Battery charger

[Charlesdykman]

We have a 2009 Ranger 25 classic, which we bought last year and are will start trailering to Lake Michigan and Superior this Summer. We used it last year on a medium sized inland lake. The boat is in storage now, and the manuals are aboard. Is our boat equipped with a battery charger which charges the batteries when we are on shore power? If not, is it a good idea to add one? Charles Dykman

 

[Commander Ed]

Charles,
I have a 2009 Ranger 25. (It is actually boat number 1 from 2009 serial number 90001)
I have the Cummins 150 horse Motor. While this may not be relevant - I will say that the battery charger is likely the same for this model/year. In the 7 years I've owned my boat - I have replaced all the batteries once, and the battery charger twice (Port side in Generator Storage area mounted on hull - pretty obvious as wires go to batteries). I leave my boat in the water in San Diego most of the time, and the dockside power does charge all the batteries. So - that being said - If you have not had a battery "tender" while in storage - you may have a set of less than optimum batteries unless they are pretty new. The battery charger works on each of 3 "legs" - one for engine / one for thruster / one for house batteries. In the past, my charger tended to fail on the house leg. While a pain to have to buy a replacement and change - the actual change was pretty easy even for a non handy type like myself. Coming out of storage - I would have my batteries checked to make sure they are all viable. Then - hook up to 110 power source (dock power) - then make sure the battery charger circuit breaker is turned on. Watch the gauge over time (on each leg) and see if the charger is operating properly - you will notice if one leg does not charge.
Commander Ed

 

[knotflying]

You really need to see what you have on board and understand how it works. Every boat, even the same year and model, can have slight differences. Even the same equipment could be wired differently and therefore operation will be different.

 

[Kenny Marrs]

Hello Charles,

From the factory we have always installed a battery charger to charge all three battery banks when hooked into shore power. I would double check your boat next time you're onboard just to make sure a previous owner didn't change thinks around.

Thanks,
-Kenny

 

[tugnnaweigh]

What others said: When you're going back in the water, find and ensure your present charger works, mine is in the compartment forward of the batteries, this on a 2008 R25. Someone said to check your batteries at the end of storage prior to charging, this will tell you how they did over the storage period, yep. Someone said to make sure everything is hooked up correctly, absolutely.

My two tips are to check your batteries voltage at the beginning of storage (for a battery voltage starting point) and to ensure all the switches in the cave are in the off position at that time, my understanding is this "kills" the boat allowing no draw on the batteries. Might leave the bilge pumps active, dunno.

 

[TomM]

Hello Charles,

From the factory we have always installed a battery charger to charge all three battery banks when hooked into shore power. I would double check your boat next time you're onboard just to make sure a previous owner didn't change thinks around.

Thanks,
-Kenny

Hi Kenny,
I have a 2015 CB 31. It is laid up now for winter. Should I just plug into the shore power with a 120 line or is it better to use an external charger for each battery bank to get ready to launch?

 

[Flatliner]

To charge the batteries on shore power does it matter if the isolation switches are on or off? The marina where the boat is in dry storage ask that the isolation switches be in the off (isolated) position. When the boat is moved to the pre-launch bunks we can plug into shore power...but...if we forget to turn on the isolation switches, will we still get a charge?

 

[Red Raven]

Flatliner,

The battery charger is wired to bypass the isolation switches from the factory. Once plugged in to shore power, set your Mains switch to Shore and turn on your battery charger. Verify the battery voltages are 13.5 volts or better to make sure the battery charger is on.

Curt