Getting ready to add shore power

[jrophoff]

Originally Posted by chef2sail

A three stage battery charger is the best way to charge your batteries. Also dont forget if you have wet cells to equalize every month or so to desulfate the lead plates.

Dave

I think my charger is a 4 stage. Are you saying my charger is good or bad?

How do you desulfate lead plates?

[Stu Jackson]

Do a Google search on "equalizing wet cell batteries."

[mitiempo]

I wonder what the difference is between bulk and float when the max output of the charger is either .75 amps or 1.5 amps, even if it is a "4" stage charger.

[jrophoff]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Do a Google search on "equalizing wet cell batteries."

I thought about that after I posted...

Originally Posted by mitiempo

I wonder what the difference is between bulk and float when the max output of the charger is either .75 amps or 1.5 amps, even if it is a "4" stage charger.

From what I understand a float charger does not actually charge. It keeps a fully charged battery fully charged. The battery charger I have will charge the battery as well as maintain it once it is fully charged.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by jrophoff

From what I understand a float charger does not actually charge. It keeps a fully charged battery fully charged. The battery charger I have will charge the battery as well as maintain it once it is fully charged.

Yes, but with such a small output it will take a long, long, long time. Days if the battery is down much.

A battery monitor as an example considers a battery fully charged when the current is less than 2% of bank size. Your charger is smaller than that 2%.

[jrophoff]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Yes, but with such a small output it will take a long, long, long time. Days if the battery is down much.

A battery monitor as an example considers a battery fully charged when the current is less than 2% of bank size. Your charger is smaller than that 2%.

After a day of sailing it typically took no more than a few hours to charge. With that being said the only instrument I am using is my depth sounder. Now with a stereo installed I may need to up my charger to something a little bigger.