May 27, 2021

Marine battery charger: All you need to know

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Whether they are used to start the engine or to ensure the electrical operation of on-board equipment, batteries are an essential element on board boats. But to operate properly, batteries need a battery charger. How often should a marine battery be charged? How to choose a good battery charger? Follow the guide to find out everything you need to know!

Battery charger: what is it?

The battery is to a boat what the gas tank is to a car: a reserve of energy essential to the proper operation of the equipment. Of course, after a certain amount of use, the energy level contained in the battery is discharged and you need to recharge it. This is where the battery charger comes in.

Specifically, the role of the battery charger is to take power from a source, usually 115V or 220V, and convert to 12, 24 or 48V DC, depending on the voltage of the batteries, to charge them. On large boats, there is usually an autonomous energy source, a diesel generator, to which it is possible to connect AC equipment including the battery charger. It is important to understand that the battery charger itself needs energy, it does not work autonomously. On smaller boats, you have to wait until you are back to the marina and connect to a 220V socket and thus recharge the various batteries on board.

Starting battery, service battery, emergency battery: what are the differences?

On board a boat, there are 3 main families of batteries, according to their types of applications. As they meet different needs, they have different technical characteristics.

Starting battery

As its name indicates, the purpose of the starting battery is to start the boat's engine, in the same way as a starter battery on a car. To do this, the battery must be able to deliver high peak of power during a very short time. A starter battery can easily be used multiple times before needing to be recharged, because as soon as the boat starts, the engine's alternator will recharge it.

Service battery

Refrigerator, lights, autopilot... The service battery is used to power all the equipment on board that runs on direct current. Since it is used throughout the navigation period, it must function over time. Technically, this means that the battery must be capable of longer charge and discharge cycles than a starter battery.

Emergency battery

Backup batteries are usually found on boats of a certain size. It is a back-up solution, which will only be used in case of an emergency (radio, emergency light for example). Thus, the backup batteries must have a long life, to be able to play their role as a backup energy reserve in case of need.

Good to know: If the backup battery is optional, it is necessary to have two separate batteries to start and power the on-board equipment. If only one battery is used for both purposes, the boater runs the risk of not being able to start.

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Boat battery chargers: how often should you recharge your batteries?

During the summer months, or at least when boats are used regularly, it is better to recharge your service batteries when you are back to the marina. The real problem in terms of charging frequency is during the winter period, when the batteries remain unused for long periods.

It is an immutable rule in the world of batteries: if they are not used, they naturally discharge. This is called self-discharge. The rate of self-discharge of a battery depends on its quality. A standard boat battery can self-discharged by 5% each month. For a boat that is wintered on land for many months, with a self-discharge rate of 5% per month, charging may fail to restore full capacity. This is why it is recommended to use a battery charger during the wintering period. This is what some boat maintenance companies are offering full winterizing care program.

The life of batteries is associated with the number of charge cycles they can withstand. Depending on whether a lead-acid, gel, AGM or lithium battery is used, the number of charge cycles can vary greatly.

In any case, regular use of a battery will extend its life. If you take care to recharge your batteries regularly, they can last 3 to 4 years. If you leave your batteries inactive during the winter period, without recharging them, you can end up with a dead battery after one season. So this is not a subject to be taken lightly!

Boat battery chargers: what criteria should you use to choose?

As a marine specialist, Dolphin Charger offers its customers 4 ranges of battery chargers, from 10 to 100 amps. From pleasure craft to professional boats, Dolphin's ranges meet all needs, without ever giving up quality and reliability. Discover our PROLITE series!

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