Dual battery charger advice

[dalcini]

Hi folks,
First boat - purchased used last fall. I'm wet-slipping at a marina this summer and feel I need to install a battery charger. I've read many great posts from folks like @FSH 210 Sport and others on batts and chargers and want to check my plan before moving ahead.

Here's my general plan for a charger install:

• Remove Solar panel (It's dead anyway and I don't know how to properly integrate with a plug-in charger - and plug-in takes priority)
• Victron IP67 charger for each battery
• DVSR switched hot mod

The two FLA batteries that came with the boat (used) still seem healthy, reading 12.5-12.7v. I maintained them over the winter on a small Noco Genius at home.

Some questions I have:

• Is it ok to go with the 7a Victrons to keep the cost down? Mininum time between boat use will be overnight so charge time is not much concern.
• Someday when I'm ready to replace my FLA batteries, I'll probably go with FLA+AGM or AGM+AGM. Does this change the plan for the Victron model at all? (my guess is no).

Any additional comments/advice welcome.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Go with the 25A IP67’s… they are worth the money, keep in mind you need 10-13% of the Ah rating of a lead acid battery to properly charge it. The new IP 67’s are highly adjustable from 3A to 25A, having used the 10A or 25A model I would not have any other battery charger. As a fyi, I shared several emails with Interstates tech dept and I was told in writing that their AGM batteries can be charged at 25A as long as voltage does not exceed 14.4 volts.

 

[dalcini]

Thanks @FSH 210 Sport. Another question just occurred to me... I don't see any dual bank chargers in Victron's IP67 line. If I recall correctly, you have at least 3 installed. How are you handling AC power to all of these? I was hoping to do something clean but hadn't considered the need for multiple plugs.

 

[CastawayRK]

I have 2 2 bank chargers plugged into this

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Thanks @FSH 210 Sport. Another question just occurred to me... I don't see any dual bank chargers in Vicron's IP67 line. If I recall correctly, you have at least 3 installed. How are you handling AC power to all of these? I was hoping to do something clean but hadn't considered the need for multiple plugs.

I have 5 batteries in all, three trolling motor batteries with an IP67 charger for each one, and a minnkota two bank charger for the house lfp and starter agm batteries.

I have the two plug noco ac adapter that @CastawayRK has pictured above, in one plug I have a short three plug extension cord, and the other noco plug goes to the minnkota.. Thats a total of 11.4A on the 120 vac side and the noco adapter is rated for 15A.

 

[dalcini]

Thanks gents. I'll pick one of these up too.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Thanks gents. I'll pick one of these up too.

I made an assumption that you were going to be charging at 25A, but after reviewing the thread again I see that you have two FLA batteries, not sure what size they are but since they came with the boat I’ll assume group 24 and 70Ah and a 7A per battery charge rate you’ll only have 1.7A on the 120V side for both chargers.

7A charge rate X 14.7VDC=102.9W / 120VAC= .86A X 2= 1.71A @120VAC

 

[dalcini]

I made an assumption that you were going to be charging at 25A, but after reviewing the thread again I see that you have two FLA batteries, not sure what size they are but since they came with the boat I’ll assume group 24 and 70Ah and a 7A per battery charge rate you’ll only have 1.7A on the 120V side for both chargers.

7A charge rate X 14.7VDC=102.9W / 120VAC= .86A X 2= 1.71A @120VAC

@FSH 210 Sport, you are correct sir! I looked my batteries up and they're 72ah. I actually hit the "buy" button on two ip67's a few minutes before you posted this morning. Full disclosure, I went with two 17a (instead of 25a) models to keep the cost down.

Your formula looks like it's based on a single charger for both batteries. I assumed I needed one for each. Is that not required to enable individual charge profiles? I didn't think these were dual bank chargers.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

My formula is for two individual IP67’s, its .86A per charger per battery. On their website it looks like the chargers are selectable between all amperage’s? Mine are selectable between 10A and 25A, that has come in handy on occasion when the outlets, like at marinas outlets that are slip side that would not support the 25A charge rate. What I saw on the app was that my chargers were going between 25A and 10A, so I went in put them in 10A and they became stable at 10A each..

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Just got off the phone with Battle Born and now I understand the two different charge levels.. I should have seen that before I suppose.

The is a high and low are for each charger, the 25A model has a low charge rate of 10A, the 17A model has a low of 6A and so on..

 

[dalcini]

Interesting - thanks for all the great info guys. Believe it or not, the Noco GCP2 already showed up on my porch from this morning's order. I have a lot to do this spring!

 

[dalcini]

Getting ready to install the two Victron IP67 chargers today, and the page 5 of the manual states "A marine (boat) battery mustbe removed and charged onshore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use."

1.) did I somehow buy the wrong model or is this just standard legal warnings??? (See pic of model)

Manual also states to install the chargers: ” ...due to corrosive gases not above the battery!"

2) I'm thinking of mounting them low in the two locations shown just be on my batteries, but off the floor an inch or so to avoid water. Is this reasonable?

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Getting ready to install the two Victron IP67 chargers today, and the page 5 of the manual states "A marine (boat) battery mustbe removed and charged onshore. To charge it on board requires equipment specially designed for marine use."

1.) did I somehow buy the wrong model or is this just standard legal warnings??? (See pic of model)

Manual also states to install the chargers: ” ...due to corrosive gases not above the battery!"

2) I'm thinking of mounting them low in the two locations shown just be on my batteries, but off the floor an inch or so to avoid water. Is this reasonable?

You’re fine …dunno why that statement is there.

As far as where you mount the chargers, I’d put them as close to the opening side of the compartment as possible and not directly above the batteries. You leave that seat / hatch open when charging correct?

 

[tdonoughue]

Likely has that statement because the chargers do not have the safety gadgetry to stop voltage leakage. Read somewhere (a while ago--I'm sure it is referenced on here somewhere) that protective circuitry (GFCI on steroids, as I recall) needs to be on both the shore and boat side. I'm betting they don't want the liability of instructing you (internationally, no less) on how to set up the both sides of that, so tell you to do it out of water.

 

[dalcini]

As far as where you mount the chargers, I’d put them as close to the opening side of the compartment as possible and not directly above the batteries. You leave that seat / hatch open when charging correct?

I will now that you suggested it!

Likely has that statement because the chargers do not have the safety gadgetry to stop voltage leakage. Read somewhere (a while ago--I'm sure it is referenced on here somewhere) that protective circuitry (GFCI on steroids, as I recall) needs to be on both the shore and boat side. I'm betting they don't want the liability of instructing you (internationally, no less) on how to set up the both sides of that, so tell you to do it out of water.

Thanks @tdonoughue - I suspected it might be CYA (Cover your a**) language.

 

[dalcini]

I installed the Victron IP67s in the rear port compartment today. Tomorrow I'll mount the Noco plug outlet. The forward surface behind the the swivel seat would be nice and inconspicuous, but it's curved and I'd have to use about 1/8” of additional rubber gasket in to make it seal there.

I'm thinking of mounting the outlet on the side wall of the compartment next to the table mount. Any reason not to put it there?


I used some old spark plug wire looms (blue) that I had lying around to keep the cords neat.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I installed the Victron IP67s in the rear port compartment today. Tomorrow I'll mount the Noco plug outlet. The forward surface behind the the swivel seat would be nice and inconspicuous, but it's curved and I'd have to use about 1/8” of additional rubber gasket in to make it seal there.

I'm thinking of mounting the outlet on the side wall of the compartment next to the table mount. Any reason not to put it there?
View attachment 235084View attachment 235085

I used some old spark plug wire looms (blue) that I had lying around to keep the cords neat.
View attachment 235086View attachment 235087

If it was me I’d put the AC port as high as possible, then I’d run my charger AC inputs straight up from the chargers and route them up high to keep them off the floor so any items you want to put in that compartment don’t lay / sit on the AC input cords.

 

[dalcini]

@FSH 210 Sport All great suggestions, thanks. I'm somewhat limited on mounting options as I don't want to drive a screw through the fiberglass where it's exposed to riders. However, I can modify my wire run to go straight up the side wall and get it out of the way of the space to the right of the house battery as shown in the picture below. Maybe I'll try to glue a small piece of wood up under the seat lip (past the bottom of the photo) where I can drive a screw to mount a zip tie and then back down to the plug.

 

[dalcini]

Well that was terrifying! (Drilling my first hole in the boat).
Just need to get the batteries back in, then on to waxing. Thanks for all the input guys!

Clamped a wood block to back up the hole. That carpet plays hell on drill bits. This worked really well.



Wires mounted up high and out of the way.