Battery charger not working?

[Dennisb]

I have an original battery charger, I believe, on my boat. It has a meter which never moves from zero and the cabin panel light says it is always charging. It's either always charging or never charging. I replaced all three batteries over the past season. I think it is time for a new charger. Any recommendations?

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Is your setup 3 banks, or 2 banks but one bank contains 2 parallel batteries? What the total battery Ah?

 

[Little Ducky]

These chargers are fantastic.

http://www.promariner.com/en/products/dry-mount-chargers

 

[Dennisb]

Is your setup 3 banks, or 2 banks but one bank contains 2 parallel batteries? What the total battery Ah?

Three batteries. So two banks with two batteries together in parallel. The two together say Group 24 675MCA. The single battery, I'm not sure at this point as the boat is in storage now.

 

[Dennisb]

These chargers are fantastic.

http://www.promariner.com/en/products/dry-mount-chargers

Thanks, which model would you recommend?

 

[Little Ducky]

Thanks, which model would you recommend?

They are all rated for what kind of power service you have in your boat.

From 10 to 60 amps services

My 98 290 DA has a 30 amp service so the model installed in my boat is 1230P. Most are good for 3 battery banks except for the 10 amp model according to the brochure.

I also have 3 batteries in my boat. 2 tied together for Port Engine, House and Generator and the single is tied to the Starboard Engine.

On thing nice about the smart chargers is you can program them to the type of batteries you are using to you get maximum life. I changed from flooded batteries (had a leaker plus they were 5 years old) to AGM and all it took was a few simple steps to reprogram the charger.

 

[Dennisb]

Many thanks. Will check out the 1230P.

 

[northern]

May boat has an original battery charger AC Converter. I use it when I run the generator. It has no meter. It has its own AC Breaker. The only way I can tell if it is working is to watch the AC volt meter on the panel and flick the breaker on and off if it goes up when I flick the breaker I assume the charger is working.

 

[Dennisb]

Good tip. But I have a feeling mine never stops charging. Will investigate further next season.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Three batteries. So two banks with two batteries together in parallel. The two together say Group 24 675MCA. The single battery, I'm not sure at this point as the boat is in storage now.

I would likely go with a 3 bank that allows "stacking". Meaning, you can wire 2 banks outputs to one bank. This would allow you the summed output of the two banks, to better match the AH of those 2 batteries in parallel.

 

[Dennisb]

I would likely go with a 3 bank that allows "stacking". Meaning, you can wire 2 banks outputs to one bank. This would allow you the summed output of the two banks, to better match the AH of those 2 batteries in parallel.

 

[Dennisb]

Got it. Will keep this info for next Spring. Thanks.

 

[MonacoMike]

These chargers are fantastic.

http://www.promariner.com/en/products/dry-mount-chargers

I second this brand.

MM

 

[wayne0]

I second this brand.

MM

+3!

 

[MonacoMike]

+3!

Looks like we have a winner!

MM

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

I know this is old but all your batteries have to be the same type and about the same age as per recommendation from the charger manufacturer.