Charging batteries without shore power?

[snowman_audio]

What’s going on everyone,

I know this has been bounced around for a while now, but I just got my 2022 252SD and my house battery is already lower than my starter battery with only a few outings.

I store my boat in a high and dry with no ability to hook up a batter tender or have a small generator (unattended) running to recharge the battery after coming back from a day on the water. It is also a fully in closed storage facility so a solar panel wouldn’t apply here either.

so I’m looking for some options. Currently my house battery sites at 11.6v. We play a lot of music while out on the sandbars/islands and I try to cruise around for 30-1h before going back to port but that doesn’t seem to fully recharge the battery. I know I can swap out my house battery for a bigger deep cell unit, but it would eventually have me back in the same spot if I can’t recharge it.

would our stator have enough juice to run an on-board alternator charger like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/MinnKota-MK-1-DC-Single-Alternator-Charger/dp/B001PTHKJY?th=1&psc=1

If not what are some other options I can look into? I know I can pull the battery and take it with me, but I would prefer not having to do that option.

thoughts / comments / suggestions?

Thanks everyone for your input

 

[lazergeek]

Get a 100w flex solar panel to connect with a solar charge controller while at dock. It will keep the batteries maintained between outings. The DVSR will also parallel to change both batteries. If your house battery is sitting at 11.6v it's discharged and causing damage at that level, sulfication starts starts at 11.9v

 

[212s]

I store my boat in a high and dry with no ability to hook up a batter tender or have a small generator (unattended) running to recharge the battery after coming back from a day on the water. It is also a fully in closed storage facility so a solar panel wouldn’t apply here either.

so I’m looking for some options. Currently my house battery sites at 11.6v. We play a lot of music while out on the sandbars/islands and I try to cruise around for 30-1h before going back to port but that doesn’t seem to fully recharge the battery.

When cruising around, are you cranking the tunes? If so, turn the music off and cruise around, that should help charge up your house.

Since you have no option for power or solar inside the enclosed storage, you're kinda stuck. And at such a low voltage, you've probably already damaged the battery somewhat and now it probably won't take a full charge.

would our stator have enough juice to run an on-board alternator charger like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/MinnKota-MK-1-DC-Single-Alternator-Charger/dp/B001PTHKJY?th=1&psc=1

No that won't work, your charging system already charges your house automatically so this would do nothing extra.

Not much you can do except store the boat where power is available.

 

[212s]

Get a 100w flex solar panel to connect with a solar charge controller while at dock.

Unfortunately he can't use solar - it's stored indoors.

 

[lazergeek]

Only option would be to pull batteries after every outing to recharge at home or change storage

 

[snowman_audio]

When cruising around, are you cranking the tunes? If so, turn the music off and cruise around, that should help charge up your house.

Since you have no option for power or solar inside the enclosed storage, you're kinda stuck. And at such a low voltage, you've probably already damaged the battery somewhat and now it probably won't take a full charge.

No that won't work, your charging system already charges your house automatically so this would do nothing extra.

Not much you can do except store the boat where power is available.

I looked around at 30-40 marinas in the Tampa Bay Area and none of them offered shore power unless you are in a wet slip.

i just can’t wrap my head around all these boats with massive audio equipment installed that are stored in marinas and there isn’t a solution out there to charge the batteries somehow.

 

[lazergeek]

Unfortunately he can't use solar - it's stored indoors.

You could actually setup Solar to charge while your using the boat and the engines are not running. Mine 100 watt panel keeps mine fully charged while sitting with the stereo and chart plotter / fish finder on. Something like this is portable https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Monocrystalline-Foldable-Inverter-Controller/dp/B07JPH4PHG

 

[snowman_audio]

You could actually setup Solar to charge while your using the boat and the engines are not running. Mine 100 watt panel keeps mine fully charged while sitting with the stereo and chart plotter / fish finder on. Something like this is portable https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Monocrystalline-Foldable-Inverter-Controller/dp/B07JPH4PHG

how does it hold up to the elements? And you just attach the battery clamps to the terminals on your house battery and let it ride?

Do you know how many amps we need for it to be worth while for charging our batteries?

 

[VitaminSea]

How far are you from your marina?

During the week do they allow you to have you boat on a “work rack” with power? If you get a solid onboard charger, sitting on a work rack for a few hours with the charger on should assist.

Also from what I have read, AGM batteries take a charge much quicker and more efficiently than a standard flooded cell.

 

[lazergeek]

how does it hold up to the elements? And you just attach the battery clamps to the terminals on your house battery and let it ride?

Do you know how many amps we need for it to be worth while for charging our batteries?

It should be fine with the elements as long as the control is kept dry. I would permanently mount the controller then just connect the panels when you're on the water. 300 watt panel should pit out 15amps min in full sun

 

[snowman_audio]

How far are you from your marina?

During the week do they allow you to have you boat on a “work rack” with power? If you get a solid onboard charger, sitting on a work rack for a few hours with the charger on should assist.

Also from what I have read, AGM batteries take a charge much quicker and more efficiently than a standard flooded cell.

I’m about 20mins from the marina and they do have work racks. I guess that’s a possibility, but at that point I might as well pull the house battery and take it with me and bring it back charged. I have looked into the AGM batteries, I guess once this one gives out I’ll swap over

 

[VitaminSea]

I’m about 20mins from the marina and they do have work racks. I guess that’s a possibility, but at that point I might as well pull the house battery and take it with me and bring it back charged. I have looked into the AGM batteries, I guess once this one gives out I’ll swap over

Might not want to wait.
I had difficulty finding a marine AGM a few weeks back (Orlando Market).
Batteries Plus had no clue when they would be back in stock and I haven’t seen them in stock at Sams in many months.
Maybe your marina stocks ‘em.

Good luck!

 

[MilesPrower]

If I were in your situation, I would just install a 50Ah LiFePO4 battery in a locker near the stereo and power the stereo (and any other "sandbar electronics") from that battery. I'd then take the battery home to charge between outings.

I'd recommend this 50Ah one from Expert Power:

https://www.expertpower.us/products/ep1250-50ah

It's only 13 lbs (the same weight as the smallest one-handle Yeti cooler empty), and it'll have plenty of juice to run your electronics for 8 hours.

Also, I'd put it in a kayak battery box with a quick disconnect (a simple SAE plug would do the trick), as well as a Victron Energy charger on top, so you could charge the battery anywhere (at a rented beach/lake house, for example).

https://smile.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-12-Volt-Battery-Bluetooth/dp/B07CSFX6K1

I have three 100Ah Expert Power batteries in my 255 FSH, and not only do they power my 36V trolling motor, but I also have them wired to run 12V accessories. (I have onboard Victron chargers that I connect to dock power.)

 

[ilangtry]

What’s going on everyone,

I know this has been bounced around for a while now, but I just got my 2022 252SD and my house battery is already lower than my starter battery with only a few outings.

I store my boat in a high and dry with no ability to hook up a batter tender or have a small generator (unattended) running to recharge the battery after coming back from a day on the water. It is also a fully in closed storage facility so a solar panel wouldn’t apply here either.

so I’m looking for some options. Currently my house battery sites at 11.6v. We play a lot of music while out on the sandbars/islands and I try to cruise around for 30-1h before going back to port but that doesn’t seem to fully recharge the battery. I know I can swap out my house battery for a bigger deep cell unit, but it would eventually have me back in the same spot if I can’t recharge it.

would our stator have enough juice to run an on-board alternator charger like this one?

https://www.amazon.com/MinnKota-MK-1-DC-Single-Alternator-Charger/dp/B001PTHKJY?th=1&psc=1

If not what are some other options I can look into? I know I can pull the battery and take it with me, but I would prefer not having to do that option.

thoughts / comments / suggestions?

Thanks everyone for your input

I don’t have power at my dock either. Have the same need to charge up batteries daily especially after playing music all-day.
I have been using a Jackery lithium battery generator for last two years. Works great!

Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000, 1002Wh Solar Generator (Solar Panel Optional) with 3x110V/1000W AC Outlets, Solar Mobile Lithium Battery Pack for Outdoor RV/Van Camping, Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083KBKJ8Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4T00ED9TG1VE0BP43KT1

 

[flyingnugget]

After you replace that bad/damaged battery, How about some sort of battery pack/jumper system that you can hook up to the battery after you get back from jammin out all day. That would charge the batteries while it’s in the slip and you are gone.
I guess you would need 2 of them and you could have 1 at home charging and swap them out.

 

[snowman_audio]

If I were in your situation, I would just install a 50Ah LiFePO4 battery in a locker near the stereo and power the stereo (and any other "sandbar electronics") from that battery. I'd then take the battery home to charge between outings.

I'd recommend this 50Ah one from Expert Power:

https://www.expertpower.us/products/ep1250-50ah

It's only 13 lbs (the same weight as the smallest one-handle Yeti cooler empty), and it'll have plenty of juice to run your electronics for 8 hours.

Also, I'd put it in a kayak battery box with a quick disconnect (a simple SAE plug would do the trick), as well as a Victron Energy charger on top, so you could charge the battery anywhere (at a rented beach/lake house, for example).

https://smile.amazon.com/Victron-Energy-12-Volt-Battery-Bluetooth/dp/B07CSFX6K1

I have three 100Ah Expert Power batteries in my 255 FSH, and not only do they power my 36V trolling motor, but I also have them wired to run 12V accessories. (I have onboard Victron chargers that I connect to dock power.)

so basically add a 3rd lithium battery in a to-go container? I do like this idea.

If I did fry my house battery should I replace that one with a lithium also? If so what size? Would I still need a 3rd battery?

And to add a 3rd battery you suggest an sae plug for quick disconnect. Would I just run the red to positive and the black to negative on my house battery or should I add another battery switch and have the sae coming out of that?
Also looking around at the sae plugs the largest I see is 10awg, is that big enough to send the power to the boat systems?

 

[ilangtry]

Fast and simple remote charging

 

[snowman_audio]

Fast and simple remote chargingView attachment 177320

does that go to a battery or a battery tender? Also does it charge all your batteries or just one on a single charge?

This would be ideal for my situation I would think. Could I have it charging while anchored and listen to music?

 

[ilangtry]

does that go to a battery or a battery tender? Also does it charge all your batteries or just one on a single charge?

This would be ideal for my situation I would think. Could I have it charging while anchored and listen to music?

I have a Noco 3-bank charger hooked up to all 3 batteries. Just pug it into this lithium generator after a day of play or morning before to charge all batteries. Yes, even take it with me sometimes to charge batteries/ use for other 110v devices (eg TV and portable refrigerator)

 

[snowman_audio]

I have a Noco 3-bank charger hooked up to all 3 batteries. Just pug it into this lithium generator after a day of play or morning before to charge all batteries. Yes, even take it with me sometimes to charge batteries/ use for other 110v devices (eg TV and portable refrigerator)

I am really digging this idea. What size Jackery do you have? After it tops off your batteries does it still have juice left?