Battery Charger

Guys I'm looking for a good battery charger you guys have used. I have heard of all kinds and am kinda looking for 2 of them. I want a trickle charger for home and then a "jumper" that plugs into another boats cigarette lighter to start it if your stereo kills the battery. I have heard of one that mounts in your boat, then you hook up an extension cord and viola, shuts off automatically. I have 2 batteries so it needs to charge both. First time in over a year I killed my batteries on the water but also first time I tied up ALL day and blasted my stereo.

Here is one I use at home.
http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/marine-chargers/CT-500-1.html

I have had a series of battery chargers for my 6 battery set up in my boat. I love this charger, it is the best one I have used and the only one that hasn't blown up on me. I have the 30amp.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/248294/0/0/battery%20charger/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0

Do you guys charge your batteries when they are in the boat? Is there anything wrong with this if you keep an eye on them and don't leave it charging overnight or anything like that?

There is no problem charging them in the boat. You can use a 10 amp fully automatic charger and ignore it after you put it on. It recharges fast and cycles if it needs to at a low amperage to maintain or maximize the charge.
The trick is to make sure it's fully automatic.
Mine also has a cranking setting if you're trying to start a car from dead, but that's not necessary for most people.

I just picked up one of these:

http://www.boatersworld.com/product/196901342.htm?bct=t13037503%3Bcielectrical-plumbing%3Bcibattery-systems%3Bcibattery-chargers

I think as long as the charger has a automatic maintenance or float mode, its fine to leave on overnight.

I've got a sears die hard 10 amp charger. I'll have to check and see if it's automatic or not. Thanks.

I have a Xantrex Truecharge 20 and have been very happy with it. Most of the time my batteries are back to full over night. The Pro Mariners are also a good chargers as well. I really like the on-board chargers. Just plugging it in and waking away is very cool!

I picked up the batterystuff one. I like that I can just install it in the boat, grab the cord, plug it into an electrical cord and leave it till the next weekend.

Any hints on installing it Bill or is it pretty straightforward?

I have a Guest 2610A. It will charge two banks at 5 amps per hour. I only use my boat once or twice a week, so this will be plenty. I mounted it in the boat. When I take it to storage, I just plug it in and it trickle charges both banks of batteries.

http://www.guestindustrial.com/scpt/ProdPage.php?loadItem=2610A_Guest%20Recreational

It depends on how your batteries are set up as to how you connect it, but generally it should be a simple +/- connection. If you have a perko switch (or similar) you should be able to connect it to the switch to hit both batteries when it's in "both" mode.

For ease of use you probably want to make note of where you locate the maintainer in your boat so it easily reaches a wall outlet.

Sean, It was very easy to install. A pos and neg for each battery. I have been using mine since 2004 and have it always plugged in year round. I also have one on my truck for it's batteries. The truck sits most of the time also.