Vector charger

Posted By: Bob s-v Watermark - Mac26S - Ottawa River - ON
Date: 4/12/09 7:10a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Equalize batteries on a "small" sailboat (pic) (walt26scolorado)

I use a Vector charger, has a switching power supply, compensates for low line voltage, microprocessor controlled to fully charge the battery in 3 stages, so really very seldom need to ever top up the electrolyte. It also has a desulfating feature I use on my batteries once in fall and once in spring. The model I have goes up to a max 35 amp. I use it at 20 amps on a group 27 deep cycle battery (I have 2 of these), I thought I might run it at 35 amps on both batteries at the same time if I was in a hurry but have never been it that situation. I cut the alligator clips off and rejoined them with a 70 amp jack, I then mounted a matching 70 amp jack in the lazarette on a pigtail attached to the terminals the outboard motor wires are terminated to. This way when I want to charge the batteries I put the charger in the lazarette, plug in the output lines and plug it into the 110 volt GFI outlet in there. The power is then supplied by the marina, or my Honda EU2000 generator. With my battery selector switch by the galley I can direct the charge to either battery as needed. I monitor the charging voltage with the digital voltmeter mounted on my power panel. I usually keep a 5 watt solar maintainer on the batteries when the boat is idle, most of the time the 12 amp alternator on the outboard will keep the batteries going. If we are in a slip we tend to use more power, even a small Koolatron cooler so use the charger at those times. Bob