How to Choose the Best Waterproof Battery Charger for Your Marine Application?

Picture this. You are miles away from the shore and the weather is getting bad. You need your electronics - navigation, communication, and lights to be trusted and reliable. These electronics depend on the battery and charger. When out on the water, regular battery chargers won't work. Salt spray, humidity, and the possibility of rain combined with the conditions of a standard charger can be lethal. A waterproof charger on board is not a convenience. It's a critical investment. Whether powering a small fishing boat, a luxurious yacht, or marine research equipment, the right battery charger can protect the investment made on a journey. We can go through these waterproof chargers together. These are what the best waterproof battery charger marine applications chargers are made of.

The Ruthless Nature of Marine Environments  

The first principle of making a good decision is to show respect to your adversary, the marine environment. It's a complex interaction of extreme humidity that can creep into unsealed components, the corrosive salt mist that eats away at metal contacts and circuit boards, and the frequent fresh water exposure from rain or spray. Engine and wave-induced vibrations can stress solder joints and loosen connections. If a charger designed for a dry, stable garage workbench is used, it may fail, causing a potentially dead battery or worse, an electrical short. True marine-grade waterproof battery chargers understand the savage nature of the environment as they design it from the bottom up. This requires moisture and corrosion resistant conformal coated circuit boards, terminals and casings made of corrosion resistant materials, and construction that can endure life at sea. These design elements are the least understood and boaters are left adrift, helpless, until they are forced to recognize the design flaws.

Understanding Waterproof Ratings and Quality of Construction

On a product that states that it's waterproof, you should know that the product isn't completely waterproof. This is where you need the international protection rating, or IP rating, which is a two digit code that is used in some countries to standardize waterproof protection. An example is IP67. The first digit in the code refers to a protective measure of solid particle (such as dust) ingress on a scale of 0 to 6, with 6 being dust tight. For a marine application you want a 5 or a 6. The second digit rates the protective measure of liquid ingress on a scale of 0 to 9. For a weather exposed electronic that sits on a boat, you want a IP66 rating or ideally a IP67 rating. This rating should be a certifiable standard and not a marketing claim.   For a product that claims to be waterproof IP67 or higher rating looks like a perimeter with noisemakers, and is dust tight (6). This rating should not be a marketing claim. Out of the rating, the build should be examined. You want features like sealed gasket connections, marine grade wiring, and a rugged non corrosive outer chassis, which is often aluminum (with good surface coatings). For years of service, you need the build to have physical robustness to be as good as electrical performance.

How to Choose a Charger to Match Your Battery

Finding the right charger for your battery is a crucial step in maintaining a battery’s lifespan, after all, a waterproof charger is useless if it does not match the battery’s chemistry. Every battery requires a different charging program, just like every engine requires a different fuel. There are three main battery types: Flooded Lead-Acid, AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat), and Lithium Iron Phosphate. Each one requires a different charger considering the different voltage requirements in the bulk, absorption, and float charging stages. It's dangerous to use a charger made for a flooded battery on a lithium battery. The best marine chargers will have selectable profiles for these different chemistries, but you also need to be sure to size your charger properly. A charger’s output, which is measured in amps, tends to be around 10% to 20% of the battery’s capacity to ensure it is not undersized or oversized. For a 100Ah battery, a 10-20A charger would be a good fit. If a charger is undersized, it will take too long to recharge. If it is oversized and not properly managed, it might overheat and add unnecessary stress to the battery. It is also crucial to have a smart, multi-stage charger. These chargers maintain the battery’s health and complete a recharge with maximum efficiency by switching between phases of charging.

Why Choosing a Specialist Manufacturer is Important

Out of all of the considerations to make, what brand to go with is important. The marine industry is high risk, with unique standards and extreme consequences for failures. Choosing a big box store generic charger is a large risk. Instead look to manufacturers that focus on power solutions designed particularly for extreme conditions. For example, Wengao Electronic is an industry specialist with an engineering focus on providing reliable power supply solutions for demanding worldwide applications. Manufacturer specialists know the details that go into protecting against corrosion, thermal regulation of sealed enclosures, and resistance to vibration. Their products are frequently put through extreme testing that surpass the standards set for the average consumer. Choose a provider who has documented experience and defined technical requirements, products that are marine certified, or carry important safety certifications like CE or RoHS. By purchasing a charger from a technical partner, you are not purchasing just a product. You are purchasing the research that covers a multitude of years, the assurance of quality, and the peace of mind that your power supply will not be the weakest link on your vessel.

Selecting the most rugged waterproof battery charger involves balancing excellent charging abilities with the most defensive durability. A charger needs to be rugged, with a high IP rating that can withstand the environment, but also has the intelligent charging capabilities to maintain the health of your battery. Waterproofing with matching battery chemistry and obtaining a charger from a specialist of marine electric applications give you more than just the ability to fully charge a battery. You also get peace of mind, the ability to rely on the durability of your marine equipment, and the reliability of a fully charged battery. Don’t let your next voyage be limited by a failing battery, get your ship a charger that can withstand the trip.