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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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Charge boat batteries off inverter while I'm gone?
Hi. I've been thinking of a convenient and reliable method to charge my boat batteries while I'm away. I just replaced one Optima D-34 blue top for
$180 and want it to last. My boat has two of them. I mounted a Guest 2611A 5+5 charger on the boat a couple years ago and use it to charge the
batteries when I arrive. But I've been thinking of a way to keep the charger operating while I'm gone. My first thought was just to run it off my
inverter and solar system. The input current for the Guest unit is 2.5 amps (110vac). This would require me to keep the inverter turned on the entire
time. It would not require a lot of amperage so the fans on the inverter would probably never come on and I wouldn't have to worry about them shorting
or the unit overheating. Plus, the batteries would charge the first day and then be on a float the rest of the time. I just don't feel confident about
leaving the inverter on over a long period when it is unattended.
My other thought was just to buy a smaller charge controller and connect it to one of my 75 watt panels and let that system be dedicated to the two
batteries. Then I just need to brainstorm the wiring to make it simple to connect and disconnect and also redirect the panel to my main array when I'm
in town since I need all the panels for my house batteries when I'm there. Any other ideas you are using? Thanks.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?category=&...
or
Northern Tool
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200140124_200...
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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those are junk
don't waste your money
be careful...some of the newer "smart chargers" will fry if you use inverted energy to power them
if you really want a charger hooked up us a "dumb charger"
i suggest just disconnecting the batteries on the boat for safety
use a "perko switch"
if they are down when you return charge or replace them
it's thecost of boating...
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Doug/Vamonos
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Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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They are wired to a perko and are turned off when I leave. My #2 batt may have died because I rarely use it and probably don't charge it underway as
much as I should. I normally use #1. That was my oversight. At a minimum, I will manage them better when underway by selecting a different battery
each day.
I'm liking the option of directing one of my panels to a separate charge controller. My house batteries don't need that much amperage when I'm gone.
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LancairDriver
Super Nomad
Posts: 1593
Registered: 2-22-2008
Location: On the Road
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For years when my boat is stored for the winter I have used a small trickle charger left hooked up for months that shuts off automatically when the
batteries are charged. Never had a problem. These are very inexpensive and available at Wal-Mart and probably any auto parts store. No clue how it
likes invertor power as I have never tried it.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Mood: Inquisitive
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How long will you be away?
I would think an AGM battery should be able to hold a charge just fine for a few months IF YOU ARE CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NO DRAW.
I would worry more about something going wrong with any charging scheme you might devise since you wont be able to check it regularly. I vote for
charging the Optimas and leaving them in as temperature-static a location as possible with NO draw.
Even if they drop below 12.0 or so for a short period, these batteries are supposed to be able to take that.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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with a "perko switch" you should always run it on "ALL" not 1 or 2
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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Hmmm...there be thieves in our little village. Someone got my two big marine coolers, too.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18388
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Doug/Vamonos
Any other ideas you are using? Thanks. |
lead acid batteries should be fine for a few months to 9 months storage. disconnect batteries before storing. charge fully before storing. store
away from heat, in dry place.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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I use a small solar panel and charge controller - works great.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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Optimas are AGM batteries and should only self-discharge at the rate of 5% or less per month. If you want to keep them on a charger, I would recommend
the solar panel and a charge controller that you can set the voltage on because AGM batteries charge at a lower voltage than FLA batteries and can be
damaged if over charged. Do not have the charge controller set to equalize with AGM's, it will kill them.
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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Good info. Thanks for all your suggestions.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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HOLA, as a marine electrical specialist,thats what we do...I have found those batts are very poor choice in marine app's. most alternator's dont
support the correct charging and float voltage,therefore they die rather fast.. but since you have one, a panel and a smart charger with the switch
set to agm would do the trick,but trying to find the smart charger down here is gonna take some doing!!what is your motor app.? if you have outboards
run a normal cranking batt,if in or a i/o with the right reg it will work but I dont see that till you get to the bigger boats.....batt's are probly
the most missunderstud things on boats,not 12 v but 12.9-13.8 and deep cycle....dont get me started!!!!!!
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
Hey Doug,
before somebody stole it last summer I had a very small solar panel hooked up to my 12v stuff through a very small charge controller.....that thing
worked b-tchen for years.
I think the total cost was well under $60 because the panel was a 2nd. |
I found 2 flexible solar panels to mount on the canvas roof of our center console. They are set up to feed the batteries via a charge controller and
it works great....
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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I like the trojans my self but a west marine cranking batt would fine..what yr and model is it?or better yet whats the total electrical load and if
you have a ser#
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Doug/Vamonos
Hi. I've been thinking of a convenient and reliable method to charge my boat batteries while I'm away. I just replaced one Optima D-34 blue top for
$180 and want it to last. My boat has two of them. I mounted a Guest 2611A 5+5 charger on the boat a couple years ago and use it to charge the
batteries when I arrive. But I've been thinking of a way to keep the charger operating while I'm gone. My first thought was just to run it off my
inverter and solar system. The input current for the Guest unit is 2.5 amps (110vac). This would require me to keep the inverter turned on the entire
time. It would not require a lot of amperage so the fans on the inverter would probably never come on and I wouldn't have to worry about them shorting
or the unit overheating. Plus, the batteries would charge the first day and then be on a float the rest of the time. I just don't feel confident about
leaving the inverter on over a long period when it is unattended.
My other thought was just to buy a smaller charge controller and connect it to one of my 75 watt panels and let that system be dedicated to the two
batteries. Then I just need to brainstorm the wiring to make it simple to connect and disconnect and also redirect the panel to my main array when I'm
in town since I need all the panels for my house batteries when I'm there. Any other ideas you are using? Thanks. |
The 2.5amps that the charger consumes at 110v (sounds high) is aproximately eqivilent ot 25amps out of your house batteries (if your house batteries
are12v) to run the inverter and keep the batteries charged. Probably not a good choice. If it was me I would use a seperate panel and a controler and
keep them chargd that way. No shortage of sunshine down here.
Larry
[Edited on 1-26-2011 by larryC]
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Doug/Vamonos
Hmmm...there be thieves in our little village. Someone got my two big marine coolers, too. |
We are missing some boat gas tanks.  Maybe we should get a neighborhood watch
(with beer) vigilante squad.
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
Member Is Offline
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Well...I heard Kiki got his walking orders...
I'm toying with a battery for my little 12' gregor and evinrude 9.9 (electric start). It hardly needs anything to crank and I only really need the
battery for my little sounder. I was thinking a lawnmower battery or something midsize so it is super light. I pretty much lift my boat up onto the
trailer so I don't want an 80lb battery. Probably a larger motorcycle battery would be more than adequate.
LarryC: the 2.5 amp stat was found on the specs of the charger. I'm sure that's at a full output which may only last a couple hours max. Though, I'm
certainly no expert. I think the resolution to my problem may be just to manage the batteries better when I'm boating. Like I said, I think I
abandoned #2 and didn't use/charge it for long periods.
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Doug/Vamonos
Nomad
Posts: 417
Registered: 6-19-2006
Location: Bahia de los Angeles
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I was there alone last spring (the only other cracka in camp was Beach Bob) and I woke up at 2am because someone was driving around and inspecting my
camp with a spotlight. I looked out the door and it was the delegado cops. To be honest, I didn't like that at all. My bikes and quad were out, my
garage was open and they could see my stuff, including generator, outboards, you name it. I'm still spooky enough about mexican cops that I prefer
never to see or interact with any of them. Hmmm...I guess I should be careful about saying they saw all my "stuff", seeing how "stuff" recently has
taken on a whole new meaning. Bob and Doc said they didn't mind the patrol. But me no likey.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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I have a pretty good relationship with the local cops, and I think that they are pretty honest. My garage was broken the summer before last and they
came out to investigate and then helped secure it in the hope that nothing else would get taken. When I came down that following Oct. I left the
garage door open over night. Well about mid night they came through on one of their patrols and saw the open garage and thought there was a robbery in
progress and called in the the rest of the cops from town. By the time I got downstairs to see what was going on they had surronded the place and were
searching the surronding bushes for the culprits. It took a while for me to convince them that I had left the garage open on purpose and that nothing
was missing. They gave me a lecture about locking up everything at night, and how could I expect them to protect me if I make it easy for the banditos
to take my stuff? They had a valid point. Anyway, I don't mind their patrols, and I keep my garage locked up at night. I also don't let Kiki anywhere
near my place.
Larry
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