Battery Charger question

[PlayTime]

I need to put a battery charger in my 1986 270 Sea Ray. It stays in a wet slip hooked up to shore power. I have 4 batteries on board. Can anyone give me some suggestions on a charger. brand, 2 or 3 or 4 bank, etc.... Any help would be greatly appreciated for this newbie to the threads!!

 

[Nehalennia]

I need to put a battery charger in my 1986 270 Sea Ray. It stays in a wet slip hooked up to shore power. I have 4 batteries on board. Can anyone give me some suggestions on a charger. brand, 2 or 3 or 4 bank, etc.... Any help would be greatly appreciated for this newbie to the threads!!

I had an old Promariner Flyback 20-3 that was bad when I bought the boat.

I didn't want to drill new holes in the side of the hull in the engine bay so I made a new back board that you can see I reused the old mounting holes. the charger mounts not to that board.
Here is the backboard I made

New Charger in place

Remote display install~ one more set of holes to drill

Done...and working nicely

 

[northern]

Get a charger/inverter. I had one on a 28 footer that put out 20 AMPS per leg on charger. It had 3 legs (used 2). Smart charger IE it mimicks your alternator so you do not boil your batteries dry. Batteries charge in 3 phases. Do surch on this site there has been a lot on battery charger/inverters. I put batteries in group of 2.

 

[boatmailster]

I need to put a battery charger in my 1986 270 Sea Ray. It stays in a wet slip hooked up to shore power. I have 4 batteries on board. Can anyone give me some suggestions on a charger. brand, 2 or 3 or 4 bank, etc.... Any help would be greatly appreciated for this newbie to the threads!!

depends how boat is wired 2 or 3 banks (most likely 2) is enough. it is hard to find good quality 2 bank charger and you may have to go for 3 banks (one bank is not going to be used). ProMariner protech series are good chargers and I've seen many bad quest chargers.

 

[PlayTime]

I have 4 batteries. I am not sure if I should go for a 2 bank charger, or 3, and leave the 4th just off the alternator. 2 are house batteries, and the other 2 for starting....The previous charger went bad, and the owner took it out leaving me to guess the set-up.....Just kinda looking for guidance....

 

[Whitenights]

True Charge 20amp in my boat, has worked perfectly for the last 6 years

 

[Nehalennia]

I have 4 batteries. I am not sure if I should go for a 2 bank charger, or 3, and leave the 4th just off the alternator. 2 are house batteries, and the other 2 for starting....The previous charger went bad, and the owner took it out leaving me to guess the set-up.....Just kinda looking for guidance....

Is it a ProMariner?
If so they offer a 50% off list deal to those that have owned previous models. Get the serial number. ProMariner is a member here. Jim Mitchell w/ProMariner is leaving but he just introduced his replacement.

 

[Sundancer]

I'd second or third the ProMariner line! Adjustable for any type of cell, GREAT customer service and a good line of chargers for every need. They shipped me a new charger when mine started buzzing. When it arrived, I removed the old one and shipped the new one off in the box they provided along with the return shipping prepaid by ProMariner! That was AFTER three years of use! I'm sold!

 

[PlayTime]

Is it a ProMariner?
If so they offer a 50% off list deal to those that have owned previous models. Get the serial number. ProMariner is a member here. Jim Mitchell w/ProMariner is leaving but he just introduced his replacement.

I dont know the previous brand..The owner is no longer around..So I am starting from scratch......

 

[PlayTime]

I'd second or third the ProMariner line! Adjustable for any type of cell, GREAT customer service and a good line of chargers for every need. They shipped me a new charger when mine started buzzing. When it arrived, I removed the old one and shipped the new one off in the box they provided along with the return shipping prepaid by ProMariner! That was AFTER three years of use! I'm sold!

I will look again at the ProMariner line. I was looking at Guest as well...Do you think I should just get a two bank, and leave the other two off? Or get a 3 bank and scrap the 4th battery...More than two batteries has thrown me off. Ive only ever had two on my previous boats....

 

[Nehalennia]

I will look again at the ProMariner line. I was looking at Guest as well...Do you think I should just get a two bank, and leave the other two off? Or get a 3 bank and scrap the 4th battery...More than two batteries has thrown me off. Ive only ever had two on my previous boats....

My Promariner Pronautic 1240i is a 3 bank but I only use two for now. I will add more batteries next season but I haven't figured out the configuration yet.

 

[Firerooster]

I have 4 batteries on my boat. I use promariner on mine too. I recommend it, great product, superior customer service.

 

[MLauman]

I will look again at the ProMariner line. I was looking at Guest as well...Do you think I should just get a two bank, and leave the other two off? Or get a 3 bank and scrap the 4th battery...More than two batteries has thrown me off. Ive only ever had two on my previous boats....

Just to clarify - you may have 4 batteries, but you probably don't have 4 banks. Most likely, your 2 house batteries are paralleled into one bank. My guess is that you have 3 banks:

1. the 2 house batteries.
2. starting battery for port engine
3. starting battery for starboard engine.

But you might have 2 banks:

1. the 2 house batteries (also starting one engine)
2. the 2 starting batteries (the other engine)

Only way to know for sure is to check the wiring. In any case, there's no logic that supports 'leaving off' any battery (or bank) since you are buying a new charger anyway.

 

[PlayTime]

Just to clarify - you may have 4 batteries, but you probably don't have 4 banks. Most likely, your 2 house batteries are paralleled into one bank. My guess is that you have 3 banks:

1. the 2 house batteries.
2. starting battery for port engine
3. starting battery for starboard engine.

But you might have 2 banks:

1. the 2 house batteries (also starting one engine)
2. the 2 starting batteries (the other engine)

Only way to know for sure is to check the wiring. In any case, there's no logic that supports 'leaving off' any battery (or bank) since you are buying a new charger anyway.

I have two batteries on the Port side and two on Starboard. It appears to be a starting battery and house battery on each side. On the Port side, the one battery runs my stereo, the other the motor. On the Starboard side, it is hooked up to my Fridge, blower, water and lights. Alot for one battery. As for the charger, which line in ProMariner is better. I am thinking the Pronautical 1240i....

 

[MLauman]

Sounds like a PO may have added a battery for the stereo - do you have a large amp (or amps)? If those 4 batteries are indeed all isolated then I'd consider a rewire to at least get the 2 house batteries in one bank. You are right about the house load - seems unbalanced unless the stereo is a major hog.

 

[PlayTime]

Sounds like a PO may have added a battery for the stereo - do you have a large amp (or amps)? If those 4 batteries are indeed all isolated then I'd consider a rewire to at least get the 2 house batteries in one bank. You are right about the house load - seems unbalanced unless the stereo is a major hog.

Yes, the amp is 800 watts....So I am sure it is quite the drain. I figure I am going to have to just disconnect everything and start from scratch.....Got to research how. or what a "bank" is...

 

[MLauman]

I think you are wise to start over and get it the way you want it. A 'bank' is simply a group of one or more batteries that are wired in parallel. Regardless of the number, they are treated and behave as one battery - with same voltage but more amp capacity.

You can find many diagrams on the net (probably several here) for suggested layouts. If I had your situation, I would probably setup 3 banks:
1. Starting battery to port engine.
2. Starting battery to A/B switch (A)
3. Both house batteries (paralleled together) to A/B switch. (B)
A/B switch (common) to starboard engine and house load.
I would have a 3-bank charger connected to each.

There are other things to consider such as adding a switch to connect 1 and 2 in case 1 dies. A generator may need to be factored in as well.

Some people might try to delploy a battery isolater into the circuit, but I prefer controlling things manually.

 

[PlayTime]

I think you are wise to start over and get it the way you want it. A 'bank' is simply a group of one or more batteries that are wired in parallel. Regardless of the number, they are treated and behave as one battery - with same voltage but more amp capacity.

You can find many diagrams on the net (probably several here) for suggested layouts. If I had your situation, I would probably setup 3 banks:
1. Starting battery to port engine.
2. Starting battery to A/B switch (A)
3. Both house batteries (paralleled together) to A/B switch. (B)
A/B switch (common) to starboard engine and house load.
I would have a 3-bank charger connected to each.

There are other things to consider such as adding a switch to connect 1 and 2 in case 1 dies. A generator may need to be factored in as well.

Some people might try to delploy a battery isolater into the circuit, but I prefer controlling things manually.

Thanks, but I feel like an idiot...I need to try and find a wiring diagram to see what you are talking about....lol I have an emergency start switch that may need to be figured in as well.......:smt013

 

[carterchapman]

Nice looking bilge Todd!