Frequently Asked Questions

Waterproof chargers are designed to charge one battery on each of their outputs. They are suitable for small fishing boats like bass boats or center console boats. They are for charging batteries that are not being used while they are charging. Dry-mount chargers are for boats with a shore power connection and AC distribution/breaker panels. They need to be mounted in a dry area where they will not get dripped on or sprayed with water. They can handle heavier capacity batteries and/or charge batteries while they are under load. If you need advice on choosing the right charger, please contact our technical service at 1-800-824-0524 and we can help.

It depends on the batteries you have and how your system is wired. We recommend a charger be sized to about 10% of the total amp-hour capacity of the batteries it will be charging. Do remember you need one charger output for each battery you want to charge.

A: It depends on the batteries you have and how your battery system is wired. We recommend a charger be sized to about 10% of the total amp-hour capacity of the batteries it will be charging.

No. The waterproof chargers output 12 volts on each set of leads. With a 2 bank charger you can charge a 24v system by attaching a single set of leads to each 12v battery.

Yes, If the charger is set for the appropriate battery type. In "Auto-maintain" mode the charger will maintain the batteries at the appropriate voltage levels for longer term storage. **Stored batteries need to be checked at least once a month for safety and to check fluid levels in wet-cell flooded batteries.

This depends on the battery type, condition, age and level of depletion. As a rough estimate, it typically takes 8-14 hours.

A: The most common types of batteries are:

LEAD-ACID (liquid electrolyte): LEAD-ACID batteries have caps that open and they need to have distilled water added as needed.
AGM (absorbed glass mat): AGM are sealed batteries that don't need maintenance. Some AGM batteries require different charge and float voltages than LEAD-ACID batteries.
GEL (gelified electrolyte): GEL are a special type of sealed battery. Their charging and float voltages are quite different. GEL cannot be charged with LEAD-ACID or AGM batteries. GEL batteries will say GEL on their labels.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4): Lithium iron phosphate batteries are a type of lithium ion rechargeable battery. The benefits over lead-acid, AGM and the more traditional cobalt-based Li-ion batteries are increased power output, faster charging, reduced weight and longer lifetime.

If you're not sure, please call our technical service at 1-800-824-0524 and we can help.

Double up the charger output Bank 1 and Bank 2 wires on your “most used” battery. This would be the “House” or “Trolling Motor” battery. That way they can all sense a battery voltage and the unit will charge properly.

No. Our chargers output voltages for one type of battery in each setting. Since Lead-Acid and GEL batteries charge at different voltages, you cannot charge both simultaneously.

If your charger has an AGM setting, use that. It will facilitate faster charging. Most AGM batteries also charge well using the lead-acid setting. We always recommend checking with your battery manufacturer to ensure specific charger voltages will work with their products.

The charger should be mounted on a hard surface like wood, fiberglass, or starboard, to allow proper cooling. Do not mount it on an insulating surface like carpet or fabric. Refer to your product's user manual for comprehensive installation instructions.

No. We do not recommend mounting waterproof chargers directly onto metal or carbon fiber hulls. Mount it to a piece of marine grade plywood or similar material, and use separate fasteners to mount the board to the hull. This will prevent any electrical contact between the hull and the charger.

No. The unit vents heat through the case. The side "above" the writing puts out most heat and should not face downwards. In some cases, a product manual allows for vertical or flat mounting. However, in no instance should you mount a charger with the writing upside down.

Our waterproof chargers feature internal AC overcurrent protection. If you do not see the Power LED light up when you plug the charger into a trusted AC source, contact our technical service at 1-800-307-6702.

First, test the GFCI. Plug in another device, such as a lamp, to be sure the GFCI is working correctly. If there is nothing wrong with the GFCI, contact our technical service at 1-800-307-6702.

Yes, the charger generates heat changing AC power to DC. It gets warm enough that you can touch the unit, but not pick it up and carry it. Our chargers feature internal overheating protection and will shut down if temperatures exceed safe limits.

Line up the flat portions of the fuse holder and pull them apart. The tight fit guarantees a water-resistant connection. Gently warming the fuse holder ensures the plastic is more flexible and should make the process easier.

If you are installing a new charger, or upgrading from an older charger, refer to the Blue Seas wire selector guide to choose the correct wire gauge for your system.

Check the ATC-style fuse(s) on the charger, next to the Negative DC output stud. Replace if necessary. If you require further assistance please call Technical Services at 1-800-307-6702.

The fans in the dry-mount chargers are temperature-controlled. They will only turn on when the charger requires cooling.

In "Auto-Maintain" mode, if there is no current draw, the charger will go into "Energy Conservation" mode. It shuts down most functions but continues to monitor the battery voltage. If the voltage drops to about 12.8 volts, the charger will wake up and recharge the batteries to their "Auto-Maintain" profile voltage.

Pure sinewave inverters are better suited to digital electronics and equipment. Modified sinewave inverters can be more cost-effective and robust but are not always compatible with digital equipment or induction motors.

To size an inverter, add up the wattages of all the AC devices you intend to power with the inverter. The inverter wattage must be greater than the devices' total wattage to account for losses.

The batteries’ current output capacity must be greater than the current required by the devices the inverter powers. A 1000-watt inverter should have at least two group 27 batteries. A 2000-watt inverter would need two group 31-sized batteries.

Contact our technical service at 1-800-307-6702 and we can help with your specific requirements.