By Boat Battery editorial team · 2 minute read · Editorial policy
Record every charging source, its profile, current limit and temperature behaviour. Keep the approved settings and equipment manuals together so a reset or replacement does not erase the system design.
Inventory all charging sources
List all charging sources, including shore power, engine charging and each solar controller. Add an inverter-charger or portable backup if one is used. It is easy to update the main charger and forget a small controller that continues applying an old profile whenever the boat is left unattended.
Record battery-approved settings
For each device record its make, exact model, firmware where relevant and the settings approved for the installed battery. These may include charge voltage, absorption behaviour, float behaviour, current limits and temperature compensation. The correct values come from the battery and charger documentation and the system designer; copying settings from another boat can create incompatible behaviour.
Document BMS charge controls
Document how charging is stopped when the battery management system requires it. A screen displaying a lithium profile does not demonstrate the whole protection chain. Record the relevant control connections, low-temperature behaviour and any restart procedure the installer has approved. Keep those records descriptive, with a reference to the wiring diagram.
Save configuration and change records
Save screenshots after commissioning and after an authorised change. Include the date and reason so the next owner or technician can distinguish an intentional adjustment from an accidental reset. If a replacement charger is fitted, check the register before putting it into service. Configuration is part of the installed system, not a one-time detail that can be discarded with the packaging.
One row per charging source
- Make, model and relevant firmware
- Approved profile and current limit
- Temperature and BMS control behaviour
- Settings screenshot, date and reason for change
- Link or filename for the exact manual
Frequently asked questions
Is choosing a lithium preset enough?
Not necessarily. Confirm the preset and all limits against the specific battery requirements and system design, including temperature and BMS controls.
Related installation planning resources
Use these notes to prepare your own measurements and questions. Check the exact equipment manuals and have the proposed system assessed for your vessel before buying or changing electrical components.
Calculate your boat battery capacity
The house bank calculator takes your loads, your nights on the hook, your solar and your alternator, and returns the bank, the DC-DC charger, the AGM equivalent and the weight you take off the boat.
Open the calculator