?? About installing new battery charger?

[donald]

I am about to install a Blue Sea Battery Link charger an am wondering should I put a GFI outlet Plug in the engine bay! Or should I put a GFI in the cabin next to the Breaker panel??
This is a replacement charger so the 120 volt AC wire is already there from the factory!
Thanks!
Don

[jayesq]

Originally Posted by donald

I am about to install a Blue Sea Battery Link charger an am wondering should I put a GFI outlet Plug in the engine bay! Or should I put a GFI in the cabin next to the Breaker panel??
This is a replacement charger so the 120 volt AC wire is already there from the factory!
Thanks!
Don

I don't have a lot of experience in this area but I know my charger is hard wired in a junction box in the engine bay. I would think due to the sensitivity of a gfi that the charger may trip it. Is there currently a plug and gfi there now?

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

[mmwjr]

The battery charger should be hardwired and not a plug in, this is to reduce the possibility of the plug coming loose and arching in a potential explosive environment. I have not heard of a changer being on a GFI.

[donald]

Good afternoon everyone!
The charger that came with the boat was hard wired!
All of the new chargers that are 10 or 20 amp have a power cord already attached to it with a 3 prong plug!
I have a Blue Sea Battery/Link 10 amp charger that I am about to install as the weather is good and I am getting withdrawals not being able to get on the water!!!
And I think I read somewhere not to remove the plug and cord!
I was hoping to get on this weekend as it is going to be in the mid to high 60s next week!!!!
I know all you that have ice on the water now hate me! But I fell for you as I have a Daughter that lives in Duluth Mn.
Thanks for the info!
Don

[donald]

Mike !
You have the same boat as I have, do you still have the factory charger?
If not, is yours hard wired directly to the breaker or to a junction box ?
Did it have a cord and plug? If so did you replace the cord or just cut the plug off?
Thanks!
Don

[mmwjr]

Don I still have the original charger and seldom use it being in a boatel. No place to plug in. I alternate between batteries every other trip.

What do the instructions say? Can you email or get on line help?

[donald]

Thanks Mike!
I have been looking on line and just sent Blue Seas a question to there help line!
They have been very helpful so far!
Don

[shrew]

I would place the battery charger on a dedicated circuit with a dedicated breaker. Not all Maxum's came with a hardwired charger. My 1997 had a GFCI outlet in the engine compartment.

Whether there is an outlet or not, or a plug or not is not completely relevant.

1) If you have a hard-wired connection in a junction box, then...

a) Cut the plug-end off of the charger and hardwire the wires in the junction box.

OR

b) wire in an outlet and plug the charger in

2) If you have an outlet, then..

a) Plug in the charger

OR

b) Remove the outlet and cut the plug end off of the charger and hardwire the connection.

3) If you have a hard-wired connection on the charger and an outlet

a) remove the outlet and hardwire the charger to the curicuit in the junction box

OR

b) wire a plug pigtail onto the charger and plug it into the outlet.

[donald]

Thanks to All!!
I received an answer from Blue Seas that stated to cut the plug off and use a junction box!
Thanks again!
Don

[donald]

P.S.
Just a note to above reply!
Blue seas has two wire color codes for these chargers!!
Don

[mmwjr]

Thanks for posting their response.

[shrew]

Originally Posted by donald

Thanks to All!!
I received an answer from Blue Seas that stated to cut the plug off and use a junction box!

1a) Cut the plug-end off of the charger and hardwire the wires in the junction box.