Trickle Chargers CD27

[Warren Kaplan]

Has anyone installed a trickle charger on a CD27. My boat has 2 batteries in the starboard cockpit locker. Batteries of course are linked. I don't expect to be using the engine very much so on board charging via engine use will be minimal. Has anyone done a trickle charger set up and what brand of marine grade charger did you use? How did you install it and connect it up.
Thanks
Warren

CD 27 " Sine Qua Non"



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[Scott Ritchey]

I used to use a Guest charger that just sat in the lazerette and connected via the "charger clips." However, that unit died .. twice. The Guest people were nice enough to replace it for free but not before I went to another solution.

I now have a Statpower 10 amp (2 bank) unit mounted to the bulkhead in the starboard lazarette just forward of the batteries. I used come rubber rings for stand-offs to dampen the vibration. It's a tight fit but it works OK. Eventually, I added one of those battery-charger inlets to plug in the extension cord without opening the locker. I've been very happy with the unit and my sailing time to slip time ratio is low enough that 10 amps is plenty.



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[Warren Kaplan]

I used to use a Guest charger that just sat in the lazerette and connected via the "charger clips." However, that unit died .. twice. The Guest people were nice enough to replace it for free but not before I went to another solution.

I now have a Statpower 10 amp (2 bank) unit mounted to the bulkhead in the starboard lazarette just forward of the batteries. I used come rubber rings for stand-offs to dampen the vibration. It's a tight fit but it works OK. Eventually, I added one of those battery-charger inlets to plug in the extension cord without opening the locker. I've been very happy with the unit and my sailing time to slip time ratio is low enough that 10 amps is plenty.

Scott,
When you added the battery charger inlet, where did you "drill the hole"?



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[Don Carr]

I'm sure you know this but if you are running gel batteries ..DON'T use a trickle charger. I use a guest 3 stage charger. IMHO the new 'smart' multistage chargers are better than a trickle charger. West Marine has a very good advisor on battery charging practice. My $.02.



carrd48@netzero.net

[Scott]

I used to use a Guest charger that just sat in the lazerette and connected via the "charger clips." However, that unit died .. twice. The Guest people were nice enough to replace it for free but not before I went to another solution.

I now have a Statpower 10 amp (2 bank) unit mounted to the bulkhead in the starboard lazarette just forward of the batteries. I used come rubber rings for stand-offs to dampen the vibration. It's a tight fit but it works OK. Eventually, I added one of those battery-charger inlets to plug in the extension cord without opening the locker. I've been very happy with the unit and my sailing time to slip time ratio is low enough that 10 amps is plenty.

Scott,
When you added the battery charger inlet, where did you "drill the hole"?

It's in the cockpit foot well, starboard side, forward and high. Just below the lazarette hatch lid. The wire is a very short run ... only about a foot.