One of the marine electronics used in sea vessels and boats is the marine battery charger. It is important in maintaining every marine battery. Yet, you have to choose a charger that will work for the battery knowing that marine batteries have varying capacities and maintenance requirements.

Among other factors, the most crucial part of marine battery maintenance is proper charging. Both undercharging and overcharging can decrease battery life. Hence it is useful to know how marine batteries function in order to choose the right type of charger.

Among the things you should take into account when purchasing a charger for a marine battery is the type of the battery. Generally, there are three different types of marine batteries: flooded cell, gel cell, and AGM (absorbed glass mat). These are all lead-acid batteries. Yet they differ in terms of costs, maintenance requirements, and applications. Each thereby needs a specific kind of marine battery charger.

The flooded-cell type is said to be the most cost-effective among the three. AGM and gel-cell batteries are more expensive yet they have a low self-discharge rate, which means they can hold a charge very well.

Proper charging practices ensure a longer life span of marine batteries. Remember not to leave the battery in a discharged state for any period. However, overcharging can lessen battery capacity.

A lead-acid battery, in general, must not be discharged less than 50 percent. The typical charge range for marine batteries is between 50 and 80 percent. It takes more time to charge a battery between 80 and 100 percent than it does to charge it between 50 and 80 percent.

Determine your marine battery specifications first before buying a charger for it. You should consider not only the type of the marine battery but as well as its other aspects like amp-hour capacity and input voltage.

Because temperature also affects the charging rate of the battery, make sure that you select a marine battery charger that has temperature compensation circuitry.

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