battery'???

The reference to "motor" suggests that they are aiming at the American market, where practice is to charge the house battery first, then the engine one.

 

[Dougal]

It's a French item, made by a French company. I'm pretty sure its made for mainly the EU market. Also, looking at the manual, for my batteries I've set the charge rate to position 00. If anyone thinks differently, please let me know.

 

[VicS]

I've set the charge rate to position 00. If anyone thinks differently, please let me know.

OK if they are not sealed. If they are sealed, maintenance free batteries often are, you should select position 01

 

[abraxus]

What it does not say is what you should do with the third output when you only have two battery banks.

On my Stirling charger, which has three outputs, it says that it's good practice to connect any unused output to one that is, by a short cable. Something to do with helping to spread loads, apparently.

 

[Dougal]

OK if they are not sealed. If they are sealed, maintenance free batteries often are, you should select position 01

Oh poo! Just discovered they're MIXED!!!! The engine cranking battery is NOT sealed and can be topped up (720CCA and 110Ah). The two domestic, deep cycle batteries ARE sealed, and combined, are 180Ah. Any idea which setting would be the best comprimise?
Ta!

 

[abraxus]

In a similar vein, many sealed leisure batteries are calcium/lead, and some chargers have a setting for calcium batteries, which is a higher level of charge, but it doesn't state whether it's for sealed or open. Any ideas of whether this should be used for sealed calcium batteries, or whether one should stick with the sealed lead option?

 

[VicS]

Oh poo! Just discovered they're MIXED!!!! The engine cranking battery is NOT sealed and can be topped up (720CCA and 110Ah). The two domestic, deep cycle batteries ARE sealed, and combined, are 180Ah. Any idea which setting would be the best comprimise?
Ta!

The lower setting, for sealed batteries, is the safe option

 

[VicS]

On my Stirling charger, which has three outputs, it says that it's good practice to connect any unused output to one that is, by a short cable. Something to do with helping to spread loads, apparently.

Sterling advise this in their instructions but there is no similar advice in the Dolphin instructions. Hence my comment

 

[Dougal]

The lower setting, for sealed batteries, is the safe option

Sorry for being a pain Vic, but although the absorption and equalisation voltages are lower for the sealed batteries setting, the float charge is higher... 13.6 as opposed to 13.2 for std batteries. Is that still ok?