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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Battery questions

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indecentseas
1st Mate

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Canada
67 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/22/2014 : 20:35:57

I'd like to use my shore power to charge my boat's batteries. At least I think I do. My primary reason is that I'd like to get a bilge pump to work automatically when I am away from the boat for a bit. I don't want it to drain the battery. I like the look of this pump that I think will need a constant flow of power
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1%7C51%7C2234226%7C2234227&id=1207040

I welcome any comments about bilge pumps that are well suited to my Catalina 25.

My current battery setup, I am pretty sure, is I have two 12V starter batteries that are both charged by my engine. Most people who know about batteries seem shocked to hear that my motor is charging my batteries and that my boat does not have a system to charge from shore power but I am quite certain that's what's up. There is a little black box which attaches separately to each of my batteries labeled "West Marine combiner 50". I suspect this is the box that is charging the batteries while the engine is running. If I run down my batteries and leave the boat plugged in to shore power the batteries don't charge themselves.

Currently shore power plugs into the outside of my boat which makes two standard AC plugs in my boat work.

Should I simply get a battery maintainer and plug it into the AC power on my boat and then attach it to one of my batteries? The one that will power the bilge? Can the battery maintainer maintain 2 batteries? Any suggestions on which maintainer to get?

Is there a more elegant solution? I'm sure there is a way to divert shore power straight to the battery maintainer in a behind the scenes kind of way. Is that what is usually done? I have followed some of the DC wiring around my boat but I'm not sure how the AC power gets from my shore hookup to my outlets.

One more question on the subject: Can I get more DC power adapters? Primarily I need to power USB devices on the boat. Currently I have a single "cigarette lighter" style receptacle in the galley. I plug a "car charger" style device in there which gives me a usb plug. With that I can charge one device like my iPhone or iPad. I also have an inverter but it is a pain to set up and it seems wasteful to convert DC to AC only to go back to DC. What I'd really like is a string of Cigarette lighter adapters to charge all my toys at once. I have not seen such a thing.

David Hopkins
Vancouver, British Columbia
'78 Swing Keel, Standard Rig, Dinette
#534

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dasreboot
Admiral

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803 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2014 : 04:26:00

i use the motor to charge. I just dont use that much juice normally. no bilge pump to worry about.

Edited by - on

DavidBuoy
Admiral

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USA
707 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2014 : 05:13:40

My boat was wired exactly like yours. A shore power inlet that does nothing but power to AC outlets when connected. Also wired for the engine to charge the batteries except the current engine does not have an alternator. I went and picked up a Marinco waterproof dual bank battery charger and maintainer from WM and got a deal on it (http://www.westmarine.com/mounted-battery-chargers/marinco--chargepro-waterproof-battery-charger-10-amp--14981914). The thing I liked about it is that I did not have to wire it into the electrical and could just plug it into the outlet behind the starboard settee. This gave me the flexibility to simply disconnect the charger and remove a couple screws and I could use it for something else if needed. (scooter, car etc.). Its worked just fine so far, I dont use my batteries too much but am planning a weekend trip this coming weekend so we'll see how we do.

Edit: Was looking at the link to the bilge pump.. That pump looks nice and compact. I wonder if you are able to clock it though. To be able to turn the pump outlet to the side. I would just check for vertical clearance to make sure that fits.

Edit #2: Description does say you can rotate it to fit. Looks like a sweet piece if it can last.

Don't mind the messiness or missing board above the charger..

Edited by - DavidBuoy on 06/23/2014 05:23:51

jduck00
Captain

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USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2014 : 07:55:47

I used this battery charger and it works well. I leave mine plugged in at the slip. If I got a small leak the bilge pump could keep up with it will run without pulling the batteries down. My bilge is always dry and hasn't been an issue yet.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NI1BD4/ref=oh_details_o09_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I added several of these around the boat. The girls are always bringing something onboard that needs to be charged.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KRC5Y/ref=oh_details_o05_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2014 : 11:13:01

I have used Guest and Charles and have been pleased with both.

Edited by - on

sailorbaz
1st Mate

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Australia
26 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2014 : 16:13:42

I recently installed the Whale Supersub in the bilge next to the galley. I screwed the mounting to a piece of plastic chopping board cut down so it just goes through the round access hole - you have to take the suction part off first. It's a bit fiddly as you have to put the suction bit back on inside the bilge. I used ridged tubing as it doesn't collapse going round corners - I ran it through the engine compartment, through a hole cut in the ply and into the dumpster. I put a new skin fitting in the transom as the tube is smaller than that on the hand bilge pump.
I ran the wires behind the galley drawers up to the electric panel where I installed an auxiliary panel already labelled 'Bilge pump' with on, off and auto. The system works perfectly and as I have solar panels to keep the batteries charged, I leave it on auto - but since I did the refit and cured all the leaks it doesn't switch itself on!
Sailorbaz

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.