Dual bank charger

[BigAbe75]

I've searched a bit, but please forgive me for being lazy. Responses often are so fast here it's easy to get spoiled.

I'm looking for suggestions on a dual-bank smart charger. I saw Battery Tender makes one, and I've looked at several others. Any success stories or product recommendations?

I would plan to mount onboard, but I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle the through hull fitting for an external connection, but if anyone had links to those components that would be welcome too. I'll check the FAQ on that, there's probably a write up somewhere on that piece.

While I'm asking... when it comes to wimterizing in IL, should I remove the batteries and store in the basement, or just leave a charger/tender on them all winter? I'll be storing in an uninsulated but fully enclosed shed w concrete floors. We leave batteries in all of our toys usually, but we might treat this boat a little better.

Thanks a bunch

 

[gmtech16450yz]

http://www.samlexamerica.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=6

I've used a lot of different kinds of chargers and power supplies over the years. I had one of these Samlex units in one of my cars and I put one in my boat too.

They have switches that change the way the maintain voltage works because a battery maintainer that's on a battery with constant loads has to work differently than one with no load. In my car application I had onboard wi-fi cameras, a cell network router and a computer that were powered on 24/7. The battery maintainer had to "float" at a certain voltage and not keep going back and forth between charging and not charging. In the boat it's a different story, if your battery switches are off, there should be no load on the batteries. The Samlex chargers can be set so that in that situation they don't get overcharged or sulfated.

Oh btw, my dad used to tell me "Don't put batteries on a concrete floor, they'll discharge faster if you do." He was hella smart. But he was born in the '20's (in Chicago btw) when it DID matter if you put batteries on concrete floors! I'd just leave the batteries in the boat. Just check them once in awhile to make sure they're not leaking.

 

[jcyamaharider]

Most any of the battery charger these days are smart chargers so they can do exactly what we need them to do . My last battery charger wasn't an over the top battery charger, I think it was a Bass Pro XPS I got on sale. Since I have this boat I have no need to add a battery charger.

As for battery I will be pulling my batteries out, I always do just so I can have them in the house and out of the cold. I have a little different climate then you do because mine is just under a tent. When I stored my boat in the garage I left the batteries in.

 

[Julian]

I've owned both ProMariner and Guest chargers....they both work really well. I have a Guest right now and like how easy it is to see the indicator lights....the Promariner wasn't as easy.

 

[BigAbe75]

I've owned both ProMariner and Guest chargers....they both work really well. I have a Guest right now and like how easy it is to see the indicator lights....the Promariner wasn't as easy.

Is that this guy?

 

[jcyamaharider]

LOL @BigAbe75 , you didn't only get bit by the boat mod bug, I think you fell into the nest.

 

[BigAbe75]

LOL @BigAbe75 , you didn't only get bit by the boat mod bug, I think you fell into the nest.

Oh, man that's the truth!! I'm starting to understand a little better those guys that hide the UPS boxes from the wives. Lol

I also see this 2 bank battery tender for half that price, but it doesn't look near as 'substantial'. I had always heard that Battery Tender was a good brand for motorcycles, etc... but I'm not sure if I ever really heard that from experts or just my buddies (which would not qualify as experts in this instance).

 

[GTBRMC]

This is the unit I went with (plus some install pix, etc):

https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-...et-boat-today-thread.2661/page-25#post-118913

Very happy with it

Edit: Note I used a 2 bank Battery Tender for off-season battery maintenance (out of boat in my unheated garage). It was used MUCH more than the onboard one. Never had a battery problem with my two ORIGINAL batteries from time of boat purchase in 2009 until sale in 2017. I give much credit for this to my humble Battery Tender.

 

[Julian]

Is that this guy?

Yup...that is the one!
The one @GTBRMC posted is what I had in my last boat....worked fine to...but the display isn't quite as easy to see/read. So if the price is the same....I'd go Guest.

 

[BigAbe75]

LOL @BigAbe75 , you didn't only get bit by the boat mod bug, I think you fell into the nest.

This mod may not have come up if I hadn't been doing so much driveway boating the last couple weeks and run my battery so dead I couldn't figure out why the radio quit. I was so sure I was fighting a loose cable or broken component. Frustrating to figure out it was just the battery. Lol

 

[buckbuck]

You're in deep @BigAbe75 . We fellow jetboaters sincerely apologize for that. We thought you were stronger.

 

[Noko]

I've got a Minkota installed by the dealer. Its pretty brainless to use. Works great and I don't have to do anything other than plug it in.

 

[InmyElement]

Installed both last year..no issues just plug in when I return from the water
Installed the Blue Seas dual battery system/switch
NOCO Genius GENM2 8 Amp 2-Bank Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger
NOCO GCP1 13 Amp 125V AC Port Plug with Integrated Extension Cord

 

[Beachbummer]

I have this on the boat. I rarely use it because the batteries stay charged with the use I give it, but when I use it, it works well.
http://www.boatersland.com/mrn28210...1qFVHrOlY0nb7FFUnYJRJTNMrtzSR8mBoC-OkQAvD_BwE

The prior owner installed it.

 

[Ronnie]

I have a guest unit like the one pictured but with two banks. I went with a 5 amp per bank unit since my boat sits on storage more than in the water (i.e., i have plenty of time to charge the batteries, no rush at all). Mine was under $100 over five years ago but i cant remember the model number now. By the way mine has never given me any problems. I also purchased the guest brand plug adapter which is just a pkug recepticle not a dongle like that pictured.

Also, i leave the batteries installed in the boat . In my opinion having the abilty to charge/maintain the batteries like this is the primary benefit of an "onboard charger".

 

[dietz]

Missed like button.
Actually a like.
Have 2bank battery tender charger in garage, and plug in after each trip. Have 2 extension cables hooked to batteries that I pull out to plug in, so only low voltage connections.
Also have 2 bank battery tender charger in another garage for 2 weekend cars. Perfect batteries for many years.

This is the unit I went with (plus some install pix, etc):

https://jetboaters.net/threads/the-...et-boat-today-thread.2661/page-25#post-118913

Very happy with it

Edit: Note I used a 2 bank Battery Tender for off-season battery maintenance (out of boat in my unheated garage). It was used MUCH more than the onboard one. Never had a battery problem with my two ORIGINAL batteries from time of boat purchase in 2009 until sale in 2017. I give much credit for this to my humble Battery Tender.