Adding An Onboard Charger (connecting to shore power)

Henry and all,


Thanks for keeping us informed. Looks like i'll at least add the galvanic isolator to my set-up. (is this next to the Plutonium P-238 space modulator?)

Joe, I'm jealous. It's 65 and no access to the boat! Have fun!
 
surfinjoe said:
For me, $$$ is the issue. I am really trying to save up for my bimini enclosure. Everytime I add additional 'crap' to this charging system, I am eating into my enclosure budget. We got caught in a couple of bad storms last year, and the wife was bitchen about getting pelted with rain (to be honest so was I). I have made up my mind: Enclosure before shore power! If the boat fills with H2O and sinks, well that's what insurance is for I guess?>?>?>?>?
Click to expand...

Hey Joe
If you were to do this right and keep the components to a minimum you would need:
30A Inlet
30A Circuit Panel
Charger
Ground bus(if you don't have one)
Wire

Using West Marine pricing as an Example:
Blue Sea Systems has a low gadget 30A Circuit panel @WM for $99
8077.jpg

Marinco has the 30A inlet @WM for $77
147454.jpg

Wire can be another $50 I would guess depending on your distance which may not be that far depending on where you mount everything
Ground Bus would be $20 I would think
 
Last edited:
Todd,

Does the circuit panel take the place of the isolator? Or would you still require the isolator?

Help!

Gregg
 
ghuskin said:
Todd,

Does the circuit panel take the place of the isolator? Or would you still require the isolator?

Help!

Gregg
Click to expand...

No you would have your 30A input going to the Circuit panel and all 120VAC systems (Charger, Isolator, AC outlets, etc) going out of the Cicuit Panel. In the unit I displayed it's really only a 1 circuit(least expensive) unit to simply have the charger on it. If you wanted to add an isolator, outlets, etc, you'd want to install a panel that has additional circuits, one for each system. Like this one. (the example shows 240V but you get the point. They make a 120VAC one, I just couldn't find a picture.)
7370.jpg


This way when you're on shorepower you can turn one switch on for the charger and another for the isolator and a 3rd for the outlets.
 
Last edited:
Todd,

You've got me all messed up. Maybe it's me (yes, it is me).

Let me review some facts (as they pertain to my ancient runabout):

- no shore power
- no 120VAC
- no charger
- no circuit panel
- no place to put circuit panel (that I know of)
- need to have charger (would be really nice to have)

so as a result of the last item, I then need to add:
- circuit panel
- galvanic isolator
- battery charger
- Marinco inlet
- ground bus

If so, this is getting more complicated, and is possibly not doable due to the fact that I have nowhere to put most of this.

Arggghhh!!
 
ghuskin said:
Todd,

You've got me all messed up. Maybe it's me (yes, it is me).

Let me review some facts (as they pertain to my ancient runabout):

- no shore power
- no 120VAC
- no charger
- no circuit panel
- no place to put circuit panel (that I know of)
- need to have charger (would be really nice to have)

so as a result of the last item, I then need to add:
- circuit panel
- galvanic isolator
- battery charger
- Marinco inlet
- ground bus

If so, this is getting more complicated, and is possibly not doable due to the fact that I have nowhere to put most of this.

Arggghhh!!
Click to expand...
Well I didn't have a battery charger on my 230OV for the same reasons you describe, no room. I was just very religious about running on Both during a cruise to charge the batteries, then when at shore, switching to battery #2 for the house, leaving battery #1 to start. I didn't have any 120VAC. I used a Pigtail adaptor and an extension cord when I did need 120VAC while at the dock for temp use. I never left the boat with it plugged in since it was somewhat frowned upon. If you want to keep it simple, you can add a ProMariner ProSport 20, dual battery charger
ProSport20.jpg

But read the instructions here. It shows the importance for grounding and the extension cord mentioned I wouldn't leave in the engine bay, route it to a hardwired inlet.

ghuskin said:
Todd,

You planning any trips to Michigan in the next few months?
Click to expand...

No, sorry.
 
I would also need:

Onboard Charger - $150
Isolator - $80 (refurbished)
Shore Power Chord - $80

So all in all I am looking at $500+
That's more than my deductible if the boat sinks. Not to mention having to replace all this crap when it breaks.

Guess I am going the solar panel route after all. What a PITA~!

How come anything 'marine' is like three times as expensive? Geesh!

Nehalennia said:
Hey Joe
If you were to do this right and keep the components to a minimum you would need:
30A Inlet
30A Circuit Panel
Charger
Ground bus(if you don't have one)
Wire

Using West Marine pricing as an Example:
Blue Sea Systems has a low gadget 30A Circuit panel @WM for $99
8077.jpg

Marinco has the 30A inlet @WM for $77
147454.jpg

Wire can be another $50 I would guess depending on your distance which may not be that far depending on where you mount everything
Ground Bus would be $20 I would think
Click to expand...
 
Ghuskin
Do you have a place in your gunwale that you can make a board to mount this
Marinco 30 Amp 125 Volt Power Inlet
301EL-B-CMYK-96_0.jpg

and a circuit breaker mounted next to it that then leads to your charger?
I think that's the safest way to do it simply
 
That's all I wanted was to simply add a charger. I guess my issue here is having the shore power connected at all times. Maybe a better route is to keep my charger, but hook it up 'ghetto' style via entension chord and only use it when I need it. That way if we have too much fun at the slip, I can charge the battery up so it's not dead next time we go out.

I think we have a winner here....

Nehalennia said:
Well I didn't have a battery charger on my 230OV for the same reasons you describe, no room. I was just very religious about running on Both during a cruise to charge the batteries, then when at shore, switching to battery #2 for the house, leaving battery #1 to start. I didn't have any 120VAC. I used a Pigtail adaptor and an extension cord when I did need 120VAC while at the dock for temp use. I never left the boat with it plugged in since it was somewhat frowned upon. If you want to keep it simple, you can add a ProMariner ProSport 20, dual battery charger
ProSport20.jpg

But read the instructions here. It shows the importance for grounding and the extension cord mentioned I wouldn't leave in the engine bay, route it to a hardwired inlet.



No, sorry.
Click to expand...
 
Yea, but today is the wife's birthday so it's all about her. That's why I am leaving work early so I can spend some time with her....my boat that is.

ghuskin said:
Henry and all,


Thanks for keeping us informed. Looks like i'll at least add the galvanic isolator to my set-up. (is this next to the Plutonium P-238 space modulator?)

Joe, I'm jealous. It's 65 and no access to the boat! Have fun!
Click to expand...
 
If I remember correctly it ran my close to a grand to have true shore power installed on my 240SD. My controller has room for 3 circuits. One is being used to power my charger & bilge heater, One is for the extra outlet. I have one extra free one that is not being used at this time.
 
surfinjoe said:
So I am going a different route. I am looking to add an onboard charger that hooks to shore power. Is it as simple as adding the charger, hooking it to a shore power plug, and connecting to shore?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

YES, it is.
You DO NOT need to add an elaborate shorepower system to accomodate a battery charger, despite a lot of the advice offered so far. They must work for the Gov't...

ALL you need to do is buy this:
http://www.marinco.com/product/15a-125v-board-charger-inlet-black

Wire it to the battery charger and you're done.

Geeezzz...
 
tobnpr said:
YES, it is.
You DO NOT need to add an elaborate shorepower system to accomodate a battery charger, despite a lot of the advice offered so far. They must work for the Gov't...

ALL you need to do is buy this:
http://www.marinco.com/product/15a-125v-board-charger-inlet-black

Wire it to the battery charger and you're done.

Geeezzz...
Click to expand...

Yeah until you run into the marina that doesn't allow "extension cords" on their docks. I was attempting to offer a low cost to get an onboard charger installed but with the proper safety and compliant stuff.

Yes, I've run an extension cord from a 15A extension cord plug to the 6A Battery charger, old school auto style at the dock but I wouldn't want to do that all the time.
 
Agreed, Todd. I would go the same route offered above except use a twist lock marine style 30amp connector.

Doug
 
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