Batteries

[Hot Jambalaya]

Hi all,
I just purchased my 260 Sundancer. The person I bought it from said do not leave the boat on Shore Power , he said the charging system will fry the batteries. My question is, If I leave the boat on shore power and turn off the battery switch could I still run the risk of frying the batteries? The previous owner said I should install a smart charger?

 

[Little Ducky]

Welcome to the madness but need more information.

What year 260 DA? Picture of battery charger would be nice to see what you are working with.

You can leave the boat on shore power but leave the "AC converter" in the off position. That is the switch to the battery charger.

If the battery charger is old, a new smart charger is a good investment especially with the price of batteries going up.

 

[Hot Jambalaya]

Perfect
Thanks, I will take some pics. 2004 260 Sundancer

 

[spikedaddy99]

I leave my boat on shore power continuously, and keep the charger on 24/7. It keeps the batteries topped off.

 

[ttmott]

As a point of reference turning off the battery switches does not disconnect the batteries from the charger/converter nor from other safety / critical loads like bilge pumps and power for memory in electronics.
If the battery charger is newer (post 1995) it will bulk charge then transition to absorption then to float. The life of any lead acid battery will be greatly extended if kept on a float charge at all times.

 

[Hot Jambalaya]

Thank you, The old owner said I probably need a new smart charger. He said he left the boat on shore power for a couple of weeks and the batteries were fried

 

[Little Ducky]

Thank you, The old owner said I probably need a new smart charger. He said he left the boat on shore power for a couple of weeks and the batteries were fried

If you do have to go with a new charger the promariner series are very popular. They have multiple models to best fit your boats power requirements and set up.

https://www.promariner.com/en/products/dry mount marine battery chargers/pronauticp series

 

[Hot Jambalaya]

 

[AJ.Green]

I leave my boat on shore power continuously, and keep the charger on 24/7. It keeps the batteries topped off.

Hi— I’ve been curious about this myself. This is helpful. I have a 310 Sundancer with a smart charger and just put new AGM batteries in. Do you leave the battery switch “on” as well? We have two on/off switches and are leaving them on, smart battery charger and on shore power. Sound about right?

 

[bbwhitejr]

Hi— I’ve been curious about this myself. This is helpful. I have a 310 Sundancer with a smart charger and just put new AGM batteries in. Do you leave the battery switch “on” as well? We have two on/off switches and are leaving them on, smart battery charger and on shore power. Sound about right?

It matters not what position the battery switches are in. Off or on, the charger will do its thing.

Bennett

 

[Pirate Lady]

New Pro Mariner charger last summer, wired direct to batts. If shore power circuit breaker on they charging.

 

[Creekwood]

If the charger was frying batteries, its not working right. Get rid of it. The new smart ones will not fry batteries and will actually maintain them for a longer life if you just leave it on all the time. Promarine Pronautic are great chargers and buying the same size as you have will be an easy swap.

Another reason for leaving it on all the time is that if your boat gets a leak, the charger will keep your bilge pumps running without your batteries running down. If your charger is off, once your batteries are dead, you boat is sunk.