TRICKLE-CHARGING ALL WINTER?

alisdair4

alisdair4

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jan 2004
Messages
690
Location
Isle of Bute
midnightdrifter.net
I think I read recently that the conventional wisdom is to leave your boat's batteries connected all winter.

Given that I have a trickle charger (Adverc) designed to top the lower battery up automatically, am I safe to leave the boat plugged into the mains all winter? (this will also allow me to run a small convetion heater on a timer (1/2 hour per day).
 
Why not remove all worries by inserting timer inbetween ALL mains in and appliances on board.

I use a mechanical timer set for so many hours for so many days and then a rest period of couple of days ... meaning that I do not "dry-up" my batteries .... which continuous charging may do ... when charger clicks in on timer - it charges - not just trickle.

I've done this for a number of years now ... and all is fine. Even when the boat was blocked off outside the house ... why should I keep clambering on / off to sort charger ?

Onto heaters - B&Q do a 200W loft frost prevention heater ... about a tenner ... I bought 2 ... low enough pwoer that thyey don't eat the KW's .... but just enough to hold off the frost ...

I used one with also the Dimplex ColdWatch 500W jobbie set low ... in my boat while we sat out -20 ... -30 Winter ... This winter - I shall use the pair of 200W jobs and keep the 500W for other use ...

(Oh .... being lower power - they stayed on continuous....)
 
Perfectly safe.

The only other issue, should you be leaving the boat in the water in a marina is the possibility of problems coming from electro-welding work being done over winter on the pontoons or other boats not having proper earth connections. These could both lead to either skin fitting errosion or extremely rapid errosion of your anodes. To eliminate this danger, the fitting of a Galvanic Isolator in your shorepower earth connection is a very sensible thing to do.

Steve Cronin
 
I always thought the purpose built marine chargers were designed to be permanently left on...

I use the Victron Centaur. Relatively cheap, and handles 3 batteries.

victron_centaur.jpg


http://www.victronenergy.com/Manuals/Centaur/ISM001001000.pdf

"The battery charger charges the battery with 3-stage (Bulk-Absorption-Float) charging characteristic. It can remain connected to the battery continuously, without increased gas formation, caused by overcharging, taking place."

If anyone knows better, do please say.
 
Running long periods at 13.6 volt does not do the batteries any good either. It is recommended that they are periodically charged to high voltage.
The late chagers we made had a maintance phase that started when you turned of power. During this period the charger provided a pulse to each bank, the length and period between depending on battery state. Between pulses the charger would shut down, this would maintain the batteries at about 98% capacity.
A timer is a reasonable alternative, 1/2 hour a week should be ok, so do not over do it. Try leaving the charger of for a week, then see how long it takes to go through a charge cycle. The thing to watch is were the charger has a timed bulk charge cycle, so avoid long times on charge, short and frequent are better, than than long and infrequent.

Brian
 
With splitters ( such as the Maplin unit etc. ) and other devices - often a cheapo non sophisticated charger is best. OK so you don't get oodles of amps - most are about 4A max ... but you get working set-ups that with a timer does the job for pennies.

If you want a maintenance charger - there are plenty in the high street incl Halfords .... I have one that sits quite happily as long as you like on float - batterys fine.

But I agree with Halcyon - rest the batterys and then back on charge - do this cycled .... battery will be better IMHO for it ...
 
The term "trickle-charger" suggests a crude uncontrolled charger that we have taken to calling on the forum "Halfords type". That type of charger must not be left on for a long period (72 hours or so) as it can boil the batteries dry. It might not, but since it is not controlled, you don't know.

It is safe to leave connected a proper marine charger from one of the recognised suppliers - Mastervolt, Sterling, etc. provided that you read the manual carefully and make sure that you have set it up correctly for that purpose. My Mastervolt, for example, can be left charging at 14.4V indefinitely if you select the appropriate DIP switches.

For long-term float charging you are looking for around 13.3V for ordinary flooded lead acid batteries. Consult the battery manufacturer for different types - e.g. gel. I reiterate, consult the battery manufacturer, float voltages vary for different types.
 
An adverc is a smart charger i beleive - so it is fine - but if it failed it would boil your batteries - this could happen any time of the year and does happen occasionally.
 
[ QUOTE ]
An Adverc is a smart charger i believe - so it is fine - but if it failed it would boil your batteries - this could happen any time of the year and does happen occasionally.

[/ QUOTE ]I thought that an 'Adverc' is an alternator booster, not a mains battery charger - or have they now introduced a charger with the same name?
 
I think the real concern to me would be having mains power on the boat 24/7 Yes many people do it but there is a risk of galvanic action from stray currents from the mains system. A galvanic isolator or complete isolation of the mains earth from the ships negative may help.
You need to ensure the negative of the charger is isolated form the mains negative. Then yes I would suggest charging for a brief period each day. ie through the timer.

good luck olewill
 
[ QUOTE ]
You need to ensure the negative of the charger is isolated form the mains negative

[/ QUOTE ] Sorry Will what did you really mean to say there?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought that an 'Adverc' is an alternator booster, not a mains battery charger - or have they now introduced a charger with the same name?

[/ QUOTE ] They do indeed supply a range of battery chargers. See here
 
Yeah thanks Vic mains negative? well it is sometimes but then sometimes positive. I obviously meant mains earth. I am blaming old age.... or inherent stupidity .... or something olewill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top