Battery Charger help
 

Will my battery charger on my 2000 38 turn itself off when the batts are fully charged or will it keep charging, thus boil the batt?

I just bought new batts and the guy at the battery store said that all charging systems turn off when the batterys are fully charged and kick back on when needed.

The charger is a factory install.

Thanks

Re: Battery Charger help
 

They turn off or go down to trickle charge. My charger is always on when I'm plugged in.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Mine is always on when plugged into shore power but will only charge when the batteries need juice. Look at the amp meter on the charger and the lights on top.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Ya know, every time I look at the meter it seems to be pretty hight up, guess by that statement alone Im not watching it close enough :cool:

So I dont need to to worry about "frying" my batts, right?

Re: Battery Charger help
 

If everything is working right no you wont fry the batts.
If yo have a problem with the charger or old sulfated batteries then yes it will keep running and boil them.

Mine cycles and I can hear the fan kick on and off along with the gauge on the front showing the current charge status. If it was always showing a high charge rate then I would start to isolate 12vdc devices including batteries until it started acting like it should.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

any ideas on what batts I should buy? Need new ones.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

You should try to charge them with another charger then check them with a load tester (not just a volt meter)

If they check out bad then I would replace then with the Autozone batteries. They have a great warranty that you can take advantage of every three years.

I use Optimas and love them! No more maintenance they hold a charge all winter and can take the pounding from the lake that the electrolyte/plate style battery can't. You will have to buy new boxes but if PQ was still using the plastic Gill mounts you will need them anyway :rolleyes:

Re: Battery Charger help
 

I will second that I run 6 Optimas and love them!

this is the link to the charger Powerquest put in my boat!


http://www.progressivedyn.com/Products.php?ProductID=25

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Have you guys ever heard of "Wolverine" batts?
A firend of mine bought me 3, long story... They are water not gel and need to check water levels every month. Im thinking get some maint free. What do u think?

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Optima baby.....I know the last thing I need in life is one more maintenance issue! :( :(

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Hye LittleJake, how much did you pay for the optimas and what color did you buy? Whats best?

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Personally, I like the (2) Exide Nautilus batteries I bought at Boaters World. They are 1000 MCA each. Turns the motor / motors over very easily. Usually they go on sale in the spring.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

The blue ones work best as they are marine deep cycle.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

good tip :drink:
I will be checking them out!

Re: Battery Charger help
 

I also have the Prigressive Dynamics Charger Inverter in my 2001 38. The 2030 model. I have three of the NAPA gell marine deep cycle batteries. They all went totally dead last winter. They have been on the charger about 60 hours but still are only to 12 volts. The charger is puting out about 25 amps. Is that normal?

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Mine puts out 15-18 amps.

the web site says 20 amps......

yours says 30 amps.....??????

25 sound about right!

Re: Battery Charger help
 

bought 3 optimas and 3 billett abttery boxes yesterday!!! Not cheep :eek:

Re: Battery Charger help
 

\

Not all the time Only if they were totaly or almost discharged!

Re: Battery Charger help
 

I was going to tell you not to buy these and look into the @$$xx brand.











































Stomach just flip
:evilb:



Yes it's expensive but well worth it! They look much better and function better due to simple physics. Water or should I say electrolyte sloshing around can't be good not to mention the plates warping from the banging they take. You will be surprised when you pull the batts out of storage and they still have a full charge.
Enjoy the new look and maintenance free optimas.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

SCOTT DONT DO THAT!!! :eek: :eek:

Just kidding.......... :cool:
Im still bleading out the you know where............
Dont know how well they will work, but they look cool!! :drink:

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Mine were totally discharged, nothing there, dead. When I started the charge the gague in the charger read at 15 amps. The gague max is 30 amp. After a couple of hours the gague jumped to max on the gague and then gradually came down to the 20 - 25 range. I just put it on again tonight for an hour and when I shut it off it was
at 18 - 20 amps.
Will check the batterys with a hand held volt meter tomarrow after they settle and see what I have.

Re: Battery Charger help
 

The volt meter is not a very good check. You could have battery problems and still show 12v-12.8v. You want to check the load the battery can support with one of these.


Load tester

They are also available at sears and many other places I just clicked on the cheapest :D

Re: Battery Charger help
 

Good Idea, will do!!