Batterycharger question

[SPOONMAN1]

The boat I recently purchased has an onboard charger on it with the following description on it:
16 watt Fully Automatic
13.4 VDC Finish
117 vac(plus or minus) 20%input .5 amp
Ingnition Protected
Will this charge or only maintain? Or is there a way I can check to see if it is working at all? I do not have any testing equipment other than a car charger with an battery % read out. thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Batterycharger question

16 watts is 1.2 amps which is a "maintainer" -- not a charger. It si intended to keep a fully charged battery topped off during long term storage. If the battery is deeply discharged it woud take a weeks vacation to get it charged back up again. You realize it must be plugged into house power to work. It does not work off the engine. That's what the alternator on the engine does.

 

[SPOONMAN1]

Re: Batterycharger question

I am in the process of installing a second battery, I thought I might need the 120 volt maintainer to be a charger along the lines of bigger is better, but the more I think about it the altenator should keep both batteries up and if I have problems I can hook up a shop charger or install different charger on the boat later. Thanks