Marine Battery Charger Buying Tips

A marine battery charger for a boat must be selected carefully. It’s very important to be aware of the input voltage for your battery, the battery type, as well as the capacity before making a choice and there are other factors to keep in mind when actually charging also. Picking the right kind of charger is the key to making sure that an the battery has a long usage span.

It’s of the utmost importance to remember that you will most likely be using a marine battery charger in a different area than a car or other type of charger. Marine equipment such as boats are mostly on the water, not on the land, and as such you may run into situations where you will have to charge the battery while you are far from land. Choosing a charger that can easily be carried on the boat and stored safely is a must.

Finding a charger that will not over or undercharge is also important. Charging a battery too much is the biggest cause of battery death, with undercharging right behind in a close second. Ideally you want a charger that will only have an output that is equal to 20 percent of the battery’s total Ah capacity. Anything less will definitely undercharge the battery, and anything more will result in overcharging it. For example, if your marine battery has 100 Ah, then you should look for a marine battery charger that supplies 20 Adc.

If you must buy a battery that does not give 20 percent of the total Ah capacity, then consider the times that will be needed for each charge. For example, if you charge a 100 Ah battery with a 10 Adc charger it will take just a bit over 6 hours. Similarly, if you charge a 200 Ah battery with a 20 Adc charger it will take the same amount of time. However, for a 200 Ah battery you would ideally need a 40 Adc battery charger, which should take not more than 3 and a half hours to reach full capacity. This logic works for all battery sizes, though the times will vary depending on battery size.

Using the right size of charger with your battery will make certain that it will have a long life. Marine batteries are pricey, and a good charger than give your battery a second, third, or even fourth life for you to use. Think about the size and rate of your battery before purchasing a charger, as you will regret purchasing the wrong model afterward. A marine battery charger is something that needs to be seriously thought over before being chosen, as they are all not only made differently, but they also come standard with different sizes and charge rates.

If you are having trouble deciding on the battery charger you need, visit my site and get more information. Picking out the right one is a big deal, but it doesn’t need to be difficult.

Posted on 23 July '10, under Cars.