where to mount an onboard charger

Just got a 3 bank on board charger to charge my cranking battery (175 alumacraft trophy) which is located in the stern (middle between two jumper seats) and my two deep cycle batteries located underneath the passenger side console. I am thinking of mounting it in the same compartment as the deep cycle batteries, but the installation manual suggests against this (due to corrosive gases) and also it wouldn’t have the required 6 inches open on all sides for ventilation. I would also need to extend the lead to the cranking battery. A second option would be in the stern in the compartment underneath one of the jumper seats. There is lots of room, but I would have to extend the two leads up to the deep cycle batteries. A third option would be inside the rod locker on the side, but there wouldn’t be six inches on all sides for ventilation and also there is not a good mounting surface, although I could probably fashion one in there. Any advice on where to mount it would be appreciated. Thanks!

One thing you may want to spend some time doing is looking around the boat for a place to place it where you have plenty of air circulation and where it’ll stay dry. Inside a hatch is good, even if you’ve got to prop it open while charging just so there’s some air circulation. But if you can find a place where it’ll stay dry and you’ll also be able to see the lights on the side to see what the charging status is, that’s a real bonus. You may have to get creative with your mounting. Mine is mounted under my driver console and I have a longer wire spliced into one lead to get back to the starting battery. Just make sure you keep the wire the same size as the original or a size bigger.

Last winter I installed a 3 bank and put it under my driver side console. Out of the way and generally a dry area. I did have to get special extension from mfg to extend my lead to the starting battery, Warranty would have been voided if I used any other type of an extension other than what was provided by the mfg. Just my .02 worth.

Thanks guys, I never thought of the driver console! are your deep cycle batteries under the passenger side console? If so, how did you route wires from the charger to them? Did you go through the floor and back up? Thanks!

My batteries are in between the driver console and the passenger console. My charger is located under the passenger console in the toe space. I have a direct shot to my batteries.

On my old boat, I mounted the charger in a storage compartment and ran the wires under the floor to the batteries. I had to open the storage lid to get the cord out, and then I just left it open while charging.