Battery Charger Switch

[WhiskeyTango]

On the most aft of the two electrical panels on my 26M is a switch for "battery charger". What does this switch do, and when should it be on and when should it be off?

[MacTommy]

How old is your boat?

In my 2009-model, I have a panel with fuses and 4 on/off-buttons located just inside the cabin entrance on the port side. In addition to that, I have the mainswitch and a on/off for the electrical lens pump located behind/under the galley, depending on galley position. And that is all I have been able to locate so far, regarding electrical panels?

I would suggest to remove the necessary panels for inspection, and then follow the unidentified cable to its destination. I guess that will sort out the function of it.

[Russ]

The Mac M comes stock with a cheapo 4 switch panel only. So if you have another panel, it was added.

The label "Battery Charger" makes me think this panel is an AC shore power panel. What are the other switches labeled?
Assuming it's connected to a marine battery charger you could turn it on any time you are plugged into shore power. I turn mine on anytime I have shore power (which is in my driveway). Good quality marine chargers can be left on and will shut off when the batts are fully charged. Try to find what's connected to your battery. In fact, try to learn more about your boat's electrical system.

[Miss_Dallie]

And that is all I have been able to locate so far, regarding electrical panels?

My is a 2011 and only has only the one port side electrical panel as described earlier. But, under the aft table seat I have a switch that enables me to select which battery to use (1, 2, or all). I have three batteries, one battery is connect to (1) and the other two batteries are connected to (2) in parallel (12v, higher amperage). I also have shore power (installed at the factory) which has a trickle charger built in. I usually only use battery (1) and as such it is usually charged and ready to go. I just found out last weekend that I need to select 'All' on my battery switch in order to have my trickle charger charge all three batteries. Also when motoring, I need to select 'All' in ordrr to charge all three batteries. In rhetospect, it makes perfectly good sense that it would work this way, it's a shame the the manufacture doesn't go over this stuff with us when purchaing a 40K+ boat.

I still don't know how to set up the cockpit sunshade, it would have been great to have been shown this. Instead, when it came time to pick up the boat, on a Saturday, we felt rushed as if we were imposing on Mike Inmons time. As a result, first time boat owners were left to fend for themselves. Over a year later, I'm still unsure about quite a bit but I'm learning.

Sorry for the off topic rant...~sigh

Ron
Miss Dallie

[robbarnes1965]

Hey Ron,

Make sure you talk to your dealer about the specific setup of the batteries/charger. It is not a factory item but a dealer install. Many do it differently. On my boat, with the charger and switch I have, charging with the selector on "all" will fry the first fully charged battery because it will not "see" which is which and continue until it reads full (burned my house battery week tow of owning the boat). Also, I have noticed that I have to flick the charger switch on and off on occasion to let it kick in. A simple battery meter will let you see if the batteries are being charged or not. Test them individually.

Get this book if you are not sure. It will save you $. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Boa ... d+charging


Happy sailing,

Rob

[Miss_Dallie]

Thanks for the heads up Rob. I will charge battery1 and then battery2 instead of 'ALL'. Better safe then sorry!

I thought of installing battery meters and maybe amp meters. I have a Fluke multimeter that I will use until I decide on a metering system and where I will place the indicators.

I'll take a look at the book you recommended too though I worked avionics (F4 Phantom aircraft) for 15 years in the USMC and have a good understanding of electronics.

I think I need to find out what trickle charger was intalled and read up on it too.

Thanks again Rob.

Ron
Miss Dallie

[Tomfoolery]

Buy a three-channel charger (5A-5A-5A), and combine two of them for the house bank, leaving the single for the lone battery. There are diodes in there so they don't back feed to each other, and they'll all charge whenever the charger is on. There are other ways to do this, but that's the simplest I know of.

[robbarnes1965]

Ha! That book IS my entire knowledge of electrics! You will find it way more useful, no doubt. I have a two battery charger that monitors the batteries individually. In ALL mode, it combines them in parallel for emergency power. Other boats are set up in fact to operate with it in ALL as the normal operating position. I just wanted to know how mine works without becoming an electrician.

[Russ]

My dealer installed on of these battery combiner/isolater in my boat.

I have 2 battery banks.

1) Dedicated starting
2) House

The combiner will automatically combine the banks when charging is available and keep them isolated when not.
This keeps my starting battery totally dedicated to starting. I never have to think about it because I can't drain my starting battery even if I want to (except by starting).
If the house bank runs down because I left something on, I can always start my motor because that battery never sees house demand.

I prefer this to the A/B/Both switch that I had on my last boat. I had to remember to switch it back and forth. This thing takes that away and makes it idiot proof..

[Miss_Dallie]

This thing takes that away and makes it idiot proof..

Idiot proof...now you're speaking my language!