Click for Nordhavn Click for Abeking Click for Ocean Alexander Click for Perko Click for Walker

Battery Charger recommendation

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by Pascal, Jul 14, 2019.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Pascal, Jul 14, 2019
    #1
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,655
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    I want to get a spare battery charger on board, just in case.... The Charles 5000 is working but almost 10 years old, I don’t want to be pushing my luck

    with Charles out of the marine charger business I m looking at alternative.

    Need 3 banks, 24v, 60amp, 230v

    So far I found either Newmar, Victron or Mastervolt. Any feed back on these 3 brands?
  2. Capt Ralph, Jul 14, 2019
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,667
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    We put the big Victron in a 24V Hat last fall. Very happy customer.
    Please look at the Skyll-i (3).
    Comes in 80 or 100 Amp models. All 3 isolated channels get it's own full charge.

    Let me know if you can't find a Victron Jobber down your way.

    BTW, I push the MasterVolt stuff also.
    Still do. Just in this case, 3 full channels at high current went to Victron.
  3. Pascal, Jul 14, 2019
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,655
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    The Skylla-i(3)!isnt easy to find. I was looking at the Victron Centaur 24/60...
  4. MBevins, Jul 14, 2019
    #4
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,230
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    I put Victron in as well, very happy.
    I've heard they're developing a more extensive sales/support network in the USA.
  5. Pascal, Jul 14, 2019
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,655
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Where are they made? Not China I hope ...
  6. Capt J, Jul 14, 2019
    #6
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,614
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I've had lots of issues with the Mastervolt 24 volt/60amp 3 bank chargers and would avoid them. I would look for a spare that has the connections in the same location, so you're not scrambling to add wire. Newmar is ok. I installed Victron and had good luck with those. Jerry's Marine Supply and Wards marine electric in Fort Lauderdale sell them.
  7. Liam, Jul 15, 2019
    #7
    Liam

    Liam Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    Messages:
    671
    Location:
    Malta
    Victron all my life. Installed on many boats. Only one which I know got burned cause the owner kept on starting engines on it.
    I have one on my current boat, eleven years and still running perfect.
  8. ranger58sb, Jul 15, 2019
    #8
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    927
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    What does this mean, please?

    -Chris
  9. Capt Ralph, Jul 15, 2019
    #9
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,667
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    All US sales come in thru the same distributor up north. It takes a couple of days for any of my Victron orders to come in. Not many dealers keep many models on local shelves.
    The Skylla-i(3) has the led bar graphs on the front I felt were important. The Centaur gives no info on what bank is demanding current. IMO, nice to know.
    Built in The Netherlands. Across the hood from MasterVolt.
  10. MBevins, Jul 15, 2019
    #10
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,230
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    This looks like a local logical place to start. Got it off the Victron site. I don't know them at all.

    ARW Maritime, Inc (Distributor & (Also Service Partner)
    ARW Maritime, Inc 3211 South Andrews Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316+1 954 463 0110
  11. Pascal, Jul 15, 2019
    #11
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,655
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Thanks. Someone suggested Ward Marine which I ve used in the past and for some reason I always forget ...
  12. MBevins, Jul 15, 2019
    #12
    MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,230
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    Yes they're listed as well.
    There's actually a few in Florida.
    I suggested this one because they appear to be a service center as well.
  13. Capt J, Jul 15, 2019
    #13
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,614
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    When it comes to chargers, of all of the retailers in Fort Lauderdale. Wards has by far, the largest selection of battery chargers in stock.
  14. Liam, Jul 15, 2019
    #14
    Liam

    Liam Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    Messages:
    671
    Location:
    Malta
    Technically you are supposed to switch off your Charger before switching engines on.
    Now these new crop of Battery Chargers are able to understand the alternator input, none the less the initial alternator charge sometimes can burn a charger even from the new digital age era type.
  15. ranger58sb, Jul 16, 2019
    #15
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    927
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    Hmmm.... haven't seen that recommendation before. Our charger manuals have been silent on the topic...

    -Chris
  16. Capt J, Jul 16, 2019
    #16
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,614
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    It has always been recommended to shut off the charger when starting the machinery for the voltage drop/spike etc. reason. But a lot of yachts this isn't even possible due to the location of the breaker for the charger.
  17. ranger58sb, Jul 17, 2019
    #17
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    927
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    Useful to know, thanks.

    -Chris
  18. Capt Ralph, Jul 17, 2019
    #18
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,667
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    My old Raritan regulated Crown chargers are connected to the run switches.
    Chargers off automatically when starting and running the engines.

    The newer chargers don't seem to have this option any more.
  19. Capt Ralph, Jul 17, 2019
    #19
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,667
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    On a later Hat with C32s, the owner was confused with varying light brightness with the lower hallway overhead lights while under way. He was blaming a bad connect somewhere.
    I asked him to watch the DCv levels next time out. Sure enough, bouncing from 24 to 30 Vdc.
    He called and reported this, I told him to turn off his battery charger, that was still on while gen set was running.
    Then Solid 27Vdc and lights solid.

    The alternator and multi step charger were fighting each other.
    The charger kept restarting it's cycle at high Vdc bulk.

    Alternators are on the engines for a reason.
  20. menkes, Jul 18, 2019
    #20
    menkes

    menkes Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2007
    Messages:
    107
    Location:
    Aretsou, greece
    I disconect shorepower before I start the engine, this way there is no conflict between charger and alternator
Page 1 of 2