New Small, Indoor-Mounted Battery Charger

[Toubab]

Hey all.

I've been researching off and on trying to figure out how I want to redo my battery charging system and I'm just about ready to pull the trigger on the first part. I want to get a small charger to keep my engine battery topped off. The engine battery is an AGM. I think I need around 15 amps of output, and I'm going to mount it inside the cabin so it doesn't need to be completely waterproof.

I found this: CTEK M200 battery charger but I've been having a little bit of trouble finding the US version and a US retailer. Anyone know where I could find that?

Any others that I should look at? £151.62 comes out to $237.68 and that's about as much as I'm looking to spend.

Thanks!

[Zil]

smartcharger.com

[Stu Jackson]

Perhaps you could explain why you only want to charge your start bank.

Marine Battery Chargers - Installation Tips & Considerations - SailboatOwners.com

[Toubab]

I have a battery charger already that's set up to charge both the house and engine batteries but they're different chemistries so I want to have separate chargers. I've been thinking a lot about my different options and I like this one the best because I think it simplifies things in some ways because I don't have to worry about having one battery being chronically over/under charged or any diodes or anything like that. Plus then I have a backup charger that can be switched to the other bank in an emergency.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Toubab

I have a battery charger already that's set up to charge both the house and engine batteries but they're different chemistries so I want to have separate chargers. I've been thinking a lot about my different options and I like this one the best because I think it simplifies things in some ways because I don't have to worry about having one battery being chronically over/under charged or any diodes or anything like that. Plus then I have a backup charger that can be switched to the other bank in an emergency.

That's very sound thinking

Have a look at the offerings from Sterling, and from Victron. Both of these make small multistage chargers which would be good for start batteries. Less than $200, I believe.

You don't need much amperage in a charger for a start battery, because the amount of power to be replaced is negligible. The main thing is that it should have a good float mode (Victrons even have a maintenance mode, where very little voltage is applied, but an absorption charge is automatically applied once a week).

[Dockhead]

Here you go:

Victron Blue Power Battery Chargers

$184

[Dockhead]

And another:

Marine Battery Charger - Sterling Power Pro Charge Ultra- Power Factor Corrected Battery Charger (PFC) PCU - 10amp two bank

[Eleven]

Go solar, with a Control Unit to suit the battery type. Best way by far for house batteries except while running a/c and will keep Starter batteries topped up where ever you are.
Flexible ones give all day charging and can be walked on, (slippery when wet but not fragile).
No worries if you're away from the boat either.