sterling chargers

[KREW2]

Hi
I have a sterling battery charger, if I had a flat battery, and plugged in a 240 volt genny to my shore power connection would it start my engine directly through the charger, or would I have to wait for it to charge the batteries?

 

[Steve Clayton]

Your sterling will have a current draw/thermal cutout so it won't get damaged if you try to start engine with the battery charger on (from whatever is the 240volt "shore power" source).

Battery will need sufficient charge to start the engine.

 

[LadyInBed]

If you haven't got a generator, a Draper 12v Battery Starter Charger Tester would be an alternative.

 

[Talbot]

the chargers designed to assist an engine start will draw up to 100 amps for that short peiod. This could damage or stall the genny

 

[andy_wilson]

No

Whilst you only need a fraction of an amp hour to start an engine (provided it's a reasonable sterter), you do need enough volts to shove the high current through the starter.

If by flat battery you mean too flat to turn her over but otherwise sound, you probably need to put 40 Amps in for 10 mins, or 10 amps in for 40 mins, to get her going.

If by flat you mean flat, neglected and been left flat for a month, you will probably never get enough current delivery back fromthe battery to start her.

With regards to starting with the charger still connected, consider the starting load as being not far short of being a short circuit. If the sterling has protection from this, fine. However even if it has, I would not rely on it. Disconnect the power supply to the charger before cranking if the batteries are low.

N.B. the Times / currents stated above should get the engine started, but would not represent a full recharge, rather it represents about 3 Ah of energy, and a sufficient lift in volts to at least start the engine.

You would still need to charge the batteries with approx 50% of the A/H capacity to fully charge them.

 

[KREW2]

Re: No

I was thinking on the lines you said, a battery that was low and struggling to turn the engine. Thanks for the definate no. I shall now go out and by a small genny that will put in enough charge in a short time to start the engine in an emergency, I have just noticed that the pin on the flywheel crank for hand starting has sheared
Thanks Keith

 

[Steve Clayton]

Re: No

[ QUOTE ]
I shall now go out and by a small genny that will put in enough charge in a short time to start the engine in an emergency

[/ QUOTE ]
Keith, the draper style of a battery pack used to assist the starting is a better bet. It's just like using jump leads to start a car with a flat battery. An alternative source is Makro - we've carried one for a long time in the event of the need for an emergency start

Steve
www.seraph-sailing.com

 

[Sans Bateau]

Re: No

That sounds like an expensive solution to the problem that will mean carrying more kit on the boat.

If you have a domestic battery on board buy a set of GOOD jump leads. When I say good, not the flimsy ally ones from Halfords, spend a few quid on them (always usefull). You can then jump the starter battery from domestic.

Oh! so you dont have a seperate domestic battery, well instead of buying the genny, go to the caravan shop, spend 40 quid on a 85 ah deep cycle battery and you can then start your engine and rewire your lights etc into the new battery when you have a bit of time (dont forget a split charge relay, also from the caravan shop).

 

[KREW2]

Re: No

After reading the latest threads I,ve changed my mind and the draper starter seems the better option. I have 2 x 110amp hr batteries connected to a 1 / 2 or all switch which works very well, you can hear the engine drop in revs when you switch to all, perhaps I'm just a bit over cautious. Luckily B&Q were out of gennys
thanks again keith