On-board charger running really warm

[Navy Jr.]

New boat, new on-board Dual Pro Charger. Plugged it in for the first time today to recharge the two deep cycle marine batteries used for the trolling motor. We've used the motor about 4 hours so far.

On top of the charger box are two rows of LED indicator lights, presumably one for each battery. The manual says 5 red lights means it is in the initial charging phase. When 4 red lights are showing mean it is above 13.0 volts. When only 3 lights glow, it is above 14 volts; two lights mean the batteries are 80% charged; one red light means it is in the final charge phase. When the red lights are out and the one green light to the right of the reds is lit, I think it means the charge is done.

Anyway, after 4 or 5 hours I went to check on things. There were 4 red lights showing on each battery and I could hear it humming. Here's the thing. I reached into the compartment to touch the charger and it was really warm. Almost too warm to put my hand on for any length of time. I decided to unplug it for the time being.

Is this kind of heat normal? And how long does it usually take to charge two deep cycle batteries using this kind of on-board charger?

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: On-board charger running really warm

mine gets hot too when there is 2 batteries charging. And legnth of time depends on the output on your charger. The reason it gets hot is cause it is a onboard one and its all sealed up with no fan. Thats why it most likely has those heat things on it that extrude along the casing. It is normal from what ive noticed my minkota 2 bank gets hot on my bay boat and my ProMarine 3 bank gets hot charging 2 batteries on my pond boat.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: On-board charger running really warm

Ohh yea when it is done charging the batts and it dropps into that maintnence mode the casing cools off cause it only kicks on every once and a whyle and checks the voltage to see if the batts need topped off. I dont think you have a problem. If you have it installed on a aluminum boat though just make sure you dont have it grounded to the aluminum. I used a old mouse pad on my aluminum boat to help prevent that on my pond boat.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: On-board charger running really warm

Thanks DrewMitch44 for your responses. I feel better knowing the heat generated on the casing is just the nature of the beast. Regarding grounding of the unit on our aluminum boat, the charger was an option we ordered with the new boat, so it was installed at the factory. They put their own name on the top, so it says "Lund Special Edition Dual" or something like that.

I plugged it back in this morning and will check on it at the end of the day.

Thanks again. Ken

 

[ProTurbo]

Re: On-board charger running really warm

Is this kind of heat normal? And how long does it usually take to charge two deep cycle batteries using this kind of on-board charger?

It normal buddy, I have the same one. As soon as its done charging it will cool off.

Dan