to one which is being used, preferably to
the one with the heaviest work load.
failure to do this will result in reduced
performance of the product,
How long will my batteries last?
What is the best battery type?
The good the bad and the ugly
about batteries.
around the world.
the biggest problem in the marine
world is that the public expect the same
solution for all boats , most equipment
charger operation 4 step charge: is sold as leisure rated equipment, the
this unit is a battery charger/powerpack, larger boat owners who should be using
its first job is to charge the batteries, commercial equipment should not be
upon switching the charger on the surprised with some of these answers,
orange l.e.d and green ( or yellow
depending on battery type ) comes on to
show the charger is on full current ( this is a very difficult question, in a
constant current charge step 1 ) when nutshell the less you use the battery the
the batteries reach 14.4 or 14.8 ( longer it will last, never fully discharge
depending on battery setting switch ) the a battery and always plug in the charger
orange l.e.d. will go out and the lower power pack where ever possible,
green l.e.d will come on ( the upper remember that the batteries and set up
yellow/green will remain on as well step on most boats from 20-40 ft are for
2 ) this shows the charger is on leisure, if you use the boat for leisure
equalizing charge, ie at constant voltage purposes ie 3-4 weekends per month for
at 14.4 or 14.8, the equalizing charge 7 months plus 1 x 2 week period in the
time will depend on the position of the summer then expect about 3-5 years out
timing switches. after the equalizing of the average leisure type battery.
time is complete, the charger top led however if you have a crew onboard, or
will go off leaving only the lower green live onboard, expect about 3-5 months
l.e.d., this shows the charger is at use out of the same batteries ( in this
constant voltage at 13.5 volts ( power case do not blame the batteries, blame
pack mode step 3 ). on this mode the the idiot who fitted a leisure battery in a
charger will supply its full current if commercial installation )
required to maintain the power supply to
the boat without using the batteries, in
the event of the batteries being
discharger below 11.5 volts ( step 4 )the
charge sequence starts all over again.
this is a list of questions and blunt
answers about marine batteries and
battery charging in the form of common
questions and answers. there are so
many old wives tales about this subject
that these questions are compiled from
my interaction with the public in the
last 5 years at international boat shows
the answer to this is very much based
on the above, for the average leisure
user the best value is the conventional
leisure ( sometimes called deep cycle
but this is a myth ) battery, available at
most chandlers, they will offer you 3-5
years trouble free operation, however if
you think you are going to use these
batteries and give them a heavy duty
cycle then the only person you are
kidding is yourself.
for live on board, crewed, 40 ft plus,
blue water yachts, electric hungry boats
with large inverters, there is only one
option, use what the professionals use,