USB Charger on a Rib

[smallribber]

I have installed several USB chargers on various boats and even if you buy a so called marine one they seem to corrode and fail.

I think one of the best way round this is to buy something like the car starter shown in the pic below. It was about £50 from Amazon and has several features including a torch, compass, Engine boost starter and several USB outlets. It also comes in a nice case to keep somewhere on your boat. It says it will hold a charge for 6 months.

Could get you out of trouble

[willk]

It would not be at all right to just hear one side of the story. Plenty of gullible people love to pay reasuringly expensive. Are you that person. Fifty quid for a charger that needs charged? Maybe get one of these off ali and use a plug in.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005...Cquery_from%3A

[User name]

If the boat has a battery/charge circuit then I'd much rather have a weatherproof USB socket wired in and you can use dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion too.

Those emergency starters are no good in the long term. You need to keep topping them up when not in use or they fall below BMS safe charge level and refuse to take any charge.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by User name

If the boat has a battery/charge circuit then I'd much rather have a weatherproof USB socket wired in and you can use dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion too.

Those emergency starters are no good in the long term. You need to keep topping them up when not in use or they fall below BMS safe charge level and refuse to take any charge.

I have another make and I have found them able to hold a charge quite well. I will see how long this one works.

With my other one that I keep with me in one of my cars I have been able to use it to get several other people out of trouble

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by User name

If the boat has a battery/charge circuit then I'd much rather have a weatherproof USB socket wired in and you can use dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion too.

Those emergency starters are no good in the long term. You need to keep topping them up when not in use or they fall below BMS safe charge level and refuse to take any charge.

not strictly true for all maybe for the cheaper ones . these are more expensive but i use a noco gb75 at work its probably 5 or 6 years old now and i have probably only charged it half a dozen times in total but it has started probably a dozen or so vehicles each year with no issues in fact i used it to start my wifes mini just the other day and it had been in my toolbox unused and uncharged since the last time i used it before christmas and still showing more than half a charge. for what its worth i had a waterproof vusb socket on my last rib with the rubber cover and was no bother at all worked perfectly

[spartacus]

BluSea USB chargers, you pays your money you make your choice.
https://www.bluesea.com/products/cat...0/USB_Chargers

[Iron Dials]

This is an interesting question and I’ve revisited several times in the last year.

A waterproof USB outlet would be necessary and you need to make sure decent wiring/fuse panel is used on the unseen side. Lots of people use them.

But if you want to charge something via usb on a rib where does the other end of the cable with device live? Probably not on the console, unless it’s a larger rib.
Are you going to charge it in a dry bag? Or in a locker? Heat/fire have to considered when charging anything. As does water ingress. And not catching the cable and damaging the device accidentally.

Similarly if you buy a power pack you need to buy a standards compliant battery to minimise the fire risk. The link below is not boat related but consider where you get your batteries.
https://nypost.com/2024/03/03/us-new...19-fdny-chief/

Realistically on a rib most devices should last the day so charging won’t be a big need.
I just use a power pack, in a small dry bag, on the rib deck.

If the power pack dies over time, big deal, the usb outlet is just as likely to die over time and the power pack has multiple uses in the year. Cost benefit of both can be argued but replacing a usb outlet in a rib is a lot less convenient.

Just one man’s view.

[User name]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

not strictly true for all maybe for the cheaper ones . these are more expensive but i use a noco gb75 at work its probably 5 or 6 years old now and i have probably only charged it half a dozen times in total but it has started probably a dozen or so vehicles each year with no issues in fact i used it to start my wifes mini just the other day and it had been in my toolbox unused and uncharged since the last time i used it before christmas and still showing more than half a charge. for what its worth i had a waterproof vusb socket on my last rib with the rubber cover and was no bother at all worked perfectly

It's true of lithium technology in general, not just cheap chargers. I've repaired a few of those NOCO packs too.

They're a nice quality pack and the capacity is what's keeping your larger one alive for longer, but when they've done a bit more hard work and they're left unused for a while, even a single cell/group dropping below a set voltage prevents the BMS from charging the whole pack.

I keep one in the car, but I have it connected to the power outlet in the boot so it gets a little topping off every time I'm out for a drive.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

not strictly true for all maybe for the cheaper ones . these are more expensive but i use a noco gb75 at work its probably 5 or 6 years old now and i have probably only charged it half a dozen times in total but it has started probably a dozen or so vehicles each year with no issues in fact i used it to start my wifes mini just the other day and it had been in my toolbox unused and uncharged since the last time i used it before christmas and still showing more than half a charge. for what its worth i had a waterproof vusb socket on my last rib with the rubber cover and was no bother at all worked perfectly

I also have a Noco and it has been incredible and I have had it a long while. They are very good but very expensive.

I have several vehicles and wanted to keep a charger in each of the two vehicles I use the most often. I bought the one referenced here because it had good reviews and was about half the price of my Noco. I will report back after I have had it a while if I remember

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Iron Dials

This is an interesting question and I’ve revisited several times in the last year.

A waterproof USB outlet would be necessary and you need to make sure decent wiring/fuse panel is used on the unseen side. Lots of people use them.

But if you want to charge something via usb on a rib where does the other end of the cable with device live? Probably not on the console, unless it’s a larger rib.
Are you going to charge it in a dry bag? Or in a locker? Heat/fire have to considered when charging anything. As does water ingress. And not catching the cable and damaging the device accidentally.

Similarly if you buy a power pack you need to buy a standards compliant battery to minimise the fire risk. The link below is not boat related but consider where you get your batteries.
https://nypost.com/2024/03/03/us-new...19-fdny-chief/

Realistically on a rib most devices should last the day so charging won’t be a big need.
I just use a power pack, in a small dry bag, on the rib deck.

If the power pack dies over time, big deal, the usb outlet is just as likely to die over time and the power pack has multiple uses in the year. Cost benefit of both can be argued but replacing a usb outlet in a rib is a lot less convenient.

Just one man’s view.

That is the thought process I went through. The item in the OP is just a larger version of what you describe but able to start the boat or someone's boat as well if needed. In the end it was only £50

[Fender]

Originally Posted by Easedalenovice

I have installed several USB chargers on various boats and even if you buy a so called marine one they seem to corrode and fail.

I think one of the best way round this is to buy something like the car starter shown in the pic below. It was about £50 from Amazon and has several features including a torch, compass, Engine boost starter and several USB outlets. It also comes in a nice case to keep somewhere on your boat. It says it will hold a charge for 6 months.

Could get you out of trouble

Sorry, just for clarification, the car starter your recommending, is it 4 or 2 stroke and pull or electric start? Also, regarding the 6 months holding a charge - won't the E10 fuel go off before then?

[User name]

Originally Posted by Iron Dials

Cost benefit of both can be argued but replacing a usb outlet in a rib is a lot less convenient.

Just one man’s view.

I would have said significantly more convenient tbh. Many of them can be removed without even needing tools.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by Fender

Sorry, just for clarification, the car starter your recommending, is it 4 or 2 stroke and pull or electric start? Also, regarding the 6 months holding a charge - won't the E10 fuel go off before then?

46p.....

[Iron Dials]

No tools needed picking up a fresh USB power pack.

[User name]

Originally Posted by Iron Dials

No tools needed picking up a fresh USB power pack.

You'd need a crowbar at least, to open my wallet for an expensive power pack instead of just swapping out a simple USB socket.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by User name

You'd need a crowbar at least, to open my wallet for an expensive power pack instead of just swapping out a simple USB socket.

I also carry one of these. £9.99


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charmast-50...ps%2C89&sr=8-5

[Iron Dials]

Originally Posted by User name

You'd need a crowbar at least, to open my wallet for an expensive power pack instead of just swapping out a simple USB socket.

Whatever you're having yourself.
A waterproof USB outlet with proper (Marine grade) fused feed is a lot more expensive than a "simple USB socket" and also more expensive than a tidy USB power pack for phones in a Decathlon dry bag.

I wasn't referring to an engine start pack but the likes of NOCO are far more versatile as a year round solution that isn't just committed to your boat.

[willk]

Are we ready for the video?:

Critical Systems: USB Charger or Powerpack?

[User name]

Originally Posted by Iron Dials

Whatever you're having yourself.
A waterproof USB outlet with proper (Marine grade) fused feed is a lot more expensive than a "simple USB socket" and also more expensive than a tidy USB power pack for phones in a Decathlon dry bag.

I wasn't referring to an engine start pack but the likes of NOCO are far more versatile as a year round solution that isn't just committed to your boat.

A smaller basic power pack is always an option, and I do use them myself but you'll at least want something from a reputable brand so you can be sure you're not getting no-name cells that won't last, or god forbid, cause a fire.

Another common issue of power packs (and USB in general) is that the ports wear out and it's not as simple to replace in a battery pack as one would be in the console.

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by User name

A smaller basic power pack is always an option, and I do use them myself but you'll at least want something from a reputable brand so you can be sure you're not getting no-name cells that won't last, or god forbid, cause a fire.

Another common issue of power packs (and USB in general) is that the ports wear out and it's not as simple to replace in a battery pack as one would be in the console.

Heck these things are cheap to buy. If they wear out just buy another one.

Regarding the cells inside you can never know what you are getting. Same with those abominations called Electric cars. One big lottery. Price is no longer a gauge of quality