Connecting external battery charger

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Reiner
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Connecting external battery charger

#1 Post by Reiner » Wed Apr 08, 2020 5:50 pm

Hope someone can help. I have a dual battery set up with the Bluesea Add-a-Battery Dual Circuit System and need to charge the batteries.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea ... gKJH_D_BwE

Boat was not used for a while with the Portland style weather here in San Diego. Plus all ramps are closed do to social distancing rules. Now to my question....how do I connect my charger to this set up. Can't find anything on the net.
Thanks for any advise and please all stay safe!
Reiner
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TWB
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#2 Post by TWB » Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:11 am

I know very little about this type of stuff - BUT - I did see this when looking through the Q/A on their site:

"If I use the Add-A-Battery dual circuit system, how do I also connect a dual battery charger for at-dock power use and maintenance?"
Asked by George 3 years ago

Verified Reply - West Marine Customer Service
"The two bank battery charger will connect directly to each battery"


Don't know if that helps at all.

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steve1313
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#3 Post by steve1313 » Thu Apr 09, 2020 4:28 am

Battery chargers always connect directly to each battery.
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Bamby
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#4 Post by Bamby » Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:54 am

That is a nice setup and I intended to install a similar one in my boat and got by without it. Anyway with my boat I could go the entire boating season without needing to hook up a charger. The boats motor provided all the power needed to bring the batteries back up the speed even after a lot of battery usage or drain.

With the system you have all you need to do is hook the charger up to the primary battery this is the motor starting battery. Once the charger has brought that battery up to speed the ACR relay will open and allow the second battery to charge. It's simple in reality and a good optional accessory on any boat.
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#5 Post by curtiscapk » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:08 am

Bamby is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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steve1313
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#6 Post by steve1313 » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:12 am

Bamby wrote:
Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:54 am

With the system you have all you need to do is hook the charger up to the primary battery this is the motor starting battery. Once the charger has brought that battery up to speed the ACR relay will open and allow the second battery to charge. It's simple in reality and a good optional accessory on any boat.
That might work to charge the second battery, but one of the benefits of a good charger is their ability to "read" the battery and adjust the charging and conditioning as necessary. You won't get that benefit if you use a single bank charger to charge multiple batteries. IMO, The best solution is a dual bank charger.
Steve
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Reiner
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#7 Post by Reiner » Thu Apr 09, 2020 9:16 am

Thanks for all your comments and I'll go with Bamby's suggestion. I do not have a 2-bank charger.
Stay safe!
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"The Nina" or "The Bismarck" my buddy's call it!
2011 Tundra

onlybillhere
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Re: Connecting external battery charger

#8 Post by onlybillhere » Wed Apr 15, 2020 8:31 am

i have two batteries on my pontoon separated by this https://www.westmarine.com/buy/marinco- ... --14152185. I connect my Ctek charger to the main battery and when it starts charging the relay turns on and connects the second battery.
I agree a dual bank charger would be ideal however if you don't have one you don't have one. I'll probably look into one at some point but for now my Ctek is doing fine.
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