12V to 36V Marine DC-to-DC Charger | Charge on the Run
Charge on the run · 12V/24V input · 36V output
12V to 36V Marine DC-to-DC Charger | Charge on the Run
Turn engine-run time into regulated 36V charging for a compatible trolling-motor battery.
The Epoch 12V to 36V marine DC-to-DC charger helps tournament anglers extend trolling-motor runtime by converting power from a compatible 12V or 24V starter-battery system into a regulated 36V / 10A auxiliary charge. Automatic voltage sensing, selectable LiFePO4/lead-acid/AGM modes, BMS activation, IP67 construction, and onboard mounting make it a practical run-and-gun charging solution.
Smart onboard charging between mixed-voltage systems
The Ultimate “Charge on the Run” System
Bridge a starter-battery charging system and a separate 36V trolling-motor battery without a direct battery tie.
Most bass boats divide power into a 12V starting system and a separate high-voltage trolling system. The CHG-DC-36V monitors the source side, converts the available DC voltage, and applies a controlled 36V charge whenever the source rises above the published engine-running threshold.
The charger is also compatible with a 24V source system. It is not compatible with a 36V input battery and is not a replacement for a full dockside recharge.
Step Up 12V or 24V Power to 36V
The 13–30V input range accepts compatible 12V or 24V starter systems and supplies one 36V / 10A auxiliary charging output—approximately 360W nominal on the output side before conversion losses.
Smart Voltage Start and Stop Control
With a 12V source, charging starts above 13.8V and stops below 13.0V. With a 24V source, it starts above 26.8V and stops below 25.2V. This helps preserve starting-battery reserve when source voltage falls.
Selectable 36V Battery Profiles
Use the MODE button to select LiFePO4, lead-acid, or AGM before charging. Compatible sleeping lithium batteries can be activated by holding MODE for approximately three seconds.
Protect Starting Reserve and Plan Alternator Capacity
Voltage sensing helps prevent low-voltage source drain, while regulated charging avoids an uncontrolled battery-to-battery connection.
The charger stops when source voltage falls below its published threshold and enters hibernation after approximately 20 idle minutes. It continues monitoring voltage and resumes when the charging threshold returns.
Alternator compatibility still matters. A 36V / 10A output represents roughly 360W before losses, so input-side current on a 12V system can be substantial. Confirm the outboard or vehicle charging-system rating, existing loads, available current margin, cable size, fuse protection, and voltage drop before installation.
Built for Demanding Marine Environments
Epoxy-filled ingress protection, active heat management, and secure onboard mounting.
IP67 Epoxy-Filled Enclosure
The charger enclosure is filled with pure epoxy resin for a high level of ingress protection. Do not intentionally submerge the unit, and keep the ring terminals, cables, and connections protected from rain, snow, standing water, and damage.
Aluminum Cooling with Waterproof Fan
This model is not fanless. The aluminum housing and bottom cooling plate work with a waterproof cooling fan. Maintain more than 30mm of clearance and keep the cooling surfaces and fan unobstructed.
Compact Secure Mounting
The 250 × 95 × 68mm enclosure uses 6.5mm mounting holes with M6 fasteners recommended. Secure the charger to a rigid surface and support the input and output leads against vibration and abrasion.
Straightforward Onboard Installation
Connect the labeled source leads, select the auxiliary battery chemistry, and connect the 36V output using the supplied wiring diagram.
Red connects to positive and black to negative. The red and black conductors within the same cable jacket must connect to the same battery. Because this charger is non-isolated, grounding and polarity must be planned carefully.
Battery type cannot be changed while charging. Disconnect the output ring terminals before selecting a different MODE setting. Use appropriate input and output fusing, disconnects, marine-grade cable routing, and terminal protection.
Compatible use cases
Bass boats, trolling-motor batteries, and mixed-voltage marine charging systems.
- ✓ Bass boats that use a 12V starter battery and one compatible native 36V trolling-motor battery.
- ✓ Boats with a compatible 24V source system and a separate 36V auxiliary battery.
- ✓ Tournament fishing and run-and-gun applications where engine time can supplement trolling-motor energy.
- ✓ 36V LiFePO4 trolling-motor batteries using the selected lithium profile.
- ✓ Compatible 36V AGM or lead-acid auxiliary batteries using the matching MODE setting.
- ✓ Marine systems that need automatic voltage-based charging without a manual ignition trigger.
- ✓ Sleeping lithium batteries that support charger-based BMS activation.
- ✓ Onboard installations with correct fusing, source capacity, cable sizing, ventilation, and grounding.
Charger features
Mixed-voltage conversion, automatic voltage control, chemistry selection, BMS activation, marine sealing, and protection.
Complete the charge-on-the-run system
Pair the charger with a compatible battery, full dockside charging, source monitoring, and properly engineered DC distribution.
Technical Specifications
Exact input thresholds, output, chemistry modes, operating logic, isolation, protection, dimensions, and installation boundaries.
| Identification | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Epoch Batteries |
| Product | 12V to 36V Marine DC-to-DC Charger | Charge on the Run |
| Model / SKU | CHG-DC-36V |
| Product type | Single-bank, non-isolated marine DC-to-DC battery charger |
| Charging banks | 1 |
| Published warranty term | 2-year limited warranty: free repair or replacement |
| Input | |
| Supported source systems | Compatible 12V or 24V starter-battery systems |
| Published DC input range | 13–30VDC |
| Unsupported source | 36V battery input is not supported |
| 12V start threshold | Above 13.8V |
| 12V stop threshold | Below 13.0V |
| 24V start threshold | Above 26.8V |
| 24V stop threshold | Below 25.2V |
| Input-current rating | Not published on the current product page |
| Output and Battery Compatibility | |
| DC output | 36V / 10A |
| Nominal output power | Approximately 360W based on 36V × 10A; actual conversion performance varies |
| Output battery | One compatible 36V auxiliary battery |
| Selectable battery types | 36V LiFePO4, 36V lead-acid, or 36V AGM |
| Battery-type control | Front-panel MODE button |
| Mode-change rule | Complete selection before charging; disconnect output ring terminals before changing battery type |
| Native series-string guidance | Follow the battery manufacturer's approved charging and balancing method |
| Operating Logic | |
| Automatic source detection | Starts and stops according to the detected 12V or 24V input thresholds |
| Idle / hibernation | Enters hibernation after approximately 20 minutes at idle while continuing to monitor input voltage |
| Manual power control | Hold MODE for 6 seconds to turn off; short-press MODE to wake |
| Lithium activation | Select LiFePO4, then hold MODE for approximately 3 seconds |
| Normal charge indication | POWER solid green; CHARGING solid red |
| Full-charge indication | POWER and CHARGING LEDs solid green |
| Connections and Isolation | |
| Input connections | Pre-wired ring-terminal leads; red positive and black negative |
| Output connections | Pre-wired ring-terminal leads; red positive and black negative |
| Isolation | Non-isolated |
| Wiring boundary | Red and black leads within the same cable jacket must connect to the same battery |
| Network requirement | No published NMEA 2000 or communications-network requirement |
| Replacement fuse | 15A |
| Protection and Thermal Management | |
| Short-circuit protection | Yes |
| Reverse-connection protection | Yes |
| Overcharge protection | Yes |
| Overtemperature protection | Yes |
| Housing | Aluminum housing with bottom aluminum cooling plate |
| Cooling | Waterproof cooling fan; not fanless |
| Environmental and Mechanical | |
| Ingress protection | IP67; enclosure filled with pure epoxy resin |
| Working temperature | -20°C to 40°C / -4°F to 104°F |
| Nominal working temperature | 25°C / 77°F |
| Product dimensions | 250 × 95 × 68mm / approximately 9.84 × 3.74 × 2.68 in |
| Mounting holes | 6.5mm |
| Recommended fasteners | M6 screws appropriate for the mounting surface |
| Required clearance | More than 30mm around the unit; do not block the fan or cooling surfaces |
| Published weight | Not listed on the current product page |
| Installation Boundaries | |
| Alternator compatibility | Verify rated alternator output and available current after all existing boat loads |
| 12V-source current | Can be substantial because 36V / 10A equals about 360W before conversion losses |
| Cold-weather lithium charging | Do not charge below 0°C / 32°F unless the battery has approved heating or manufacturer permission |
| Ingress caution | Do not expose the plug or ring terminals to rain or snow; do not intentionally submerge |
| System protection | Use appropriate fusing, conductor sizing, disconnects, grounding, and marine installation practices |
Alternator and marine safety note
The charger regulates energy transfer, but the complete source and output circuits still require engineering.
Confirm the source charging-system capacity, starter-battery health, cable ampacity, voltage drop, fuse selection, grounding, mounting, ventilation, and auxiliary battery limits. Disconnect and isolate the batteries before service. Never charge a frozen, damaged, or unsupported battery, and do not treat IP67 as permission for permanent submersion.
DC-to-DC conversion visualizer
Turn a 12V or 24V starter system into a dedicated 36V charging source.
The charger automatically recognizes the source-voltage class, waits for the matching start threshold, and then supplies one independently regulated 36V auxiliary-battery bank at up to 10A.
Nominal system comparison
Voltage is stepped up—not passed straight through.
The 12V and 24V labels describe source-system classes; the charger accepts an actual 13–30V DC input range.
Current belongs to a specific side
10A is the rated 36V output current.
Because the charger boosts voltage, source-side current varies with source voltage, charging demand, and conversion losses.
Automatic source-battery protection logic
Different source systems use different start and stop thresholds.
The charger waits for alternator-raised voltage before beginning and stops as the source voltage falls. The separation between start and stop points creates a clear switching gap rather than one shared trigger.
What the charger is doing
Sense. Convert. Regulate.
The source and auxiliary battery remain different voltage systems, with the charger managing the energy transfer between them.Connect the charger to either a compatible 12V or 24V starter system. A 36V battery is not supported as the input source.
Choose 36V LiFePO4, AGM, or lead-acid mode before charging the auxiliary battery.
In LiFePO4 mode, holding MODE for approximately three seconds can activate a compatible sleeping battery BMS.
Correct polarity and the manufacturer’s wiring diagram are essential; input and output do not have galvanic isolation.
This visual compares the manufacturer’s published nominal system classes, rated output, input range, and switching thresholds. It is not a measured voltage-, current-, or time-based charging curve. Actual charging voltage and current vary with selected chemistry, battery state of charge, source voltage, temperature, conversion efficiency, BMS behavior, and protection logic. Follow the supplied manual for wiring and operation.
Epoch 12V to 36V DC-to-DC Charger FAQs
Common questions about source-battery protection, alternator compatibility, 36V batteries, cooling, isolation, and onboard installation.
How does a 12V to 36V “charge on the run” system work?
The charger monitors a compatible 12V or 24V starter-battery system and converts that DC power into a regulated 36V / 10A charging output for one auxiliary battery. With a 12V source it starts above 13.8V and stops below 13.0V; with a 24V source it starts above 26.8V and stops below 25.2V. This allows charging while the source system is being replenished without a direct, uncontrolled battery-to-battery connection.
Will the charger drain my starting battery while I am fishing?
The automatic voltage thresholds are designed to stop charging when source-battery voltage falls below the published cutoff. The charger also enters hibernation after approximately 20 minutes at idle while continuing to monitor voltage. Correct wiring, a healthy starting battery, and a properly sized alternator are still essential.
Can the charger use a 24V starter-battery system?
Yes. The published input range is 13–30VDC, so the charger can use a compatible 12V or 24V starter-battery source. For a 24V source, charging starts above 26.8V and stops below 25.2V. A 36V battery is not supported as the input source.
Can I use it on three 12V batteries wired in series for a 36V trolling motor?
Epoch publishes this charger for one compatible 36V auxiliary battery. A three-battery 12V series string may require individual-bank charging and balancing according to the battery manufacturer's instructions. Do not assume that charging the full 36V string alone will keep the three 12V batteries balanced.
Does this replace my plug-in AC onboard charger?
No. A charge-on-the-run charger supplements the trolling battery while the source engine or charging system is active. The 36V output is limited to 10A, so short boat runs may restore only part of the energy used. A compatible AC onboard charger is still recommended for a complete dockside recharge and periodic balancing.
Will it protect every outboard alternator from overload?
The charger regulates the auxiliary-battery output to 36V / 10A, avoiding a direct connection between the two battery systems. That does not guarantee compatibility with every alternator. The output represents roughly 360W before losses, so input current on a 12V system can be substantial. Verify the outboard's rated charging output, existing electrical loads, cable sizing, and available alternator margin before installation.
Is this charger electrically isolated?
No. Epoch lists the CHG-DC-36V as non-isolated. Voltage-sensing start and stop control is not the same as galvanic isolation. Correct polarity, common-ground planning, cable routing, fusing, and adherence to the supplied wiring diagram are critical.
Is the charger fanless?
No. It uses an aluminum housing and bottom cooling plate together with a waterproof cooling fan. Keep the fan and cooling surfaces clear, provide more than 30mm of installation clearance, and do not mount the unit where airflow is obstructed.
Can I mount it in a wet bilge compartment?
The enclosure is epoxy-filled and rated IP67, but Epoch still says not to expose the plug or ring terminals to rain or snow. Do not intentionally submerge the charger. Mount it securely in a protected, ventilated location where cables, terminals, glands, and the cooling fan can be inspected.
Can it charge 36V AGM or lead-acid batteries as well as LiFePO4?
Yes. The front MODE button provides selectable 36V LiFePO4, lead-acid, and AGM charging modes. Complete the battery-type selection before charging. The setting cannot be changed during charging; disconnect the output ring terminals before selecting a different mode.
Can it wake a deeply discharged lithium battery?
Yes, for a compatible sleeping LiFePO4 battery. Select LiFePO4 mode and hold the MODE button for approximately three seconds to activate the BMS. This feature cannot repair a damaged, frozen, or unsafe battery.
Can I charge a frozen 36V lithium battery?
No. Do not charge a LiFePO4 battery below 0°C / 32°F unless the battery has an approved internal heating system or its manufacturer specifically permits below-freezing charging. The charger's operating-temperature range does not override the battery's low-temperature charging limit.
Shipping times are in business days.
Please allow for 5-10 business days processing and shipping. You may receive your products in multiple shipments and packages. Currently we only ship to the Continental 48 states.
Additional shipping charges and requirements may apply to those outside the 48 states.
