Power to the ...

[lanason]

Batteries.

Having had a Halfords battery charger fitted to my boat which has knackered both my batteries - i need an inexpensive solution that:-

- can be left on all the time (mains hook up)
- can charge both batteries
- won't destroy them
- inexpensive

BTW The boat has a single engine.

does anyone have a wiring diagram to wire it up

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday

 

[Colin_S]

What about a couple of float chargers? Do a search on <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntooluk.com/>this site</A>. £14.99 each + VAT

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[Koeketiene]

What's inexpensive?

In a modern boat electrics are IMHO quite important.

Take a look at this: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.merlinequipment.com/prod_range.cfm?cat_id=40>http://www.merlinequipment.com/prod_range.cfm?cat_id=40</A>

Brilliant bit of kit - got a raving review in one of the mags this month (think it was Sailing Today). Had it fitted earlier this year, now wouldn't want to do without it.

May cost a little more than you hoped for. Remember: buy cheap, buy twice.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[lanason]

Inexpensive is under the cost of two batteries !!!!

Which model is the best and where can I find the prices ??



<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday

 

[duncan]

Come on Sandra why do you need to kep them attached to the power?

inexpensive solutions
(1) keep a spare battery charged at home and chuck in back of Landcruiser when heading for boat - use if necessary
(2) continue existing solution but get a bulk discount thus continually reducing the cost of each new pair..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[lanason]

Doh - I'm living on board all week in Cambridgeshire - thats 5 nights a week. Floating hotel - hence the reason for always connected. PITA to lug out each week and bring home /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif. Shorepower is connected for heat and fridge.

I want to connect and forget !!! ps I've got my new Grand Scenic so the LC stays at home with SWMBO.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday

 

[Koeketiene]

Prices quoted from Merlin advert in this months PBO (page 34)

10A (2 battery banks) £109
15A (3 battery banks) £159
etc...
All the way up to
60A (3 battery banks) £569

What's best for you? Don't know your boat or your requirements.
Give Merlin a call - I've found them very helpfull in the past (01202 603742)

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[john_morris_uk]

A Sterling 30 Amp charger is in the £200 region if I remember correctly, and it does exactly what you are asking for. We've had one on our last two boats and they have always performed faultlessly. Shop around for the best price - lots of people stock them.

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[Koeketiene]

Bit hesitant to recommend Stirling. They've got a "novel" approach to support & customer service. Have you tried phoning them?

I know people who swear by Sterling, but I also know people who wouldn't touch Sterling with a bargepole. Seems to be very much a hit or miss affair.

When I asked my local marine electrician (he stocked Steling & Mastervolt) what he had on his boat he said Dolphin. Wouldn't say why - just grinned.
Got a Dolphin from Merlin and he installed it for me. Haven't looked back since.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Born_Free]

After three years my Sterling gave up the ghost in february this year, & I got nowhere with the company trying to sort it out. So I did some research, and eventually bought an AccuMate Pro float charger for around £55. O.K. so you can only charge one battery bank with it, so I wired it to both via a manual changeover switch. Mostly I leave it connected to the domestic battery & about once a month I switch it over to the start battery for a few days, long enough to keep it topped up and healthy. I did consider putting a timer on it to switch over automatically for those few days each month, but resisted the temptation, this way I have an excuse to go down to the boat regularly for a bit of maintenance & pottering. Nothing to do with the case of Guiness I keep on board of course. The domestic battery only has a very low powered (0.2amp) extractor fan running continually to help keep the condensation out, but it doesn't flatten the battery during the few days that I switch the charger over. It may not be a perfect solution, but at that price I don't mind if it doesn't last forever, unlike its predecessor, which at the price they are sold at really upset me when it died.

<hr width=100% size=1>Born Free!
Now I'm expensive

 

[William_H]

I think you need to be carefull to be sure the charger did knacker the batteries. Are you sure they didn't die of old age. Did they show signs of using too much water (if they were wet cell types.
i am not familiar with the type of charger you had. The simplesst will tend to put a medium current into the batteries regardless of the state of charge however many even cheap chargers now have voltage sensing so that they do not overcharge. If your Halfords was a sophisticated type then unfortunately a common failure mode is a short of the control transistor which then gives high voltage (current)at all times which could knacker the batteries. What you need is an ampmeter to measure what is actually going in to each battery. Once charged a battery can have around 1/4 amp flowing in continuously without any problem however the 3 amps or more continually will be enough to boil away the electrolyte. I know you want to set and forget but it really is better to monitor and know what is happening with current and voltage when on charge. At least until you feel confident enough to forget it. regards will

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[ashley]

If you've just got to have a cheap charger, you could get a draper or sealey charger from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tooledup.com>www.tooledup.com</A>
For example, they do a 12amp 12v charger from Sealey at £41. That's probably all you need regardless of your battery capacity
The info states that it will be good for full time connection;

This electronic charger can be connected to a battery for an indefinite period – the intelligent circuitry constantly monitoring the voltage and maintaining the battery’s level of charge at its optimum.

Bear in mind though, if you're leaving it on to maintain handle your batteries whilst living aboard, your needs are more demanding than normal use so it would be worth spending more money


<hr width=100% size=1>Live life to the fullest... think of all the people on the Titanic who passed up chocolate dessert.