BATTERY CHARGER DIY

Installing an onboard charger will help keep boat batteries strong and healthy.

Marine battery charging systems represent musthave items aboard many recreational boats today. Far more sophisticated than oldschool bench chargers with battery clips, marine chargers from brands such as Battery Tender, Guest, Minn Kota, Noco and ProMariner feature sophisticated electronics that monitor the state of batteries and charge accordingly.

Waterproof and corrosionresistant, such permanently installed systems offer convenience. Once the boat is tied up at the dock or at home on a trailer, just connect the charger to shore power or a household receptacle. Charging profiles replenish the juice in multiple stages and keep batteries topped off and ready to go without overcharging, overheating or causing damage, even when the system is plugged into 120 volts AC continuously between trips.

Such automatic systems, designed for recreational boats up to about 30 feet in length, usually come pre-wired with a three-prong power cord to connect to a 120-volt AC electrical source, as well as pre-wired 12-volt DC power cords that connect to a battery’s positive and negative posts. These ignition-protected systems are available for boats with as many as fourplus battery banks. Many chargers have automatic or selectable charging profiles for flooded, AGM or gel leadacid batteries. Installing a charger is relatively simple.