charging batteries

[mikenehrkorn]

I have a ProMariner battery charger that I haven't gotten installed in the boat yet....could I use it to provide trickle charging to my batteries over the winter or is that too much stress to the batteries over several months?

[zabooda]

I would recommend calling the company as I don't see anything indicating a multistage charging. On the Amazon site I saw: "ProSports Energy Saver Mode will monitor and Auto Maintain batteries which would significantly reduce AC power consumption, lowering operating costs and maximize reserve power performance." The main importance is a low charging rate to prevent batteries from drying out so the bottom line is to extend battery life not save electricity. They sell their own maintainer systems so I would give them a call. I would expect these systems to maintain batteries but they advertise how fast they can charge batteries and how lightweight it is.

[mikenehrkorn]

I contacted ProMariner and here was there response:

It should be fine for using over the winter. Just be sure you check the batteries monthly to be sure they have plenty of water and everything is ok.

ProMariner Support
800-824-0524
www.pmariner.com

[zabooda]

I'm a firm believer in the battery tenders as they have one purpose and that is to keep a small charge on the battery and they won't overcharge and dry out the battery. Even by design with the power being a class B transformer the only failure point is it not working as it doesn't have the capacity to overcharge. The last couple of years I keep my battery installed with the tender operating continuously and with the boat covered I would never be able to check cell levels. I do check to see that it is working by plugging the cord into a Kill-A-Watt and see the power use. Adding water to a battery means either the battery is being overcharged or the battery is on its last legs and sulfating is occurring. I've had a bad experience with my motor home charging system that had a three stage system and it dried out the golf cart batteries so now I use the tender rather than try to figure out what went wrong. They are cheap and you can even find them at Costco. My boat uses the two pin connector but you can use a lighter plug if the receptacle is directly connected to the battery.

[mikenehrkorn]

I'm a firm believer in the battery tenders as they have one purpose and that is to keep a small charge on the battery and they won't overcharge and dry out the battery. Even by design with the power being a class B transformer the only failure point is it not working as it doesn't have the capacity to overcharge. The last couple of years I keep my battery installed with the tender operating continuously and with the boat covered I would never be able to check cell levels. I do check to see that it is working by plugging the cord into a Kill-A-Watt and see the power use. Adding water to a battery means either the battery is being overcharged or the battery is on its last legs and sulfating is occurring. I've had a bad experience with my motor home charging system that had a three stage system and it dried out the golf cart batteries so now I use the tender rather than try to figure out what went wrong. They are cheap and you can even find them at Costco. My boat uses the two pin connector but you can use a lighter plug if the receptacle is directly connected to the battery.

So you would advocate using a battery tender instead??

[zabooda]

I would. I'm not convinced the Promariner has that capability. For long term layup, you may not check the battery for months if at all and you'll see when it is time to get the boat ready whether the charger did it's job correctly. A tender should never draw down the liquid level of a battery not even a sulfated one even though the tender itself may be maxed out and actually serves no purpose in that case.

[trayson]

I have a ProMariner battery charger that I haven't gotten installed in the boat yet....could I use it to provide trickle charging to my batteries over the winter or is that too much stress to the batteries over several months?

What model pro sport do you have?

I have the pro sport 20 dual bank and I've been quite happy with it. I used to just use the cheap $8 harbor freight float chargers, but I've found that it's really hard to tell when they crap out. The led on the harbor freight ones will light up by being plugged into the wall OR the led will light up when connected to a battery (when the plug isn't plugged into the wall).

I'd use the pro sport personally and call it good.

Also, I think most people say "trickle charger" when they're talking about a "float charger". Trickle means it get a tiny bit of voltage no matter what. Float chargers shut off the juice when the battery voltage is topped off.