Should I replace 3 bank charger with a 4 bank, or add a 1 bank charger.

This topic has 9 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by dlivings4433.

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August 8, 2015 at 2:08 am #285711

dlivings4433
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Hi guys, Ive been debating what to do with charging my boat. Ive started storing my boat an hour and 1/2 away from me and have been thinking about how to best charge all 4 of my batteries. Currently the boat has a 3 bank charger in it and I am thinking of replacing it with a 4 bank charger so when Im done fishing I can park it, plug it in and forget it. However after some consideration I wondered about just getting a 1 bank charger to charge the starting battery. With adding the 1 bank charger I would have to split the (100) extension cord at the boat to run both the 3 bank and the 1 bank charger. Additionally I replaced all the batteries with an AGM batteries, which I see the newer chargers have a setting for them (my original 2005 3 bank charger has no such option.. not sure if thats a big deal or not). I feel Ive been pretty lucky to find a place to park my boat where I can plug it in and leave it, but I never really know if my boat will be plugged in for 8 hours and then someone might unplug it or it may be left plugged in for 3 weeks till I get back to it…again thinking a newer charger may work better with their built in maintenance modes which Im not sure my original charger has. Any thoughts?

August 8, 2015 at 2:40 am #285712

PhilAddison
Participant

Your call on this one. Id probably do the one bank, but if you feel the 3 bank is going to fail soon then get the 4 bank. Im not a fan of leaving battery chargers plugged up 24-7.

August 8, 2015 at 6:10 am #285713

NORRIS CRAFT 1
Participant

4 Bank charger would probably be the way to go. Was on Bass Boat Central and this gentlemen has got what he says is a fairly new 4 bank that came out of his new Legend boat made by NOCO PRO PAK 1V. his number is 1-415-378-2048. He states make me an offer.

August 8, 2015 at 1:36 pm #285714

catdude28
Participant

If your charger is not AGM compatible, it could damage your new batteries. If you call your battery manufacturer they would tell you (dont bother calling the charger manufacturer as many feel their chargers are compatible for everything). Frankly, if you got 10 years of service from your old one, I would just buy a new four bank charger that will charge AGMs.

August 8, 2015 at 2:38 pm #285715

spbait
Participant

I agree with Phil, its not a good idea to leave a charger hooked up 24/7. I park my boat at home in the garage and when I get back from a trip I connect the charger until they are fully charged, then connect the charger to a timer that comes on early in the morning (3:00 AM) so that if I decide to go fishing at the last minute my batteries are Charged. Keeping a full charge on the batteries, I believe, makes them last longer.

August 9, 2015 at 2:20 pm #285716

JSLAW
Participant

I would add the single bank for the cranking battery. Thats how mine came from the factory and i really like that setup.

August 9, 2015 at 5:44 pm #285717

1stinLA
Participant

Money wise I would go with the 1 bank for the starting battery, as all it probably needs is a maintainer anyway as the motor charges it when running. You could hook up the chargers to a heavy duty timer and just have it run for 30 minutes a day, once the batteries have fully charged. I ones I have let me turn them on, and when the clock comes around it goes into the timer mode. I keep my 4 wheeler, mowers, and boats on timers as some times it is months before I can get to them the way I work.

August 9, 2015 at 5:48 pm #285718

schodackbassman
Participant

I stuck with the factory set up also. Single for cranking battery (replaced original equipment spring 2014) and the double a couple days ago that was also original equipment on my 07 Classic. Think advantage is if one charger fails, you might only loose/damage one or two of your batteries opposed to all 3 if one unit fails. This is more important to us northerners whose boats sit for months at a time sometimes outside where you may not be able to get to bilge area to make sure chargers are working properly. That happened to my single bank last winter and I lost a battery because it wasnt getting charged in the cold for an extended period of time. I did up grade the ProSport from the G2 8 to G3 12 model on the one just replaced. The single bank I replaced with same unit. I have limited room because of the kicker tank so life was much easier using original equipment holes, spacers, etc. on the cranking battery single bank charger.

August 9, 2015 at 10:04 pm #285719

fmccall
Participant

Might want to add a timer switch to what ever you decide. I come in plug my charger to a timer and leave. 2 to 10 hours (what ever I decide) it cuts off . I agree with Phil about leaving them on 24/7. Different type of timers at Lowes. Easy set up

August 12, 2015 at 3:46 am #285720

dlivings4433
Participant

Thank you all for the input. After much consideration I think Ill add a 4 bank charger and a surge protector (likely on a timer). The new chargers have read out showing the battery charge level, which is very important to me as my lower unit hasnt been fixed yet (used the insurance money to pay of wifes medical bills). I think last time I fished a tournament the batteries never got fully charged (the circuit was tripped at the outlet) so I almost didnt make it back in. Combine that with the fact I now have AGM batteries and my charger doesnt have a charging profile for them, and I have Cabelas bucks thatll cover the expense of a new 4 bank charger, I just have to decide between the Minn Kota chargers or the promariner.
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