*Note: If looking to purchase a Mastervolt Battery Charger, we carry both the ChargeMaster and Mass Series Mastervolt Battery Charger, here…

The name Mastervolt is synonymous with marine battery chargers.

Started 1991, Netherlands-based Mastervolt has risen to a leadership position in the autonomous energy industry, providing products with power ranging from 300 to 40,000 watts.

With three highly-advanced R&D centers in Amsterdam, Auckland, and Wisconsin, Mastervolt’s engineers have remained on the cutting edge of the management, conversion and storage of electrical energy.

The Importance of Selecting A Reliable Marine Battery Charger

Nothing shortens your battery life more than storing it without a maintenance charger. Before you’re left stranded out somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you want to make sure you have a healthy and properly charged battery.

With a Mastervolt battery charger, you can ensure a much longer battery life while maintaining its capacity. Even with low-quality grid power, you’ll be able to charge your batteries safely, reliably, and quickly. Mastervolt battery chargers have a mean time between failures of (MTBF) of 280,000 hours (at full capacity and 24/7 use), making them ideal for even the most heavy-duty industrial vessels, but also perfect for recreational boating.

Fast battery charging is guaranteed by the efficient use of available grid or marine generator power.

Post on TheHullTruth.com boating forum from member F.T.W (with above image): “I work off shore on this. We use Mastervolt and nothing else.”

Differences Between Mastervolt Battery Chargers – CHARGEMASTER and MASS

Two of the most popular marine battery chargers available from Mastervolt are the ChargeMaster and Mass series chargers. While they share many similarities, there are a few differences as well.

Mastervolt’s Mass chargers are older than the ChargeMasters. With that being said, physically, the Mass chargers have a slightly more durable construction. The ChargeMasters are newer, and have a friendlier price point, due to having a bit more plastic in their construction.

Mastervolt Mass battery chargers have a nominal input voltage of 230V, while ChargeMasters come in both 120V and 230V.

Mass chargers come with up to 2 battery outlets, or “banks”, ChargeMasters come with up to 3 outlets/banks, depending on the model.

Mass chargers are touted as more of a commercial model, and have the option of a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), while ChargeMasters are more often used for recreational purposes.

How Smart Boat Battery Chargers Work – Automatic, Quick, and Safe

Mastervolt’s modern charging process allows a battery to be charged quickly and safely in 3 steps.

The first step is the BULK PHASE, in which the battery is charged quickly. During the Bulk Phase, the battery charger is working at 100%. The duration of this phase depends on the ratio of battery to charger capacity, and how discharged the batteries are to start off with.

The next step is the ABSORPTION PHASE, which begins once the battery has been charged somewhere between 80 – 90%, and finishes once the battery is fully charged. Battery voltage remains constant throughout this stage, and charging current varies depending on how discharged the battery is, battery type, ambient temperature, etc.

Once fully charged, a Mastervolt charger switches to FLOAT PHASE. In this step, charging is set to a lower level, in order to keep the battery from burning out, while maintaining it at its optimal condition, and providing users with battery power.

A battery charger with 3-step+ charging can remain connected to the battery, even in winter, and ensures a long lifespan for your batteries as well as being safe for the connected equipment.

How To Select The Correct Battery Charger For Your Boat

What voltage should I get my battery charger?

You need to make sure your battery charger matches your output voltage. If you have two 12v batteries in parallel setup, than you will only need a 12v battery charger.

However, if you have two 12v batteries in series setup, you will have an output of 24v, and need to match that with a 24v battery charger.

*Caution: Make sure to never have mismatched voltages between your charger and batteries. Having more volts will not charge your battery any faster, and will lead to a destroyed battery, charger, and may even catch fire.

How Many Amps Do I Need for My Boat Battery Charger?

This depends on your battery type and size. In this case, more amps does indeed mean a battery will recharge quicker.

Rule of thumb = 25% of the battery capacity as a charge capacity is sufficient to safely and quickly charge batteries while still supplying power (for example, a battery charger of 50 amps is sufficient for a 200 Ah battery).

If you need further help figuring out the proper battery charger for your boat, please feel free to chat with us below, or contact us here.

Tips For A Longer Boat Battery Life

If you want your marine battery to live longer, keep the following things in mind:

• Shallow discharges lead to a longer battery life (discharging the battery fully before recharging is called a “deep discharge”; partially discharging then recharging is a “shallow discharge”)

• 80 percent discharge is the maximum safe discharge

• Don’t leave batteries deeply discharged for any length of time

• Charge batteries after each period of use

• Don’t mix old batteries with new ones

Also, you want to avoid the following:

Undercharging: not recharging your batteries on a regular basis leaves them with sulfate that hardens on their plates, and they’ll gradually lose their ability to perform. This resistance when charging causes falsely elevated voltage readings, which fools the battery charger… leading to further undercharging, and so on and so on.

Beyond a certain point, a sulfated battery cannot be returned to it’s healthy state, and will require a replacement.

Overcharging: consistent overcharging (NOT equalization) of your boat’s battery boils the electrolyte out of the cells, potentially leading to thermal runaway, with the battery becoming hotter and hotter. This can lead to dangerous consequences.

Excessive deep discharge: don’t completely discharge a deep cycle battery if you can avoid it. The deeper the discharge, the less life you’ll get from the battery. The ideal method is to charge and discharge the batteries somewhere within the middle range (50 – 85 percent) of their capacity.

Mastervolt Battery Chargers For Sale (and Mastervolt Prices)

Due to our excellent relationship with Mastervolt and its distributors, we are able to provide Mastervolt Battery Chargers at very attractive prices.

To give you an idea of the price range on Mastervolt marine battery chargers, we have the smallest model, the Chargemaster 12/10, with a 12 Volt nominal output, total charge current of 10 Amps, and a battery capacity range of 25-100 Ah (ampere hour), for $209.99.

On the upper end of the range, the Chargemaster 12/100, with a 12 Volt nominal output, total charge current of 100 Amps, 3 battery outlets, and a battery capacity range of 200-1000 Ah, goes for $1,259.99.

The Mass models, for their extra commercial uses, extra features and durability, go for a bit more, they range from $899.99 (15 amps) up to $2,759.99 (100 amps). For more on the ChargeMaster and Mass Series of Mastervolt Battery Chargers, see here!

And as mentioned, any questions on Mastervolt or marine battery chargers in general, feel free to chat with us below or contact us here!

Have a good one!

CitimarineStore.com
3300 NW 112th Ave,
Doral, FL 33172
(800) 766-5256
info@citimarine.com

Related products:

• Victron Marine Battery Chargers