[C320-list] Battery Charging

[crashley at gte.net]

Warren,

Thanks for the input. The batteries are in great shape since I just got 2 
brand new 4D AGM batteries connected as a 400 AHr house battery and want to 
make sure I'm not abusing them. The old flooded ones were only about 5+ 
years old and one of them had cell go bad. Maybe I could have recovered it 
but I hated having to add water anyway. I had those on float charge 
continously for about 3.5 years off and on as described below.

I've heard people say that you should NOT keep batteries on float charge but 
the literature seems to indicate otherwise for long term (i.e., weeks at a 
time) storage. I use the boat quite regularly so they will go off the 
charger for those periods. I would still like to know more about the alleged 
Pro Mariner problem. I want to get an inverter anyway so I'm thinking about 
going for a Xantrex Freedom 2000 inverter/charger at some point.

CRA
Rosebud #882


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Battery Charging


>A "properly operating" 3-stage charger should not cause a problem to your 
>batteries.  The operative word here is "properly."  Can't speak for the Pro 
>Mariner in terms of it's record.  However, remember it is a 'system' and 
>things function in an inter-related fashion.
>
> If your batteries are not in good shape, that is to say they won't accept 
> a full charge, the charger may never go into float mode and continue to 
> push a higher voltage.  The result is an over charge that boils away the 
> water while never getting the battery up to full charge.  Have your 
> batteries tested with a load tester by someone familiar with it's use. 
> It's the best way to determine the condition of the batteries.  I'm sure 
> many people have cursed their charger when the problem lies with the 
> batteries.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
> Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
> Chesapeake Bay
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <crashley at gte.net>
> To: <C320-list at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:06 AM
> Subject: [C320-list] Battery Charging
>
>
> I've heard that one should not keep boat batteries on charge for extended 
> periods. That is, when docked in my slip (which is most of the time), 
> should I leave the charger on continuously or leave it off and only charge 
> once a month (or so)? The charger is a 3 step type which ends up in 
> "float" mode at about 13.5 volts. Also, the charge is a Pro Mariner 1230 
> which seems to have a bad reputation. Any advice?
>
> Rosebud
> #882
>
>