Marine Battery Charger
A lithium boat battery earns its keep on the water and gets its charge back at the dock. A marine battery charger for LiFePO4 comes two ways: a portable charger that clips on at the end of the day, or a waterproof onboard charger you mount once and plug in after every trip. Match it to the bank’s voltage, 12V, 24V or 36V, and size the amps to its capacity.
Marine Battery Chargers
Portable ChargerAlligator ClipsDakota Lithium 12V 10A Lithium Marine Battery Charger
Onboard ChargerAnderson SB50Dakota Lithium 12V 20A Lithium Marine Battery Charger (Onboard, Waterproof)
Portable ChargerAlligator ClipsDakota Lithium 24V 5A Lithium Trolling Motor Battery Charger
Portable ChargerAnderson SB50Dakota Lithium 24V 20A Lithium Trolling Motor Battery Charger (Ultra Fast)
Portable ChargerAnderson SB50Dakota Lithium 36V 8A Lithium Trolling Motor Battery Charger
Onboard or Portable, 12V or 24V
Start with the voltage of the bank you charge. A 12V house or cranking battery takes a 12V charger. A 24V trolling motor bank, whether one 24V battery or two 12V batteries wired in series, takes a 24V charger that charges the whole bank at once. A 36V bank works the same way on a 36V charger.
Then pick the style. A portable charger lives in the truck or the garage and clips onto the terminals. An onboard charger stays on the boat, wired to the battery, so charging is one cord at the dock or in the driveway; Dakota’s 12V 20A onboard unit is sealed to IP67. Size the amps to the battery: hours to full from empty is roughly amp hours divided by amps, so a 100Ah battery takes about 10 hours on a 10-amp charger and about 5 on a 20-amp. Need the battery too? Shop our lithium marine batteries, or call 888-274-7544 and we will match the pair.
Marine Battery Charger FAQ
Can I charge a lithium marine battery with my old marine charger?+-
Only if it has a lithium or LiFePO4 mode. Lead-acid marine chargers use float, equalize and desulfation stages that lithium does not want, and they tend to stop short of full. A charger built for lithium charges at the right voltage and then stops.
Do I need a 24V charger for a 24V trolling motor?+-
Yes, if the bank is wired for 24V, whether it is one 24V battery or two 12V batteries in series. A 24V charger charges the whole bank at once. Dakota rates its 24V 5A for Dakota batteries wired in series to make 24V, and its 24V 20A works with trolling motor wiring kits.
What is the difference between an onboard and a portable marine charger?+-
An onboard charger is mounted on the boat and wired to the battery, so you plug in one cord at the dock. A portable charger clips on and comes off after each charge. The Dakota 12V 20A onboard is sealed to IP67 and connects with an Anderson SB50 plug and ring terminals.