Mounting location for on-board charger???

  • DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 20, 2005 at 12:47 am #1233367

    Today, I received my on-board charger. I was surprised by the size of the unit (Minn Kota MK210). In what locations of your boat do you typically install these? Can these be mounted in an exposed location (ex: side of console)? The other compartments of my boat are mostly ruled out by the manufacturer’s warnings (i.e. too close to fuel or batteries).

    Thanks,
    Dan

    derek_johnston
    On the water- Minnesota
    Posts: 5022
    April 20, 2005 at 1:21 am #358175

    They can be mounted exposed however the manufacture does not recommend this. If you have a console, mount it under the console. I have mine mounted to one of the inner walls of the console.

    Jira
    Posts: 517
    April 20, 2005 at 3:00 am #358199

    Another consideration is that if you mount it on the wall under the console, may want to mount it with atleast once edge touching the floor of your boat. This will prevent stress on the walls under the console as well as on the fasteners and holes when running in big water.

    I don’t know if that is a very good explaination, so I took 30 seconds and threw this really poor image together…

    p.s. Yes, I do have too much time on my hands.

    robby
    Quad Cities
    Posts: 2829
    April 20, 2005 at 3:13 am #358202

    Mine is mounted on the inside of the transom in the bilge area. It is within inches of the batteries and within about 18 inches of the fuel tank. All I have to do to charge, is open the compartment, pull out the plug, and plug it in. I love it.

    BShimp
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 95
    April 20, 2005 at 3:32 am #358210

    What kind of boat do you have? Is there in-floor battery storage or tackle storage? I mounted mine in the battery compartment and had another boat that I mounted the charger on it’s side in a bow storage compartment. I basically looked for a convenient, easy to reach yet out of the way spot to mount the chargers. If the cables aren’t long enough to reach the batteries you could probably buy an extension. Good Luck!

    DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 20, 2005 at 1:27 pm #358266

    Thanks for the suggestions. My console is the home of my batteries(2) and my fuel permanent fuel tank. There is room on the inside wall of the console, but I read that the charger should not be above the batteries when charging due to the corrosive gases exhausting out of the batteries. Maybe I could install a couple of small vents on the sides of the console near the top.

    Here is a link to a pic of the interior of my boat.

    Dan’s boat

    I also have two small compartments in the back of the boat. I could mount this in one of those, but I would need to extend the cables. Has anyone done that?

    Dan

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    April 20, 2005 at 8:56 pm #358351

    Dan, These guys have covered the mounting options but I just wanted to say your boat is looking great! Nice work!

    DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 20, 2005 at 11:05 pm #358362

    Thanks Wade and thanks for the quick turnaround on my order.

    DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 22, 2005 at 2:04 pm #358696

    I did some looking last night. I plan to install the charger up under the console and install a couple of small vents on the console.

    One question with the charger wires. Do you leave them attached the batteries between charging sessions?? The installation manual seems to imply that you attach them only during charging sessions. D

    isclaimer: It was late last night when I was reading it and, well, I cannot be held accountable for my thoughts at that time….

    derek_johnston
    On the water- Minnesota
    Posts: 5022
    April 22, 2005 at 2:13 pm #358699

    Yes, leave them wired to the battery. Thats the nice thing about an onboard charger.

    DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 22, 2005 at 10:05 pm #358776

    Thanks

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18717
    April 25, 2005 at 9:26 pm #359322

    A nice feature for the ac plug-in would be to use a plug receptacle on a mounting surface like the plug in for most bow mount electric motors. That’s what I have and all I do is pull out the rubber plug/cover and stick the female end of ext cord in. I can do this from outside of the boat. Very convenient.

    DanH
    Posts: 115
    April 26, 2005 at 2:45 pm #359512

    That is a good idea. Thanks

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