Mr Peabody

I have a 2019 Key West 230BR with a 2019 Yamaha VF250. There are two crank batteries installed behind a Blue Sea M-Series Selector Battery Switch Part #6007. I need a way to recharge these batteries at home and for now and would just like to go the portable route. I would love a recommendation on what to get as well as how to hook up the charger to the batteries. I assume I leave the switch set to off, just not sure how to hook up the battery terminals to the charger. Thank you in advance.

autobaun70

For a portable charger the Schumacher line is a great value, and has built in desulphatoin function which is a huge benefit.


Just hook it up to each battery. If you have an ACR it may kick in and charge both. Personally like to charge without the ACR connecting to give each battery individualized treatment, but not a big deal if the boat gets used frequently.

Sangster

Since they are both crank batteries for a single outboard, I'm assuming they are wired together. If so, any battery charger is going to see it as one battery. So simply connect the charger up to the terminals of one of the batteries and it will charge both.

Or....(this is what I would do), add a Blue Seas ACR with circuit breakers between each battery and the ACR terminals. Connect the charger to one battery and the ACR will connect them and charge both. If you like to charge them separately, simply trip the circuit breakers and then charge them individually.

Mr Peabody

I would have thought they were separate since there is a 1+2 switch installed. I don't see an ACR installed. I do see that the grounds on the two batteries are connected to each other. I am hoping to get a charger that I could just keep plugged up until the next trip with could be 6 to 8 weeks sometimes. Thanks

ocnslr

It will see the batteries as one bank of two Only if you leave the selector switch in the both position. While this might serve to charge both batteries, and keep them topped off, it also risks both batteries if one develops a problem.

I would suggest leaving the switch in the OFF position and connecting the charger to the common ground and the positive terminal terminal on one battery. Assuming you have access to the boat, switch the positive lead from the charger to the other battery to charge it.

Mr Peabody

So put the ground, from the charger, on the ground post of battery “A”and the positive, from from the charger, to the positive post on battery “A”. Charge up battery “A” and then move the positive from the battery “A” post and move to battery “B” post. Not as hands off as I hoped. Could I buy a two bank smart charger to do what I want to do? Thanks

jfwireless

Yes, they do make 2 bank chargers, Actuality In would get a standard marine intelligent 2 bank shore power charger with isolated outputs to cover all the bases. I would get a marine charger that automatically identifies the battery type such as flooded acid, AGM and Gel. Also get a marine charger with dynamic output capability to be able to dynamically assign all the charging current to both banks as required. I assume no lithium batteries in your present or future plans.

Jim

colemast

Yes - This is what I do - I use a 2 bank charger on Cranking & Electronics batteries & a 3 bank charger on 36 volt trolling motor..

But in original post you stated you wanted a portable option -I don't know if I seen a 2 bank portable charger - but they could be out there.

Mr Peabody

Thanks everyone. They have a Nocp genius GENmini2 On Board 2 bank 8A charger down at Battery source. Yes I did say portable but it doesn’t seem like I’m going to find that. Does this charger seem like a viable charger for me. I don’t have a marine store near me and don’t really have time to get something shipped in. Thanks

eman6501

Yes, that will work just fine. Matter of fact, West Marine used to carry that exact item and called it "marine", lol.

Icast

You can get a pro mariner 2 bank for 115 bucks.

Mr Peabody

Got it installed. I know it should be as far away from the batteries as possible so I just laid the charger on the floor of the boat for now while it’s charging. I assume when it’s not plugged in I could just through it In the same bay where the batteries are? Definitely will try and mount inside the console down the road and maybe add a plug for it on the side of the outside of the console.

RHartline

Just for future reference, Minnkota makes a two bank portable charger.

autobaun70

I would not leave anything flopping around in the battery compartment.

ole_blue

Ny charger is about1.5 feet away from the batteries. No need to hide the charger from the batteries that i can recall.