Battery Charger for a Min Kota

[Tangles]

Hi All,
have just got the Min Kota 55 Riptide, and didnt want to rush into buying the min kota battery charger on the spot. So what type of battery charger are you guys using for a deep cycle battery. I understand the Min Kota chargers are very quick at charging over the standard 3 stage chargers, but i also want it to be ok to use for normal car batteries.

Any recomendations/experiences much appreciated, dont know too much about battery chargers to be honest other than real cheapies may not charge a deep cycle battery well over time

cheers
Mike

[Finnatical]

Aigusto,

I have the 10amp Minn Kota portable charger (the round looking one). It charges very fast and has never caused any problems. I didn't know much about chargers either and bought a cheaper charger and it just didn't perform. I then spent the extra few dollars and have never looked back. They are definately worth every cent and the piece of mind knowing that they are designed for exactly what you are using it to do.

I bought mine from Sundown Marine and they gave me agood advise and an excellent price too.

Good luck with your purchase.

Regards,
Jason

[NormC]

I use a Ctek 25 Amp multi stage charger. Any of the good multi stage chargers will do the job. CTek, Projecta, Xantex are all good brands. Charge time is largely simple maths and physics. A good 10 Amp charger (regardless of brand) will provide a maximum of 10 Amps charge current to the battery. Actual current is determined by the internal resistance of the battery, which in turn is determined by state of charge of the battery and the battery type.

As state of charge increases, internal resistance also increases, so charge current decreases. AGM batteries have a lower internal resistance than normal wet cell batteries so charge faster.

The modern multi stage chargers are more expensive than the old constant voltage chargers, but are wel worth the money.

I don't know the Minn Kota charger, but I'd be pretty sure it is a good multi stage model. If you only need to charge at home (access to 240V) and can charge overnight at a minimum a 10 Amp charger should be plenty.

I use a 25 Amp charger as I have multiple batteries when camping and run fridges, lights etc. Often charge from generator and want to get plenty of power into the batteries in 5 hours or so.
This business often has good deals on chargers. Use it as a comparison to your Minn Kota price. http://www.fridge-and-solar.net/index.htm

[flyfisho]

some good info there Norm

[TheSaint]

The minn kota charger does the job fine for me.. It only $188 to ensure the longer life out of battery.. I use it on my deepcycle & marine battery with no problems so i can't see you having any problems with a car one..

[Tangles]

cheers for the info guys

mike

[Dunco]

If only to charge one battery at home the CTEK are the best. I've got a dual battery system in my van with a 3600 model CTEK going to a external power point on the outside. I just come home and plug it in like a caravan. Try to this at least three times a week because the battery life will be twice as long.

Just about to wire up the boat a similar way, while it's getting built. I will be using the Minn Kota Dual charger because it's waterproof. It will be a permanent fixture so I can charge the dual batteries and keep them float charging to improve life while not in use. Install a power point. It will save you money and time in the long run.

[bayfisher]

When i was looking for a good charger (on a budget) i found jaycar have a 4 stage 16 amp charger for around the $150 mark and I choose this over the minn kota charger. Its a great little unit.

Cheers Chris