Charging Deep Cycle Batteries

[Sniper]

Well, I kmow this topic has probably come up before, but just purchased an electric with a few batteries second hand and want to know the best way to charge them. Have a 6amp Arlec fully automatic charger. Is this ok for them? Help
Sniper

[Simon]

I have a the same charger and it charges my 70 amp OK but has completely stuffed my107 amp batt. I'm led to believe a 10 amp charger is a minimum.

Every battery place I've been recomends a charger in the vicinty of atleast $250 for a cheap one and $350 for a good one.

Cheers

Simon.

[SteveCan]

I have a 14 amp charger that takes about 12 hours to charge my 85amp/hr battery from reasonably low. I use a hydrometer to test the battery - it is reliable and doesn't have as much cost involved as an expensive fully automatic charger. - It was good enough for Granddad - it will do me ;)

Cheers
Steve.

[aquarius]

Hi Sniper..I too have an 85amp battery and the charger i use is a NEVARDA 14 amp which will charge in around 12 hrs.....bought it from battery world for $110....Its not automatic shut off but like Steve mentioned buy a hydrometer to make certain you don't overcharge the battery.
Remember not to let the battery stay in a discharged state because this will reduce its life span.
Cheers Brent

[davo]

I've got a Baintech 15 amp and at $500 it is a little more expensive but it is fantastic. It will change wet cell lead/acid, gell, lead calcuim and do cell equilization on wet types. On an electric only dam I seem to be up and running faster than everyone else and at present I charge two SL80 gels for my 24v bowmount. It's a switch mode power supply type not a conversional transformer type charger meaning it charges at 15amps RMS in the boost mode. It changes it's charging characteristics to suit the style of battery by selector switches on the front and after owning Arlec's etc... It's the best.

[aussiebasser]

To convert a standard charger to an auto cut off/trickle job, go to the Auto section at Kmart and buy a Projecta, Chargecontrol BM140. Follow the destructions on the pack and you can't bugger it up. Good value for about $50.00. I've been using mine on a 10amp Arlec to charge 2 x 130AH's hooked together, and I haven't had any problems.

[Sniper]

Thanks everyone for the advise. For now I'll stick to what I've got. Sounds like it"ll be ok for now. Later on I'll get something more expensive when I upgrade the batteries. Not sure how old these batteries I got are so if I get about a year out of them I'll be wrapped. By then I'll have my bowmount and everything set up right. Heard of a few people with chargers permanently mounted in their boats so they just plug em in. Are they a special type or just conventional ones?
Till next time

Snipper [smiley=rifle.gif] [smiley=rifle.gif] [smiley=rifle.gif]