Battery chargers

J

jmauld

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2020
2,844
Carolina Beach
Boat Info
2010 Sundancer 390
2016 Sea Hunt Ultra 211
Engines
Twin 8.1l of gas guzzling iron
Okay, I will preface this by saying I haven’t done any research yet, but I will and I will start a post about this eventually anyway.

I don’t think my on-board charger is doing it’s job, my batteries are low on charge unless I start and run the boat. It’s old and I should probably look at upgrading anyway.

here’s what I think I want:
- Bluetooth and/or n2k integration
- 3 independent charging circuits
- Ability to charge most current battery types.

what else do I need?
 
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If you want to skip all of the research, you can just go to a "tried and true" solution by using Pro Mariner. They'll have a charger that will work and they make excellent products. The only thing I'm not sure of is the fancy integration part... do you need that? The chargers have built-in indicator lights to tell you what's going on. Check out their ProNautic series. Take note to size of charger (amperage) to make sure existing wires will work - otherwise, replace existing wires.

Before you replace it, have you verified voltage at the batteries while charging? How about V after being off overnight with everything switched off? Have you load tested the batteries? How old are the batteries? These are things to verify before replacing a charger when there could be another issue. The engines charge faster than the battery charger - so that could be misleading you with your current diagnosis.
 
I second @Lazy Daze Pro Nautic suggestion. The Pro Mariner Pro Nautic 1250/60 is a great unit. No bluetooth or NMEA2000 but non of top chargers have that for the most part. Mastervolt has a nice charger with N2K, but I have no real world experience with it, only what I have read. I have had great success with the 1250. I also have the remote display, although that is just to know the charger is working. The 1250 is a 3 bank charger and the remote only displays totals and not independent battery levels.

For NMEA 2000 there are a host of devices that handle the battery SOC and display.
 
Do you really mean "charger/inverter"? If so, that would not be a Promariner product.
Regardless, for a charger/inverter or a charger/converter I'm a Victron fan...
 
ttmott said:
Do you really mean "charger/inverter"? If so, that would not be a Promariner product.
Click to expand...

They do make some. We had a combi 2000/70 PSW in the previous boat, worked well.

-Chris
 
I think I’ve seen it called inverter previously but the current one only charges my batteries. It is not producing AC.
 
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Thumbs up for pro mariner.
 
jmauld said:
I think I’ve seen it called inverter previously but the current one only charges my batteries. It is not producing AC.
Click to expand...
Sea Ray sometimes refers to the standard charger as a "converter" as, technically, that's what it is... is that what you mean? I don't think an inverter was an available option from Sea Ray and from what you've written so far, it sounds like it's original to the boat?

However, to charge a battery, it should be producing DC, not AC. Can you better clarify what's going on? Your posts are a bit contradictory. Also, can you check on the things asked above?
 
jmauld said:
here’s what I think I want:
- Bluetooth and/or n2k integration
- 3 independent charging circuits
- Ability to charge most current battery types.
Click to expand...
Cant help on BT or N2K. However, whatever you would read the battery levels on now, would be all you need. No additional helm system communication needed. For monitoring when away from the boat, I do not know if a charger that does this via wifi or network, but there is a system that has battery monitoring, Among other things, that are fed to an app.

What 3 independent banks do you have? There are a number of 3 banks chargers. Just need to go with one that has the ability to fully service the largest Ah bank.

What types of batteries do you have? Cranking and deep cycle are not different types, but wet cell lead acid and AGM are. Some claim to handle both (im skeptical) some can be set to charge one or the other and some can be set to charge one type on one bank and the other on the other bank.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Sea Ray sometimes refers to the standard charger as a "converter" as, technically, that's what it is... is that what you mean? I don't think an inverter was an available option from Sea Ray and from what you've written so far, it sounds like it's original to the boat?

However, to charge a battery, it should be producing DC, not AC. Can you better clarify what's going on? Your posts are a bit contradictory. Also, can you check on the things asked above?
Click to expand...
It’s just a battery charger. I used the inverter term because I thought I saw where SeaRay referred to it as that. Although, maybe they used the term converter, which makes more sense. It’s definitely not an inverter.

I currently have four batteries, two starting batteries for each engine. I want to add a fifth battery for the generator.
 
+1 on the ProMariner 1240. Buy a battery load tester, test the batteries, then decide whether you are going to replace the batteries, charger, or both.
 
Victron Skylla-IP65 12/70(3) has NMEA 2000 integration which will get charger data on the network. I think the Victron chargers are excellent quality and are about the same cost as the other quality units. Problem is finding one to purchase.
The big problem with Sea Ray boats is you never know what the state of charge on the battery banks is other than a rough voltage indication on the meter. If you want to do it right, you need a battery monitor and shunts.
 
Another happy ProNautic 1240P owner here. I'm getting ready to purchase a 2420P for my thruster batteries. I have the remote displays mounted in the salon.
 
95443571-36E7-4F16-B207-C71125052633.jpeg
I have virtually the same boat. Upgraded to 1250P with appropriate breakers and wiring upgrades from the original 40 amp charger. Use a Bluetooth battery monitor per bank to mobile for battery condition.
 
ttmott said:
Victron Skylla-IP65 12/70(3) has NMEA 2000 integration which will get charger data on the network. I think the Victron chargers are excellent quality and are about the same cost as the other quality units. Problem is finding one to purchase.
The big problem with Sea Ray boats is you never know what the state of charge on the battery banks is other than a rough voltage indication on the meter. If you want to do it right, you need a battery monitor and shunts.
Click to expand...

Victron battery monitors are excellent products. I have a guage in the panel and app on the phone. Rarely use the guage having Bluetooth. They just make the Bluetooth shunt now. Easy install.
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