Battery Charging

Bob & Mag · 01-31-2007, 08:16 AM

We have dual batteries that are hooked up to a 1/off/2/all switch.
Can I hook up a charger to one battery at a time to charge without
disconnecting it, or should it be disconnected first.
Not sure if it's isolated through the switch from the second battery.
Thanks for your help.

chainsaw42 · 01-31-2007, 08:28 AM

with the switch in any position except 'all', the batteries are isolated...you could also connect the charger to the common/out terminal of the switch and use the switch itself to select which battery to charge and just change from '1' to '2' every so often. with that said, i like taking my batteries out of the boat for the winter as i think sitting out in the cold unused shortens their life. certainly keeping them on a good (automatic) trickle charger is a step in the right direction.

Bryan A. · 01-31-2007, 08:29 AM

If you are looking to charge a dead battery I would disconnect just to make sure there is no stray current. If you are just charging to maintain you should be fine charging them in place with the switch in the off position. Usually the switch is done through the positive side and the ground are common.

Bob & Mag · 01-31-2007, 08:43 AM

Thanks for the tips.
I usually pull the batteries and play with the gps on my desk all winter LOL on one of the batteries.
This year it kept getting put off as the temps never really got cold.
Maybe I'll just pull them and bring them into the basement.
I've never had to charge them and was wondering mainly for during the season if I needed to charge them up at the slip.
There's not a lot of room for even a small midget in my center console, my head barely fits between the two batteries. So getting in there is always fun.
I was worried that the two batteries would not be isolated with the switch.

Thanks!!

Lattitudechange · 01-31-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chainsaw42

with the switch in any position except 'all', the batteries are isolated...you could also connect the charger to the common/out terminal of the switch and use the switch itself to select which battery to charge and just change from '1' to '2' every so often. with that said,........

I was unaware that a battery switch also acts as an isolator. If two batteries share a common ground wire, aren't they not considered isolated? Why would one bad battery drain the other if the switch is also an isolator?

Bob & Mag · 01-31-2007, 11:51 AM

They do in fact share ground(common) cable jumps across from one to the to other battery.
I'll watch for more opinion / answers or if you hear a YELL for HELP, I'm stuck in the center console and can't get out.
Thanks!!

chainsaw42 · 01-31-2007, 12:44 PM

isolated batteries imply that the positive terminals are not connected, i.e. current can not flow from one battery to another. a battery switch can certainly isolate two batteries, regardless of whether or not the grounds are connected (which they always should be directly, in addition to via a electrical bonding system)

Bob & Mag · 01-31-2007, 02:35 PM

So it would be okay to charge them while connected to the switch?
Sorry for the confusion, didn't want to mess them up.

While on the battery subject, do you exercise the batteries when you bring them in for the winter?
I've run em down a little with electronics hooked up to them and then recharge them.

ChuckA · 01-31-2007, 03:55 PM

I dont see why it would be a problem charging them in the boat through the switch.Either both together or one at a time with the selector switch.Beats climbing in there in the cold to remove them.
Bob or anyone else ,Do you have 1 starting battery and 1 deep cycle battery in your boat? I'm going to add the switch and another battery this season .I bought the boat last year and only 1 battery does all .I plan to do some night fishing so the second battery will be a deep cycle for electronics and lights and the other for starting.Wiring it will be a later question.I'll never remember how it was suposed to be if I ask now .

I've always put a timer on the battery charger for a slow charge a few hours once a week. Another thing i've been told was not to leave it on a concrete floor with out wood under it as it will discharge it .
Thanks ,Chuck

Lattitudechange · 01-31-2007, 05:41 PM

Bob & Mag,
That's the way I have always maintained my batts during the of season, just what ChuckA said. I leave them in the boat. I keep the all shore power breakers off except the one for the charger. This way when I plug in the shore power, the batts are being charged with the boat charger. I leave the switch on BOTH. So I get a maintenance charge on both.

01-31-2007, 08:16 AM	#1
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	Battery Charging We have dual batteries that are hooked up to a 1/off/2/all switch. Can I hook up a charger to one battery at a time to charge without disconnecting it, or should it be disconnected first. Not sure if it's isolated through the switch from the second battery. Thanks for your help. __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

01-31-2007, 08:29 AM	#3
Bryan A. NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westbrook CT Posts: 1,269	If you are looking to charge a dead battery I would disconnect just to make sure there is no stray current. If you are just charging to maintain you should be fine charging them in place with the switch in the off position. Usually the switch is done through the positive side and the ground are common. __________________ And the sea will grant each man new hope..............Christopher Columbus 2003 Parker 2530 "DORYMATE".......click the pic 1973 Seacraft 20SF 1970 Glastron V153 70hp EvinrudeFOR SALE

01-31-2007, 08:43 AM	#4
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	Thanks for the tips. I usually pull the batteries and play with the gps on my desk all winter LOL on one of the batteries. This year it kept getting put off as the temps never really got cold. Maybe I'll just pull them and bring them into the basement. I've never had to charge them and was wondering mainly for during the season if I needed to charge them up at the slip. There's not a lot of room for even a small midget in my center console, my head barely fits between the two batteries. So getting in there is always fun. I was worried that the two batteries would not be isolated with the switch. Thanks!! __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

01-31-2007, 11:51 AM	#6
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	They do in fact share ground(common) cable jumps across from one to the to other battery. I'll watch for more opinion / answers or if you hear a YELL for HELP, I'm stuck in the center console and can't get out. Thanks!! __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

01-31-2007, 02:35 PM	#8
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	So it would be okay to charge them while connected to the switch? Sorry for the confusion, didn't want to mess them up. While on the battery subject, do you exercise the batteries when you bring them in for the winter? I've run em down a little with electronics hooked up to them and then recharge them. __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

01-31-2007, 08:28 AM	#2
chainsaw42 NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CapeCod Posts: 133	with the switch in any position except 'all', the batteries are isolated...you could also connect the charger to the common/out terminal of the switch and use the switch itself to select which battery to charge and just change from '1' to '2' every so often. with that said, i like taking my batteries out of the boat for the winter as i think sitting out in the cold unused shortens their life. certainly keeping them on a good (automatic) trickle charger is a step in the right direction.

01-31-2007, 12:44 PM	#7
chainsaw42 NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CapeCod Posts: 133	isolated batteries imply that the positive terminals are not connected, i.e. current can not flow from one battery to another. a battery switch can certainly isolate two batteries, regardless of whether or not the grounds are connected (which they always should be directly, in addition to via a electrical bonding system)

01-31-2007, 03:55 PM	#9
ChuckA User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Madison Ct Posts: 2,150	I dont see why it would be a problem charging them in the boat through the switch.Either both together or one at a time with the selector switch.Beats climbing in there in the cold to remove them. Bob or anyone else ,Do you have 1 starting battery and 1 deep cycle battery in your boat? I'm going to add the switch and another battery this season .I bought the boat last year and only 1 battery does all .I plan to do some night fishing so the second battery will be a deep cycle for electronics and lights and the other for starting.Wiring it will be a later question.I'll never remember how it was suposed to be if I ask now . I've always put a timer on the battery charger for a slow charge a few hours once a week. Another thing i've been told was not to leave it on a concrete floor with out wood under it as it will discharge it . Thanks ,Chuck

01-31-2007, 05:41 PM	#10
Lattitudechange NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 206	Bob & Mag, That's the way I have always maintained my batts during the of season, just what ChuckA said. I leave them in the boat. I keep the all shore power breakers off except the one for the charger. This way when I plug in the shore power, the batts are being charged with the boat charger. I leave the switch on BOTH. So I get a maintenance charge on both.

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