ProMariner on board battery chargers

Z

Zero Fuks

New Member
Oct 9, 2018
12
Boat Info
Sundancer 260
Engines
Merc 5.7
I have decided I'm getting a ProMariner ProSport 20 onboard battery charger for my 1985 260DA. At first I thought about mounting the charger itself somewhere in the engine compartment, near the batteries. Although this proposed a problem with the lack of 110 outlet in the engine compartment and really not wanting to add an outlet in the engine compartment. Then I considered adding a weather-tight 110 outlet somewhere on the top of the deck maybe under the gun whale somewhere but that's still proposed a problem because I need to get the charger plug through the floor obviously though I do not really want to cut any type of hole in my deck. So now I'm thinking about installing the charger in the closet by the AFT cabin there's already 110 power within reason, the charger itself will be hidden and out of the elements the only drawback is extending the battery leads to reach the batteries. Where are other locations have you guys seen aftermarket onboard Chargers install? Any thoughts on how you would do this?
 
on my 1986 250 I had outlets under the gun whales near the back and I fished the cord up behind the rear flip up seat. Couldn't see any wires when I was done. On my 250 there was a board across the back that almost touched the floor. There were 4 or 5 screws holding that board on. Take those screws out and you should be able to get that wire through there. I did have to mount my Pro Mariner charger further back near the trim pump because the cord would barrely reach. My outlets were already installed but if I would have done it myself I would have installed them further back because of the cord length.
 
I would extend the charger's AC cable, before I extended the DC cables.

It sounds like you are looking to plug into the boat's AC, fed by shore power cable, and not connect the charger direct to a shore located AC supply?
 
Zero Fuks said:
I have decided I'm getting a ProMariner ProSport 20 onboard battery charger for my 1985 260DA. At first I thought about mounting the charger itself somewhere in the engine compartment, near the batteries. Although this proposed a problem with the lack of 110 outlet in the engine compartment and really not wanting to add an outlet in the engine compartment. Then I considered adding a weather-tight 110 outlet somewhere on the top of the deck maybe under the gun whale somewhere but that's still proposed a problem because I need to get the charger plug through the floor obviously though I do not really want to cut any type of hole in my deck. So now I'm thinking about installing the charger in the closet by the AFT cabin there's already 110 power within reason, the charger itself will be hidden and out of the elements the only drawback is extending the battery leads to reach the batteries. Where are other locations have you guys seen aftermarket onboard Chargers install? Any thoughts on how you would do this?
Click to expand...

Is a 20 amp enough for the batteries you have?

Someone put an outlet in my new boat and it is coming out over the winter.

Cut or remove the cord and wardwire it properly.

MM
 
FYI, you CAN NOT put an outlet in your bilge since you have a gas engine.

If you have shore power, do you not already have a charger in the bilge? If so, get a bilge approved charger (ignition protected) and replace the existing one (hardwired). I know the ProNautic series is an excellent choice for this - I do not know about the ProSport - you'll have to check into that.
 
boatman37 said:
on my 1986 250 I had outlets under the gun whales near the back and I fished the cord up behind the rear flip up seat. Couldn't see any wires when I was done. On my 250 there was a board across the back that almost touched the floor. There were 4 or 5 screws holding that board on. Take those screws out and you should be able to get that wire through there. I did have to mount my Pro Mariner charger further back near the trim pump because the cord would barrely reach. My outlets were already installed but if I would have done it myself I would have installed them further back because of the cord length.
Click to expand...
I checked up underneath there pretty thoroughly somebody must have added yours there is no 110 outlets on my 260. Although I think I am going to install them and do it the way yours is done.
 
I think the issue is not really charger specific. Having a plug itself in the engine compartment is not good. Anytime you plug something into (or unplug from) an outlet, there is a potential for it to spark. For that reason, anything in the engine compartment should be hard-wired.
 
Lazy Daze said:
FYI, you CAN NOT put an outlet in your bilge since you have a gas engine.

If you have shore power, do you not already have a charger in the bilge? If so, get a bilge approved charger (ignition protected) and replace the existing one (hardwired). I know the ProNautic series is an excellent choice for this - I do not know about the ProSport - you'll have to check into that.
Click to expand...
Yes it has shore power no there is no battery charger on it I'm kind of shocked by that too the promariner pro sports are ignition protected
 
MonacoMike said:
Dennis, are you implying that a charger with a cord may not be ignition protected?

MM
Click to expand...
No, not necessarily, Mike. The process of plugging the cord into an outlet in the bilge is a big no-no. But if the charger is ignition-protected and you run the cord topsides (or cut the plug off and hardwire it in the bilge properly), then all is good.
 
I have no problems hardwiring if that's the best way to do it, I kind of wish they had the option of getting it without the 110 molded cord already on it
 
MonacoMike said:
Is a 20 amp enough for the batteries you have?

Someone put an outlet in my new boat and it is coming out over the winter.

Cut or remove the cord and wardwire it properly.

MM
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity why do you not want an outlet? I kind of liked the idea as long as it's safely mounted and hardwired it in two the circuit panel. A lot of newer boats are coming with deck outlets, I'm just curious as to why you're removing yours?
 
Zero Fuks said:
Out of curiosity house come you do not want an outlet? I kind of liked the idea as long as it's safely mounted and hardwired it in two the circuit panel. A lot of newer boats are coming with deck outlets, I'm just curious as to why you're removing yours?
Click to expand...

It is against ABYC standards first off. Then there is the spark risk in a gasoline powered boat I do not want. Lastly, I personally only allow work that meets the standards to be done on my vessels. If my boat blows up, I do not want to fight the insurance carrier because the fault was a AC power receptacle that was not supposed to be there and I had it put there. In court that could be reason to reduce the insurance payout. So, I just want it right.

MM
 
MonacoMike said:
It is against ABYC standards first off. Then there is the spark risk in a gasoline powered boat I do not want. Lastly, I personally only allow work that meets the standards to be done on my vessels. If my boat blows up, I do not want to fight the insurance carrier because the fault was a AC power receptacle that was not supposed to be there and I had it put there. In court that could be reason to reduce the insurance payout. So, I just want it right.

MM
Click to expand...
Okay I got you misunderstanding somebody put one in your bilge area this one is going to be above deck but below the gunwhale
 
Yeah my outlets were added by the previous owner. There was one on each side under the gun whales (not in the engine bay). I left my charger plugged into the one outlet 24x7 but it wouldn't work if I was away from shore power.

As for adding to the Pro Mariner cord, pretty sure the instructions say not to do that but I do think it said they have a longer cord you can purchase from them but I think you completely remove the original one. Not sure on that but pretty sure they do have longer cords available for them.
 
I installed a onboard charger on my 77 Srv 240 Sundancer. I installed a sheet of plywood on the center deck supports under the center hatch and mounted the charger on forward side. I then routed the cord forward into the cabin closet where there is a 110v outlet to plug into and is part of the shore power circuit. My charger is a 3 gang setup and I was able to run the wires to the port,starboard, and center house batteries and it works just as it should. I also have a digital voltage gauge for each bank so I always know their status. I see no danger from sparking and is not directly in the engine compartment. One thing to note is it is important to keep tabs on your fuel system and keep on any leaks no matter how small, a drop will blowup your boat,I have personally seen three boats blowup and burn while tied up not a pretty sight.
 
You can have an outlet in the engine bay from the interpretation of the ABYC rules. However, there are a lot of suggestions around the force that is needed to unplug that connection, and a standard outlet is probably not going to meet that. A clamp of some sort preventing the plug from coming out is needed.
Now, I am not suggesting you do that, but it is allowable.
Your application is probably better suited for a dry mount charger that gets hardwired. Most of these also have a power supply mode for when you are hanging out in the boat at the dock using lights and stereos and refrigerators. The one you selected will make short life of a battery if you try to use it that way.
 
Last edited:
Loyd Dinneen said:
I installed a onboard charger on my 77 Srv 240 Sundancer. I installed a sheet of plywood on the center deck supports under the center hatch and mounted the charger on forward side. I then routed the cord forward into the cabin closet where there is a 110v outlet to plug into and is part of the shore power circuit. My charger is a 3 gang setup and I was able to run the wires to the port,starboard, and center house batteries and it works just as it should. I also have a digital voltage gauge for each bank so I always know their status. I see no danger from sparking and is not directly in the engine compartment. One thing to note is it is important to keep tabs on your fuel system and keep on any leaks no matter how small, a drop will blowup your boat,I have personally seen three boats blowup and burn while tied up not a pretty sight.
Click to expand...

If the receptacle and plug-in is not in the engine compartment you are fine.

MM
 
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