Battery charger

[opunui]

I went down to do some maintenance on the boat.I lifted the engine box covers up and noticed the stbd battery over heating.I had bought a new Charles type battery charger and installed it about one month ago all was well.

I felt the battery and it was extremely hot to the touch. the charger was maxed out on the amp gage, i unplugged it from the shore power.do you think the charger failed? or ?

thanks

[Bruce]

Possible, but a short in one of the battery plates could do it.

Disconnect the battery in question and check other batteries for water and try it on the remainder and see if it duplicates.

Also make sure some type of load is not triggering the charger.

[opunui]

Bruce thanks for the thoughts.if i were to start the motors with out unplugging the shore power cable would this contribute?I thought these type of chargers had the capability to dis-engage thru a diode or resistor in the charger.

[JP Dalik]

What type of battery?
How old was it?

[Bruce]

All modern chargers will be okay when starting the engines with the charger on.

[opunui]

Thanks to all. update..replaced the batterys.they were six years old.plugged the new charger in again and lo and behold it maxes out again.unplugged it and now assume the charger is bad.

what battery charger due the masses here have.I have a double bank system. Thanks again

[Rawleigh]

I have a Truecharge 40 that has been very good for me, but some of the Faithful don't like them because they aren't sealed.