Scout wrote:

I purchased 2 Optima Blue Tops (dual purpose - starting and deep cycle) for
my boat. The manuf. stresses the need to manage the charging voltage to a
max of 13.8 with a max current flow of 1 amp. I have 2 trickle chargers I
bought for my bikes, but I try to follow spec recs. at almost any cost. Any
tips on quality chargers that can be user regulated?


I was going to say just don't worry about it, but just to be sure I
checked a few specs. My big Heart 2000 has a complex table for
different types and temps, showing, for example, the float voltage for
an AGM at 70 degrees. When I checked the small Truecharge 10 I found,
however, that the voltage for and AGM was the same as Gel, and higher
than the Optima recommendations. In other places, I found that the
Truecharge 10 was not recommended for AGM at all. The Truecharge 20,
however, had and AGM setting, and its float voltage was appropriate.

In general, I didn't find any specs for the "el cheapo" chargers. My
advice would be to go to the Xantrex site, and download the manuals
for various chargers, and see if they suit your needs.

On the other hand, it seems like a good charger costs significantly
more than the batteries, so it might not actually be cost effective to
optimize the life of the batteries. My approach is to do a reasonable
job of maintaining them, and hope they won't die too often. My house
bank (Trojan 6V flooded) lasted 6 years, and my two Optima Red Top
starting batteries have gone 3 years now with an EchoCharge echoing
the flooded regime during the summer. Actually, I was surprised to
find that one had not received any charge for most of the summer
(flawed setup) and yet had enough power to start its engine a number
of times. They have survived the winter well with the solar panels
receiving a modest amount of light through the shrink wrap.

Jeff wrote:
of times. They have survived the winter well with the solar panels
receiving a modest amount of light through the shrink wrap.

I think those solar panel are they key to your success Jeff. At
least you have a constant trickle charge so the batteries never
get depleted and in fact, left alone will recharge. Solar is the best.
That is one reason I'd like a big cat. More space for solar panels.

One big cat I looked at had 10 solar panels. I figure 4 more would
fit--that would have been fabulous. Can you imagine 14?