MasterVolt chargers are designed to meet all demands, on all types of boats, whether the use is purely recreational, or professional and intense!
Tecmar therefore has a large stock of chargers, divided into 3 ranges:
- The range Mass for the toughest tasks in professional or semi-professional situations. With its integrated alarm functions and various certificates, the Mass (24V or 48V) is the best choice for professionals.
- The range ChargeMaster which is ideal for recreational and semi-professional use. Easy to install, it includes a detailed display and easy three-button controls. In addition, the ChargeMaster charges up to 3 battery banks simultaneously and safely.
- The range EasyCharge Waterproof chargers with an intuitive LED display, ideal for small units such as open hulls or RIBs, but also for charging dedicated battery banks for a windlass or bow thruster on larger boats.
Of course, MasterVolt chargers are capable of charging all types of batteries, wet, Gel, AGM and Lithium-Ion.
What's a clip?
A charger allows you to recharge one or more battery banks from a 220VAC source. However, with the technological evolution of batteries, recharging them has become increasingly complex. Nowadays, a charger must be "intelligent" to recharge the batteries to which it is connected as well as possible, in order to increase their lifespan. This is the case for all MasterVolt chargers!
Their 3-step operation quickly brings the batteries to an optimal level and then delivers a maintenance current to keep them at their best level.
These chargers can therefore remain connected without interruption, even over long periods, without danger to the batteries.
- Step 1: Bulk, full power charge. Battery voltage increases slowly.
- Step 2: Absorption, the battery has been charged to 80%, the charger limits the charging voltage to a safe level and the charging current slowly decreases.
- Step 3: Float, the voltage is maintained at an ideal level for battery conservation.
How to choose your battery charger?
It will be necessary to answer the following questions:
- What is the voltage of the battery pack(s) to be charged?
- How many battery banks do I want to charge?
- What should be the charging current?
The practical rule of thumb is that a capacity value of the charger equivalent to 25% of that of the battery is sufficient to ensure fast and safe charging.
However, for a faster charge, we can go up to 50% for Gel batteries, and 100% for Li-ion batteries.
It is therefore also necessary to know the technology of the batteries to be charged.
Practical installation tips
While connecting a battery charger is fairly simple, there are a few rules to follow.
First of all, in the case of a non-waterproof charger, make sure that it is in a dry and ventilated place so that the air circulation necessary for cooling the components can take place without hindrance. Also for the same reason, always respect the positioning and orientation of the charger recommended by the manufacturer, a vertical positioning will also help to maintain optimal cooling.
Finally, the user manuals supplied with the MasterVolt chargers will also help you to precisely define the cable cross-sections according to the cable lengths and the fuse ratings to be used.
To conclude, while it is obvious that the life of your batteries depends on many parameters, it is also certain that using a well adapted and configured charger will allow you to extend their life and save money!
