Marine Battery Charger

How to Install a Marine Battery Charger

When it comes to boating, few things are more frustrating than having a dead battery. Unlike car batteries, boat batteries experience a lot of down time, and they're also relied on while the engine isn't running. These factors can cause the power cells in a battery to die, unless you're diligent about charging on a regular basis. With an onboard charging system, you can automate this process instead of worrying about being stranded by a dead battery.

Step 1

First, select a mounting location that allows for free-air ventilation with a minimum of 8 inches of clear, unobstructed space around and in front of the charger. Open all battery and engine compartments, and ventilate for at least 15 minutes before actually starting the installation. Don't install the charger on carpeted, vinyl or varnished areas. Be sure to place the charger in an accessible area where all indicators are viewable. If you have more than one battery, as in this case, confirm that all battery cables can reach each of the batteries. In this demonstration, the unit is mounted on a 3/4-inch plywood support board in the engine compartment. Make sure that the surface you're mounting on is adequate in strength and thickness in order to hold the unit in place with the mounting screws you've selected.

Step 2

Once you've selected a sturdy surface to mount the unit on, clean each battery post with a wire brush until it becomes shiny. Run your cables free from sharp objects and hold each of them in place with cable ties. Be sure to coil any excess cable - don't cut or shorten the length of the cables, as there are inline fuses located 4 inches from the end of each red (positive) cable. Connect the D/C output cables to the battery, securing the positive (red) connections first, then securing the negative (black or yellow). Make sure all connections are tight and correct. Locate the A/C power cord in an open-air area of your boat at least 21 inches from the charger, batteries and fuel fill lines. NOTE: If you have gel batteries, please refer to the installation guide for instructions on how to set the charger for this operation.

Step 3

Next, install a universal plug holder to use in conjunction with the charger. Again, select a location that's easily accessible and at least 21 inches away from all batteries and fuel fill lines. Drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole in the center of the area selected. Now use a 1 3/4-inch hole saw to cut the mounting hole into the pilot hole. Mount the plug holder, and secure it in place with the three stainless-steel screws provided. Insert the A/C power cord into the plug holder. At this point, if you don't wish to install a battery switch, the installation is complete. Connect a UL-approved extension cord to the first, and then plug the extension cord into a nearby charger120 VAC GFCI-protected outlet. While it's charging, view the LED indicators. You should observe that both the green "power" LED and the red "charging" LED are on, indicating that the charging mode is in process.

Step 4

The boat used for this installation has two batteries, so cable extenders and a battery switch are also installed. It also has a 24-volt trolling motor, which needs to be powered along with several other 12-volt accessories, so a single-position switch is selected for easy switching from 24-volt to 12-volt. To install the extender cables, remove the A/C power from your onboard battery charger. Connect the red wire to the positive terminal of battery #1 and the ground wire to the negative terminal of battery #2. Finally, select an easily accessible location for the switch, and mount it using four stainless-steel wood screws. Connect the positive (red) wire to the terminal labeled "battery" and the ground wire to the terminal labeled "common." Tighten all connections, and you're finished. (Authorized By Steve Noury - Installing A Marine Battery Charger)

See more about  Solar Battery Charger and NiMH Battery Charger.