Mains Battery Chargers

[Night Hawk]

I'm after a battery charger to plug in via marina hook up to charge the batteries. Can anyone reccommend a robust model under say 50 quid? Do I have to charge up each battery individually or can I charge all five together? I've seen hundreds of different types on eBay; is it worth spending 60 quid on one if a 10 quid one will do? Can't afford the 'solar' option just yet.

[steelaway]

I'm after a battery charger to plug in via marina hook up to charge the batteries. Can anyone reccommend a robust model under say 50 quid? Do I have to charge up each battery individually or can I charge all five together? I've seen hundreds of different types on eBay; is it worth spending 60 quid on one if a 10 quid one will do? Can't afford the 'solar' option just yet.

 

 

Hi There

 

IMHO to maintain battery life you need the biggest amps one you can afford ie. 20+ amps.

I would recommend the 3stage digital type See ----https://sslrelay.com/s74222713.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=154852d53c964c6/shopdata/index.shopscript

 

Alex

[blackrose]

If you have shore power and are living on board and will be there for the forseeable future it's actually worth spending a couple of hundred quid on a proper marine 3 (or 4)stage charger. If it stays on 24/7 then you can actually get away with a small 20amp charger even if you have a big battery bank.

 

If your batteries are sealed maintenance-free and you only want to charge the domestic bank then you could try the 20amp charger here: http://www.yachtbits.com/sterling_power/st...ry_chargers.php

It only charges at 14.4v maximum so not ideally suited for open lead/acid batteries, but you can use it for lead/acid if you don't care about the batteries too much.

 

If you are living aboard then I think the 30amp model here is about the most basic I would go for: http://www.yachtbits.com/sterling_power/st...ry_chargers.php

 

These chargers can be left on permanently and have a powerpack function which means that as soon as you switch on a light, pump or other 12v appliance, the charger will instantly put the same charge back into the batteries so they never go flat.

 

Remember that you have to top up open lead/acid batteries from time to time.

Edited June 13, 2008 by blackrose