"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"BetaB4" wrote in message
...
I have a battery charger for charging the 12-volt boat battery. The
charger has two settings -- 2 amps or 6 amps.

My question is, if I have the charger set at 2 amps, how long is it okay
for me to leave the charger on? My boat is in a garage at a location
that I usually only get to about once a week or so. Is it okay if the
charger is left on at the 2-amp setting for say, a week?




No.

Get yourself a 3 stage charger. Bulk, absorption and float modes.
They are inexpensive ..... a 10 amp version costs about 30 bucks.

It will automatically charge and then maintain the charge as required for
as long as your want and will not overcharge, causing water loss.

Those old fashioned voltage controlled chargers should be taken off the
market. The new types are cheap and work much, much better.

Eisboch


I should add, however,

The only disadvantage I've seen with some of the "smart", 3 stage chargers
is that if your battery is really run down some of them will kick off and
give you an error code indicating that it cannot charge. This is usually
when the battery has been depleted to the point where the voltage is 5 or 6
volts or less.

It doesn't mean the battery cannot be recovered, however. In this case,
the old fashioned, voltage controlled chargers have a purpose. Charge it
for about 1/2 hour to an hour with the old fashioned charger, then switch
over to the smart charger. The old fashioned charger will raise the
battery potential high enough that the microprocessor controlled smart
charger can be .... smart.

Eisboch