Charging the Battery

[stingray3]

Is it ok to charge your Battery while still hooked up it the Boat? Crestliner MerCruiser 140 I/O Thanks.

 

[GA_Boater]

Sure. This is just how battery maintainers work, always connected to a connected battery. If you have a battery switch, I would set it to off in case there is something causing a drain.

But it may be worthwhile removing the battery to have it tested if it isn't staying charged.

 

[stingray3]

Thanks! I was worried it might damage the electrical sys..

 

[stingray3]

I want to clarify I think my wording was wrong I apologize..What I meant is when you hook up your battery charger while the battery is still hooked up in the boat?

 

[GA_Boater]

I want to clarify I think my wording was wrong I apologize..What I meant is when you hook up your battery charger while the battery is still hooked up in the boat?

Just what was assumed when answered.

 

[stingray3]

Ok Thanks a lot!

 

[Silvertip]

Another way to look at this situation is that the battery gets charged from the engine while it is running. Connecting a charger is no different than having the alternator charge the battery. Think of the charger as a "​portable" alternator. No damage occurs.

 

[stingray3]

That is a good way of to look at it. Thanks! Silvertip.

 

[JimS123]

Some boat manuals recommend removing the battery because if you connect it wrong you will fry a lot of "stuff". Just get pos to pos and neg to neg.

 

[bruceb58]

Some boat manuals recommend removing the battery because if you connect it wrong you will fry a lot of "stuff". Just get pos to pos and neg to neg.

Unless your battery was completely dead, hooking it up backwards would not fry anything except possibly the charger which would happen inside or outside the boat if it didn't have reverse polarity protection which most modern chargers have.

Leaving the battery in the boat is fine.

 

[JimS123]

Unless your battery was completely dead, hooking it up backwards would not fry anything except possibly the charger which would happen inside or outside the boat if it didn't have reverse polarity protection which most modern chargers have.

Leaving the battery in the boat is fine.

SeaDoo in particular advises against charging in the boat. I know of at least one person that fried the ECM when he hooked the battery up backwards. Its dark down in the battery compartment so its not impossible.

Maybe other "boats" are different. Regardless, better to be safe than sorry. At the very least, disconnect it.

I have 7 batteries I charge over winter, with 3 different chargers. One is an oldie from the 1960's. It still does the job, so why get rid of it. I'm sure it has no RP protection. Since others may have old junk like that, they need to be careful, not just think it might be fine.

 

[bruceb58]

SeaDoo in particular advises against charging in the boat. I know of at least one person that fried the ECM when he hooked the battery up backwards.

LOL...and that is totally different!

SeaDoo is worried about hydrogen getting trapped and hooking up the battery backwards is a whole lot different than connecting the charger backwards.

Best thing to do is to have an onboard charger. Of course an onboard charge means the battery HAS to be in the boat.

I threw all my "oldie" chargers away and now only use 3 phase chargers. Batteries will last longer and way better for the batteries.

 

[JimS123]

Oops....my mistake. I meant to say hooked up the charger backwards.....not the battery. (the battery was already hooked up correctly)

 

[bruceb58]

Oops....my mistake. I meant to say hooked up the charger backwards.....not the battery. (the battery was already hooked up correctly)

Some people may need to take the battery out. Jim, you may be one of them.