Can you use an external battery charger to "quick charge" the boat battery
(after extended storage) without disconnecting the battery leads, or should
the battery be disconnected first? Didn't know if the charger would have
any adverse impact on the boat's internal charging/electrical system if the
battery is left connected.
Thanks in advance.

Can you use an external battery charger to "quick charge" the boat battery
(after extended storage) without disconnecting the battery leads, or should
the battery be disconnected first? Didn't know if the charger would have
any adverse impact on the boat's internal charging/electrical system if the
battery is left connected.
Thanks in advance.

Larger boats virtually all have on-board battery chargers, and you do not have
to disconnect the batery cables prior to using a charger.

However, you should not try to charge the battery from the charger and run the
engine (therefore the alternator) simultaneously. One or the other at a time.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
....
However, you should not try to charge the battery from the charger and run the
engine (therefore the alternator) simultaneously. One or the other at a time.

And why is that? Do I have to disconnect my solar panels when I run the
engine? I have two engines with two alternators - can I run the both at the
same time?

And why is that? Do I have to disconnect my solar panels when I run the
engine?

Assuming you have a photovoltaic charge controller, ordinarily not. AFAIK. As
an unaplogetic ol'stinkpotter, I'm not extremely well acquainted with solar
panels. You would be better prepared to discuss them than I.

Beyond that, I'm not interested in firing up another anal retentive ****ing
contest of dueling websites with you, Jeff.

If you have a contrasting opinion that it is advisable to run the battery
charger and the alternator at the same time, please present it.

Actually, I was honestly wondering if there was a specific reason. I had been
given that advice many years ago (always disconnect shore power before starting)
but in fact I have done it many times with no ill affects. Since my system
frequently has several charging devices running (2 alternators + solar) I would
think that the only item at risk would be the shore power charger, a Heart 2000.
I've scanned the manual and found nothing warning against starting the engine
while the charger is running, but perhaps I missed something.

I can think of two problems: first is the possibility of starting with a dead
battery so the full load is on the charger. Of course, my presumption is that
the boat has been on shore power for a while, and a dead battery is unlikely.
The other is that different "smart" regulators and chargers will get conflicting
signals as to the charge state - from time to time I've had my big alternator
with its smart regulator decide to go into float mode and the load shifts over
to the other smaller alternator.

However, neither of these issues are a real concern if all I'm doing is running
the engines at the dock for some test. So I'll repeat the question: Why must
you remove the shore power before starting? What is at risk? Is this a
holdover from the days of more primitive equipment?



"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
And why is that? Do I have to disconnect my solar panels when I run the
engine?

Assuming you have a photovoltaic charge controller, ordinarily not. AFAIK. As
an unaplogetic ol'stinkpotter, I'm not extremely well acquainted with solar
panels. You would be better prepared to discuss them than I.

Beyond that, I'm not interested in firing up another anal retentive ****ing
contest of dueling websites with you, Jeff.

If you have a contrasting opinion that it is advisable to run the battery
charger and the alternator at the same time, please present it.

I also start my engine with the charger hooked up and running and like Jeff
do not remember seeing warnings in the manual. I guess the only fear is
starting the engine with a weak battery that needed the charger to supply
enough amps. The next time you start the engine (maybe 20 miles offshore)
you find a weak battery that has to little gas. That condition you would
like to discover at the dock where a replacement battery is minutes away.


"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
Actually, I was honestly wondering if there was a specific reason. I had
been
given that advice many years ago (always disconnect shore power before
starting)
but in fact I have done it many times with no ill affects. Since my
system
frequently has several charging devices running (2 alternators + solar) I
would
think that the only item at risk would be the shore power charger, a Heart
2000.
I've scanned the manual and found nothing warning against starting the
engine
while the charger is running, but perhaps I missed something.

I can think of two problems: first is the possibility of starting with a
dead
battery so the full load is on the charger. Of course, my presumption is
that
the boat has been on shore power for a while, and a dead battery is
unlikely.
The other is that different "smart" regulators and chargers will get
conflicting
signals as to the charge state - from time to time I've had my big
alternator
with its smart regulator decide to go into float mode and the load shifts
over
to the other smaller alternator.

However, neither of these issues are a real concern if all I'm doing is
running
the engines at the dock for some test. So I'll repeat the question: Why
must
you remove the shore power before starting? What is at risk? Is this a
holdover from the days of more primitive equipment?



"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
And why is that? Do I have to disconnect my solar panels when I run
the
engine?

Assuming you have a photovoltaic charge controller, ordinarily not.
AFAIK. As
an unaplogetic ol'stinkpotter, I'm not extremely well acquainted with
solar
panels. You would be better prepared to discuss them than I.

Beyond that, I'm not interested in firing up another anal retentive
****ing
contest of dueling websites with you, Jeff.

If you have a contrasting opinion that it is advisable to run the
battery
charger and the alternator at the same time, please present it.

"George Rogers" wrote in message
. ..
Can you use an external battery charger to "quick charge" the boat battery
(after extended storage) without disconnecting the battery leads, or
should
the battery be disconnected first? Didn't know if the charger would have
any adverse impact on the boat's internal charging/electrical system if
the
battery is left connected.


There shouldn't be any issues with regards to the boat's electrical system.
Anything connected to the 12 volt system has to be able to handle the
extremes of voltage that will regularly be encountered, which is as low as
10 volts during starting and as high as 14.2 volts for a fully charged
battery. The situation can be even worse with some outboards with
unregulated charging systems.

There is an issue about safety. The battery on a boat is typically in a
much more confined space than on an automobile which increases the risk of
explosion, either from gas fumes accumulating from the engine space or from
hydrogen escaping from the battery itself.

Be careful and use common sense (like make the connections to the battery
before plugging in the AC to the charger) and you shouldn't have a problem.

Rod