Need a charger

[boots]

Hi,

 

we are currently in the process of buying our first narrrowboat and am aware there is no mains charger on board. The configuration is as follows:

 

5 x 135ah leisure batteries (don't know what type)

1 x starter battery

 

2 x 80 amp alternators

 

1 x wind turbine (and before you ask, we don't expect to use this much!)

 

1 x 3000watt modified sine wave inverter

 

Shoreline (inc galvanic isolator, though intend to fit an IT also).

 

the boat will be used as a weekender/holiday boat (i.e. no liveaboard) and will be berthed (and spend a lot of time!) in a marina with electric shoreline. On board there is currently a 12v fridge + 240v TV.

 

now, just wondering what charger to fit!!! (should I fit one, or use a free standing?)

 

any suggestions welcome......

 

 

boots

[steelaway]

Hi,

 

we are currently in the process of buying our first narrrowboat and am aware there is no mains charger on board. The configuration is as follows:

 

5 x 135ah leisure batteries (don't know what type)

1 x starter battery

 

2 x 80 amp alternators

 

1 x wind turbine (and before you ask, we don't expect to use this much!)

 

1 x 3000watt modified sine wave inverter

 

Shoreline (inc galvanic isolator, though intend to fit an IT also).

 

the boat will be used as a weekender/holiday boat (i.e. no liveaboard) and will be berthed (and spend a lot of time!) in a marina with electric shoreline. On board there is currently a 12v fridge + 240v TV.

 

now, just wondering what charger to fit!!! (should I fit one, or use a free standing?)

 

any suggestions welcome......

 

 

boots

 

Hi

Your situation is just like mine.

I am almost sure your invertor is a charger when you are connected to a land line.

When cruising I can achieve 70amps to the domestics - more than enough to top up your battery's in a 4 hour cruise

I have both alternators connected together feeding a Sterling alternator charger Sterling

From this you have one charging wire to your domestic band and one charging wire to your start battery.

 

Alex

[boots]

Unfortunately, our inverter is a RINV3000 and as far as I can determine it is solely an inverter and does not have an integrated charger.

 

boots

[steelaway]

Unfortunately, our inverter is a RINV3000 and as far as I can determine it is solely an inverter and does not have an integrated charger.

 

boots

 

 

Hi

 

In that case - to charge your battery's from a land line you need a charger of at least 30amps

Black and Decker do some big one, cheapish

 

Alex

[Chris Pink]

the boat will be used as a weekender/holiday boat (i.e. no liveaboard) and will be berthed (and spend a lot of time!) in a marina with electric shoreline. On board there is currently a 12v fridge + 240v TV.

 

With a shoreline and a week to charge you only need a tidgy charger, 20-30A would do you fine and there are some cheap ones on ebay or if you would prefer a name both Sterling and Waeco do 25A chargers fairly cheap.

 

It's fairly important you get a 3-stage charger then you can leave it on while you're not there.

 

When cruising 2 big alternators should take care of things. You could always sell the wind generator to buy the charger.

Edited December 8, 2009 by Chris Pink

[blackrose]

The general rule is to get a charger at least 10% of the battery bank a\h rating so in theory you'd need a 70 amp charger! However If the boat is connected to shorepower then the charger has an infinite time to charge (or in your case 5 days), so a much smaller charger is quite sufficient.

 

I think a 30 amp charger would be fine for you but make sure it is a proper multi-stage charger which can be left on while you're away.

 

I have a sterling prodigital 30 amp which has been great for nearly 5 years.

 

Buy one with more than one output terminal so that you can connect your start battery too. Mine has 3 terminals - 2 go to the domestic bank and the other one goes to the start battery to maintain it.

Edited December 9, 2009 by blackrose