Just bought a boat. When my boat is on shore power (or gen set, for that
matter), is it OK to let the battery charger run continuously, charging the
batteries? For a few days? Few weeks? I have two engines, and two
batteries on each (two battery switches). Only the starboard engine battery
set seems to be connected with the boat 12v system. To avoid running down
the batteries with cabin lights, electric toilet, fans, stereo, and other
items that only run off 12v, is it OK to leave the battery charger charging
the batteries, or could I also overload the charger doing this? I believe
my batteries are deep-cycle marine type, but not sure at the moment, and I
also don't know what the charger capacity is.

Thanks,
Steve H.

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 13:46:24 -0600, "Steve"
wrote:
Just bought a boat. When my boat is on shore power (or gen set, for that
matter), is it OK to let the battery charger run continuously, charging the
batteries? For a few days? Few weeks? I have two engines, and two
batteries on each (two battery switches). Only the starboard engine battery
set seems to be connected with the boat 12v system. To avoid running down
the batteries with cabin lights, electric toilet, fans, stereo, and other
items that only run off 12v, is it OK to leave the battery charger charging
the batteries, or could I also overload the charger doing this? I believe
my batteries are deep-cycle marine type, but not sure at the moment, and I
also don't know what the charger capacity is.
===================================

It's customary and desirable to run the charger continuously when you
are connected to A/C or generating, AND you are using DC power for
lights, fridge, entertainment, etc. If you didn't run the charger
under those conditions you would run down the batteries. If you're
NOT drawing down 12V DC power AND your batteries are fully charged,
there should be no real need to leave the charger turned on all of the
time although many people do. This will do no damage as long as the
charger maintains a proper "float" voltage in the 13.2 to 13.4 volt
range. If the float voltage is higher than that, the batteries will
become over charged and damaged over time.

Thanks, Wayne.


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 13:46:24 -0600, "Steve"
wrote:
Just bought a boat. When my boat is on shore power (or gen set, for that
matter), is it OK to let the battery charger run continuously, charging
the
batteries? For a few days? Few weeks? I have two engines, and two
batteries on each (two battery switches). Only the starboard engine
battery
set seems to be connected with the boat 12v system. To avoid running
down
the batteries with cabin lights, electric toilet, fans, stereo, and other
items that only run off 12v, is it OK to leave the battery charger
charging
the batteries, or could I also overload the charger doing this? I
believe
my batteries are deep-cycle marine type, but not sure at the moment, and
I
also don't know what the charger capacity is.
===================================

It's customary and desirable to run the charger continuously when you
are connected to A/C or generating, AND you are using DC power for
lights, fridge, entertainment, etc. If you didn't run the charger
under those conditions you would run down the batteries. If you're
NOT drawing down 12V DC power AND your batteries are fully charged,
there should be no real need to leave the charger turned on all of the
time although many people do. This will do no damage as long as the
charger maintains a proper "float" voltage in the 13.2 to 13.4 volt
range. If the float voltage is higher than that, the batteries will
become over charged and damaged over time.

"Steve" wrote in message ...
Just bought a boat. When my boat is on shore power (or gen set, for that
matter), is it OK to let the battery charger run continuously, charging the
batteries? For a few days? Few weeks? I have two engines, and two
batteries on each (two battery switches). Only the starboard engine battery
set seems to be connected with the boat 12v system. To avoid running down
the batteries with cabin lights, electric toilet, fans, stereo, and other
items that only run off 12v, is it OK to leave the battery charger charging
the batteries, or could I also overload the charger doing this? I believe
my batteries are deep-cycle marine type, but not sure at the moment, and I
also don't know what the charger capacity is.

Thanks,
Steve H.

All battery chargers are not the same the right charger with circuit
protection can be left on as long as AC power is available. I have one
boat that has had the batteries connected to a charger for eight years
the key is controlled float charging. The charger must remain at float
charge lever when small amounts of current are required by fans or
refrigeration equipment. For more information on chargers click on
BATTERY STRESS at http://www.kollmann-marine.com

From the author of books on boat refrigeration.