battery charger recommendations

(laidback) · (laidback) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 04-21-2009, 10:19 PM

did a search on battery chargers but no good info came up

I run 2 batteries in my boat but i like to keep a 3rd for those days i am tying up and listening to radio all day. Short story is ran both batteries dead one day.

My 3rd battery sat for 4 months and is now dead. I am looking for a good charger (one that doesnt take 2 days to charge) and also something that will maintain as well.

I am looking at battery tender and battery minder

Any suggestions?

(chucktronics) · (chucktronics) **Join Date: Nov 2007** 04-21-2009, 10:44 PM

vince-

depending on budget, I recommend Xantrex trucharge2 20/40. These have proven to be extremely reliable and pending the abuse is where to determine the 20 vs. 40. these chargers will never damage batteries and extend the life of any battery choice you may make in the future. Purchase the extra temp sensor for the posts and get ever more reliable results.

(kko13) · (kko13) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 04-22-2009, 3:05 AM

this is the 2 bank one i run.works great and have no problems with it.they make it in a 3 bank version as well.
On a side note. do you have a battery switch?I know i wired mine up so when im sitting just running the radio i change the switch over and it takes the cranking battery out of the loop. as i to have drained both batteries just jammin out at the beach and do not want it happen again.so far the combo of a charger and changing the switch over have kept me cranking all day and every time.

(03suprassv) · (03suprassv) **Join Date: Jan 2009** 04-22-2009, 4:43 AM

I have a promariner 2 bank charger on my blue top optimas and have not had any problems with it. Its an onboard charger so when I come home from the lake I just plug it in and leave it. Its a charger, maintenance, and maintainer which is considered a 3 step charger. You can also get it in a 3 bank charger. Here is the link. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/299088/377%20710/0/battery%20charger/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/10/0?N=377%20710&Ne=0&Ntt=battery%20charger&Ntk=Prima ry%20Search&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nao=10&Ns=0 &keyword=battery%20charger&isLTokenURL=true&storeN um=5002&subdeptNum=9&classNum=683

(billthom) · (billthom) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 04-22-2009, 9:20 AM

+1 on the ProMariner

I have the three bank installed and it's great.

(psudy) · (psudy) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 04-22-2009, 11:15 AM

+2 on the promariner.

(micah) · (micah) **Join Date: Mar 2008** 04-22-2009, 11:17 AM

+3 for the onboard Promariner. I'm charging two banks of Kinetik's and have not had any problems.

(laidback) · (laidback) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 04-23-2009, 3:21 PM

my boat stays at the slip so cant use an onboard

thanks for the info

anyone out there use battery minder?