Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

[Jlawsen]

The question is usually - how should I charge my batteries when the engine is not charging them (not running).

The first answer is that you use a A/C powered battery charger that is connected to the battery(s) exactly as the charger manufacturer recommends.

Your basic auto parts store charger is designed to charge a single battery that is disconnected from the vehicles electrical circuit during charging. If that's what your using then that's what you do.

Your standard onboard Marine battery chargers are much more expensive because they are not only more sophisticated but designed to be installed as a component of the battery circuit. Install them according to the manufacturers instructions.

If you don't follow the manufacturers recommendations for using the charger you have chosen you risk damaging your battteries or electrical systems. I said risk, I didn' say it would necessarily happen. It's obvious from some of the posts on this subject that there are other possible solutions. You have to decide if they're worth the risk or not.

 

[mark1905]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Can someone tell me the difference between a standard battery charger pumping juice into a battery that's still connected.. and your alternator pumping juice into it while the engine is running?

I've always thought that it's the same thing. Juice in, juice out. Battery charger = plugged in alternator.

Just what I've always had in my head.. please correct me if I'm wrong.. I'd love to know.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Huh?

I just went through half a dozen owners manuals for one of the most popular charger manufacturers that you may find in any given auto parts stores (Schumacher). In none of those manuals did I find something stating that you MUST disconnect the battery from the electrical system before charging. In fact, most of the manuals had procedures on connecting the charger to a battery thats electrically connected to a vehicle. Also, most of these chargers featured a engine cranking setting. Every try jump starting an engine with the battery cables disconnected?

Poorly made or damaged battery chargers may pose a risk of introducing A/C voltage into the charging system. But then again, an alternator may be doing the same with no ill effects. The electrical/electronic system on most vehicles made in the last 10 years are MILES ahead of what you would find on your average boat. They would be far more sensitive to receiving a charge from a garbage battery charger, then any given boat. In fact with allot of the new vehicles it is typically recommended by the manufacturer to use a high end charger that has very clean D/C voltage. We're talking thousands of dollars for a battery charger.

As far as marine chargers that live on-board, the main difference between them and any old charger is their ability to be placed in a bilge with potentially explosive conditions present, and also survive the pounding that a hull receives under-way which would most likely rattle apart a regular battery charger.

 

[Don S]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Your basic auto parts store charger is designed to charge a single battery that is disconnected from the vehicles electrical circuit during charging.

How does this "auto parts store charger" know if it's charging a single battery or 2 batteries in parallel?
Answer: It doesn't.

A battery also doesn't have to be disconnected just to charge it. That is just a safety warning on the chargers. It doesn't affect the boats electrical system at all.

Your standard onboard Marine battery chargers are much more expensive because they are not only more sophisticated but designed to be installed as a component of the battery circuit.

No marine chargers are designed to be ignition protected for use in an engine compartment, and they are typically designed to be left on and not overcharge the battery. Sophisticated yes, but an "auto parts store charger" would be more expensive also if it included the same features.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

So does this mean we shouldn't be using the DC welder to jump start the tractor anymore?


And yes, that works quite well.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

You guys are too funny...

The intention of this post was to help reduce the number of damaged batteries and electrical systems that may result from using improper charging techniques. I intentionally did not suggest any alternative methods because I cannot guarantee that they would be correct for every person visiting this site. The information that I gave can be used by anyone to succesfully complete the process of charging marine batteries. I don't see how that can be argued but apparently I was mistaken. I apologize for that.

As a side note: From my Shumacher Manual -

"1.10 MARINE ?BOAT? BATTERIES MUST BE REMOVED AND CHARGED ON SHORE. To safely charge them on board requires equipment especially designed for marine use."

The manuals are online if you need the latest version for your Shumacher charger:

http://www.batterychargers.com/Manu...tegoryId=c2d3a9ae-4c85-401c-a61f-9d2200ad8550

 

[mark1905]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

I may also get struck by lighting.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

So does this mean we shouldn't be using the DC welder to jump start the tractor anymore?


And yes, that works quite well.

Sure does but does that comment really have a place here or are you just throwing that out to because you feel a need to be a part of the gang.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

I may also get struck by lighting.

Clearly the english language is not your strong suit.

 

[Don S]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

"1.10 MARINE “BOAT” BATTERIES MUST BE REMOVED AND CHARGED ON SHORE. To safely charge them on board requires equipment especially designed for marine use."

Your basic CYA lawyer speak.
They can't be used on a boat permanently mounted in the engine compartment areas as an onboard charger. People take automotive chargers on boats all the time to charge dead batteries. A little common sense will tell you if you smell gas, don't turn it on.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Your basic CYA lawyer speak.
They can't be used on a boat permanently mounted in the engine compartment areas as an onboard charger. People take automotive chargers on boats all the time to charge dead batteries. A little common sense will tell you if you smell gas, don't turn it on.

I completely agree Don but if we tell people that when we don't know what level of common sense they posess we run the risk of giving out information that could seriously injure someone. I have no desire to take on that responsibility.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Sorry but wrong on just about everything.

Prove it

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

How do you prove a negative?

Bubba, you continue to dazzle us with your extrordinary and distinctly different level of intelligence.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Sure does but does that comment really have a place here or are you just throwing that out to because you feel a need to be a part of the gang.

Well having been on here daily for 9 months and and contributing over 600 posts I have just as much right to chime in for the heck of it as a newb has the right to tell us all how to charge our batteries and become a grammar nazi in five days and 29 posts.

The point of my post was that just because something CAN be a science doesn't mean it NEEDS to be a science. You can start a diesel tractor with a DC arc welder in a pinch.

It's like fucawi is back...

 

[mark1905]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

Clearly the english language is not your strong suit.

When all else fails, attack their grammar.. right?

Ironically though.. judging by your thread title, neither is it yours.

"Battery's"? Are they possessing something that we're unaware of?

 

[rickryder]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted


That's funny!

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

I Still don't get it. What myth is busted?

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

OMG ! I have a basic auto parts store trickle charger mounted under my dashboard. It is rated at two amps and has recharged both dead batteries simultaneously overnight enough to start a V8, each. Do I need one that costs thousands now?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Charging Battery's - Myth Busted

It's like fucawi is back...

Yea that was my thought while I was hunting up my hip waders.