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Charging boat batteries ..........

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=133316
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2026 at 6:05am


Topic: Charging boat batteries ..........
Posted By: bazza
Subject: Charging boat batteries ..........
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2020 at 8:38am
Been awhile since boat has had a run & who knows how long it will be until it does, so would probably be timely to give the batteries a charge
both the main & the emergency.
 
Question is :-
 
Is it OK to charge them as is ie all connections in place as is or do I need to disconnect all the battery connections ?
 
Would far prefer to leave them in place rather than risk putting any of them back plus have found it is very easy to create sparks as a result of terminals or spanners making contact in the confines of battery storage areas in an alloy boat. 


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When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT
fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!!


Replies:
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2020 at 8:52am
Is it OK to charge them as is ie all connections in place as is or do I need to disconnect all the battery connections ?

 Yep leave in place.. thu while at it doesnt hurt to check and clean, re grease terminals. This normally done at engine service.. well should be done.

Posted By: Mr Moritz
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2020 at 9:39am
Yeah, I have a female 12 Volt plug connector permanently attached to each of my batteries. I fit male plug connectors to two of my smart battery chargers and its simply a matter of plugging them in until they reach float level... Saves taking battery covers off. 

Posted By: MATTOO
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2020 at 10:36am
Generally fine Bazza,
Give boost charge of 8 amps, then trickle at 2 amps for top up.

As mentioned above a good time to do connectors.

And as an extra precaution.
Open up the big fuses for the motor, either near the battery or inline to the motor.
These often have corrosion even if sealed.
Always surprising.


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Still cruising in my now sweetas pimped out Southern 755 HT0!

Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2020 at 10:41am
Yeah, I have a female 12 Volt plug connector permanently attached to each of my batteries.

 I saw these sort of battery box with the lids with connections (fused under the lid) directly to the battery terminals at burnsco a few yrs back.
So I got a double sealed marine cig lighter fitting and put into my std lid.. connected with a generous amount wire directly to battery terminals with a 5 amp fuse.. think 10amp should have been , but my thinking was 5amp bit more insurance and doubt would go over 5amp anyway)

So I have a male cig lighter fitting with a wire that I can connect my  battery charger...usually the 10W solar panel and monitor unit to as a maintance/ trickle charger.

If get the smaller supercheap 5w (think) there is no need for a monitor unit.. just connect and maintain..to use it and expect to charge a flat battery thu will take a long  long time..
The cheap super cheap panel I opened up and sealed all the joins to make totally water proof.. worked for well over 20yrs.

The marine cig units , even thu have rubber covers, a light spray inside with lanocoate every so often is still required.
 Mine are still working after 6 or 7yrs.

They are also handy to plug a lamp or cell charger, radio in  down at the stern end of the boat... maybe even a electric reel??

Only blown the fuse once...hooking up the solar charger dropped the clamp connections and they banged together.. direct sort

Posted By: RobertHan
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2022 at 8:36pm
You can also keep your boat battery topped up using a solar charger with photovoltaic panels. Solar chargers can reduce your fuel consumption while making worthwhile boating trips and increase your DIY skills level. :)

Posted By: letsgetem
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2022 at 8:57am
I think Ctek make good chargers. Ive got a 5amp charger. 

I put a Ctek battery connector permanently onto the battery terminals; which has a cable and socket outside the battery box.  ; so can then connect my Ctek charger directly in to it, without having to get inside the battery box. 

I have also tried a Ctek comfort indicator, which shows the battery voltage - but the voltage is shown in 3 bands, which is crude and not accurate enough for me, so I dont use it. When I want to know battery voltage, I measure voltage (with a multimeter), in the socket of the Ctek connector.

Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2022 at 9:25am
I put a Ctek battery connector permanently onto the battery terminals; which has a cable and socket outside the battery box.  ; so can then connect my Ctek charger directly in to it, without having to get inside the battery box.

Update from my post above..

Yep thats how im connected now as well..
Fitting hat water proof connector that comes with the ctek is what changed me from using the cig lighter sockets below.

Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2022 at 11:16am
If you are going to leave the battery connected you must use a smart charger like a ctek or you will run the risk of blowing one of the diodes in the charging system of the motor.

Posted By: brmbrm
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2022 at 8:10pm
I bought a CTek last year: itr is very good, charges in different stages, controls input current etc.  Seems to have rescued a failed battery.

Better than my old 1970s thing which just applied 14V and hoped for the best.  Coincidentally thats what the missus says

Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2022 at 8:16pm
I have my jetski battery continuously attached to an appropriate rated CTek when not in use. The battery remains in situ and connected to the ski. Never missed a beat!


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