Battery Charger Dumb Question that I suspect I know the answ

Wandering Sagebrush

Wandering Sagebrush

Free Range Human
I finally bought a good portable dockside battery charger. For automobiles, it basically says hook it up. For boats, it says disconnect and take the battery out of the boat.

My suspicion is that it is due to the potential of fire on a boat, plus some CYA.

Can anyone think of another reason?
 
The concern is over generating a spark in an area where fuel fumes may lay. If you connect the clips to the terminals, and the battery is isolated from the electrical system by the shutoff switch, and THEN you turn on the charger, should not be any sparks. Obviously, sniffing around in the vicinity of the battery for fuel fumes ahead of time is a good idea, also.

On my inboard, I recharged the battery multiple times, never pulled it. No problems. With an enclosed bilge, opersting the blower for 5 minutes should clear it ahead of hookup.
 
It would seem that there is a risk of sparks when hooking the battery back up after charging it, so I don't see what charging the battery off the boat really buys you.

Maybe they expect most people will have to run a long extension cord from a nearby building out to the boat being charged.
 
ssobol":x6n2cb22 said:
It would seem that there is a risk of sparks when hooking the battery back up after charging it, so I don't see what charging the battery off the boat really buys you.

Maybe they expect most people will have to run a long extension cord from a nearby building out to the boat being charged.
Click to expand...

Would you believe they don't recommend extension cords. Really.

They did say use large conductor, appropriately grounded cords if you do, but then the charger is two pin. Go figure...
 
No extension cord? Hogwash. Check the rating on the charger and size the wire gauge for the max load expected. A hundred foot run of 12 gauge is good enough, I bet. I would not use anything smaller than 14 gauge, anyway.
 
I use a West Marine branded charger which has several amperage out puts (as I recollect, 5, 10, 30 and 75 boost). No issues using it on the boat, with extension cords, etc. We use it specifically to charge the group 31 AGM battery for the freezer. Putting the leads on when the unit is not charging, there are no "sparks".

The precaution is more for batteries in an engine room, or where there may be explosive vapors, and the automotive chargers are not ignition protected.

As long as there are no gasoline fumes in the cockpit, you should be fine.
 
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