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Author Topic:   12-Volt Gel-Cell Charger

Russ 13 posted 08-30-2012 01:31 AM ET (US)
[Recommend] a small on-board charger for two 12-Volt gel-cell batteries. Any ideas?
jimh posted 08-30-2012 08:49 AM ET (US)
I have installed a PRO-MARINER 120-VAC operated battery charger on my boat. It has a means of selecting the voltage output characteristics to match the special requirements of the unusual chemistry of a gelled electrolyte battery.
The size of the battery charger will generally be in proportion to its current output. You should probably select the charger based on the maximum current output and your operating style. If you need batteries of high capacity to be rapidly recharged, you will need a battery charger with fairly high current output. If you can tolerate slow charging, you can get a lower current output charger, and this will tend to be physically smaller. I'd look over the product line from PRO-MARINER as a starting point. See
http://www.pmariner.com/Chargers.php
ASIDE: are you certain you have batteries with gelled electrolyte? They are not that common.
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-30-2012 09:22 AM ET (US)
Schumacher and Battery Tender both make good smart trickle
chargers. I have Schumachers for both the whaler and the
Corvette.

Chuck
Russ 13 posted 08-30-2012 10:51 AM ET (US)
Thank you for the ideas, yes they both are Gel-cel batteries, one group 27 & one group 24.
Although more expensive than regular lead acid batteries,
they handle vibration & last five to six years on average.
(Napa has them at the best price I have found) over 1/3 less than West Marine for the same battery.
PeteB88 posted 08-30-2012 02:15 PM ET (US)
No expert on battery chargers so I appreciate the thread.
I have one of these and really like it from Sears: Diehard with big digital read-out. Readout indicates condition (I guess) Analyzing, % Charge, Maintaining. I can see at a glance what's going on. Sometimes it takes many hours or overnight to get to 100%. I assume that indicates battery is faulty or failing.
http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-6v-12v-battery-charger-and-maintainer/p-02871239000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

And a CTEK 3300 which seems great but prefer the Die Hard
http://ctekbatterycharger.net/
I also have a Battery Tender which came with one of the boats that I do not use.
Will watch this thread for more info.
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-30-2012 05:10 PM ET (US)
Taking a long time simply means that the battery was a bit
discharged. Maybe because you left the radio on while you
were driving home, or some such. Or had a long idle to the
ramp (outboards have really wimpy alternators and don't really
charge at idle.

Chuck
PeteB88 posted 08-30-2012 05:46 PM ET (US)
Agree Chuck but on my two oldest batteries - not in boats now, when I put on the Diehard it will Analyze and might read 82% at the beginning of the cycle, then go into Charging mode and rather quickly get to 95 or 97% and hang there for hours - then most of the time goes to 100% - "Maintaining". One of the batteries never gets past 100%. My brand new Interstate from last fall, always charges quick and to 100%
Now I doubt a $50 charger is able to be entirely accurate all the time but my assumption on those observations is perhaps the plates are loading up and battery capacity is decreasing - that said, high 90s ain't bad.

jimh posted 08-31-2012 08:49 AM ET (US)
I am afraid I cannot endorse the chargers that Pete has mentioned and given links to because they are not suited for installation on the boat to become on-board chargers. Look for a charger that is intended to be installed on the boat and become a permanent part of the boat. Such a charger will be designed to tolerate a marine environment.
Russ 13 posted 08-31-2012 10:47 AM ET (US)

The Pro charger that will maintain two batterys looks
good. Found one on sale @ Overtons for $ 109.00.
It has three settings, for AGM, GEL, and regular lead acid.
With a coupon I had it was under $ 100.00 w/ free shipping.
Looking forward to mounting it & trying it out.
Thanks for the help.
PeteB88 posted 08-31-2012 02:50 PM ET (US)
Sorry - ADDDD kicking in, missed the third word "installed", not meaning to mess up the thread, I will slow down on scanning and responding in the future, I think my chargers are fine but see advantage of one mounted on board.
Have a great weekend
PeteB88 posted 08-31-2012 02:50 PM ET (US)
Sorry - ADDDD kicking in, missed the third word "installed", not meaning to mess up the thread, I will slow down on scanning and responding in the future, I think my chargers are fine but see advantage of one mounted on board.
Have a great weekend

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Author	Topic: 12-Volt Gel-Cell Charger
Russ 13	posted 08-30-2012 01:31 AM ET (US) [Recommend] a small on-board charger for two 12-Volt gel-cell batteries. Any ideas?
jimh	posted 08-30-2012 08:49 AM ET (US) I have installed a PRO-MARINER 120-VAC operated battery charger on my boat. It has a means of selecting the voltage output characteristics to match the special requirements of the unusual chemistry of a gelled electrolyte battery. The size of the battery charger will generally be in proportion to its current output. You should probably select the charger based on the maximum current output and your operating style. If you need batteries of high capacity to be rapidly recharged, you will need a battery charger with fairly high current output. If you can tolerate slow charging, you can get a lower current output charger, and this will tend to be physically smaller. I'd look over the product line from PRO-MARINER as a starting point. See http://www.pmariner.com/Chargers.php ASIDE: are you certain you have batteries with gelled electrolyte? They are not that common.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-30-2012 09:22 AM ET (US) Schumacher and Battery Tender both make good smart trickle chargers. I have Schumachers for both the whaler and the Corvette. Chuck
Russ 13	posted 08-30-2012 10:51 AM ET (US) Thank you for the ideas, yes they both are Gel-cel batteries, one group 27 & one group 24. Although more expensive than regular lead acid batteries, they handle vibration & last five to six years on average. (Napa has them at the best price I have found) over 1/3 less than West Marine for the same battery.
PeteB88	posted 08-30-2012 02:15 PM ET (US) No expert on battery chargers so I appreciate the thread. I have one of these and really like it from Sears: Diehard with big digital read-out. Readout indicates condition (I guess) Analyzing, % Charge, Maintaining. I can see at a glance what's going on. Sometimes it takes many hours or overnight to get to 100%. I assume that indicates battery is faulty or failing. http://www.sears.com/diehard-platinum-6v-12v-battery-charger-and-maintainer/p-02871239000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6 And a CTEK 3300 which seems great but prefer the Die Hard http://ctekbatterycharger.net/ I also have a Battery Tender which came with one of the boats that I do not use. Will watch this thread for more info.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-30-2012 05:10 PM ET (US) Taking a long time simply means that the battery was a bit discharged. Maybe because you left the radio on while you were driving home, or some such. Or had a long idle to the ramp (outboards have really wimpy alternators and don't really charge at idle. Chuck
PeteB88	posted 08-30-2012 05:46 PM ET (US) Agree Chuck but on my two oldest batteries - not in boats now, when I put on the Diehard it will Analyze and might read 82% at the beginning of the cycle, then go into Charging mode and rather quickly get to 95 or 97% and hang there for hours - then most of the time goes to 100% - "Maintaining". One of the batteries never gets past 100%. My brand new Interstate from last fall, always charges quick and to 100% Now I doubt a $50 charger is able to be entirely accurate all the time but my assumption on those observations is perhaps the plates are loading up and battery capacity is decreasing - that said, high 90s ain't bad.
jimh	posted 08-31-2012 08:49 AM ET (US) I am afraid I cannot endorse the chargers that Pete has mentioned and given links to because they are not suited for installation on the boat to become on-board chargers. Look for a charger that is intended to be installed on the boat and become a permanent part of the boat. Such a charger will be designed to tolerate a marine environment.
Russ 13	posted 08-31-2012 10:47 AM ET (US) The Pro charger that will maintain two batterys looks good. Found one on sale @ Overtons for $ 109.00. It has three settings, for AGM, GEL, and regular lead acid. With a coupon I had it was under $ 100.00 w/ free shipping. Looking forward to mounting it & trying it out. Thanks for the help.
PeteB88	posted 08-31-2012 02:50 PM ET (US) Sorry - ADDDD kicking in, missed the third word "installed", not meaning to mess up the thread, I will slow down on scanning and responding in the future, I think my chargers are fine but see advantage of one mounted on board. Have a great weekend
PeteB88	posted 08-31-2012 02:50 PM ET (US) Sorry - ADDDD kicking in, missed the third word "installed", not meaning to mess up the thread, I will slow down on scanning and responding in the future, I think my chargers are fine but see advantage of one mounted on board. Have a great weekend