Battery & Charging Devices

Marine battery chargers, monitors, isolators and distribution gear from Victron, Enerdrive, BEP, Blue Sea and Quick, stocked at Bosun’s Locker on the Gold Coast.

Marine battery and charging gear is what keeps the rest of the boat working, so we stock chargers, monitors, isolator switches, distribution clusters and battery boxes from Victron, Enerdrive, BEP, Blue Sea Systems and Quick. The range suits everything from a single starting battery to a house bank running a fridge and electronics overnight.

Chargers, monitors and switching

A modern multi-stage charger such as the Enerdrive 12V 100A 3 Output Smart Battery Charger will charge separate banks independently, which stops a tired house bank pulling down the battery you need to start the engine. To see what is actually happening, the Victron Battery Monitor BMV-712 Smart reports state of charge to your phone rather than leaving you guessing at a voltage reading. For switching and isolation we stock the Quick S12NB Bipolar Battery Isolator Switch, the Blue Sea Systems ML Solenoid and the BEP Battery Distribution Cluster with DVSR for a single engine and two banks. Batteries themselves need securing and venting, which is what a Large Battery Box is for, and the Relaxn Single Panel Socket with voltmeter and dual USB adds charging points at the helm.

How do I set up a house and start battery properly?

Keep the banks separate and let a voltage-sensitive relay or a DVSR do the joining. The principle is simple: the alternator or charger tops up the start battery first, and once it is full the relay brings the house bank in, so no matter how flat the house bank gets overnight the engine still starts in the morning. Add a monitor so you are reading state of charge rather than voltage, size the cable to the current and the run length rather than guessing, and fuse close to the battery. Related ranges: electrical and lighting, control panels and switches, and cabin and deck lights for the loads themselves.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate house and starting battery on my boat?

If you run a fridge, lights or electronics at anchor, yes. Separating the banks and joining them through a voltage-sensitive relay or DVSR means the house bank can be drawn down overnight without ever touching the charge in the battery that starts the engine.

What does a battery monitor tell me that a voltmeter does not?

A voltmeter shows voltage at that instant, which moves with load and temperature and is a poor guide to how much capacity is left. A battery monitor counts current in and out, so it reports actual state of charge as a percentage and how long you have at the current draw.

Can you supply battery chargers and isolators outside the Gold Coast?

Yes. We ship battery and charging equipment Australia-wide from our Gold Coast store and regularly supply owners in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Tweed. If you tell us your bank size and what you run at anchor, we can help you size the charger and cable.