My 26 year old ferroresonant Sea Ranger battery charger died. The Maine Sail/Compass Marine endorsed Sterling Pro Charge Ultra is looking good. I currently have two group 24 Gel batteries that are about 4 years old and look to be good for a long? while. (but I do need more amps)
I want to go to the "one house bank with a backup/starting battery that maybe never gets used" battery switch set up (also Maine Sail inspired). I would buy group 27 or 31 US DCXC batteries for house.
With this charger could I have the house group/usual starter be wet cells and the standby/reserve be my old gels? Can the three outputs of the charger be programmed separately?
I think the answer is no.
If no is true it leads me to buy three group 27 wet batteries (2 everything batteries 1 reserve starter) and the 20 amp charger $700. ($150 each for three batteries and $250 charger) Throw out the usable gel batteries?
If the answer is yes I would lean to buying two group 31 wet batteries and the 30 amp charger. $700 ($200 each for two house/starter batteries and $300 for charger) backed up by the gels that I have now as the reserve. Gel cell batteries seem to last a long time when you never use them.
I also have a very old West Marine battery combiner and an old Ample power 3 step regulator that are currently used in the charging system if that helps anything somehow.
WMJR
1987 Pacific Seacraft 31
I want to go to the "one house bank with a backup/starting battery that maybe never gets used" battery switch set up (also Maine Sail inspired). I would buy group 27 or 31 US DCXC batteries for house.
With this charger could I have the house group/usual starter be wet cells and the standby/reserve be my old gels? Can the three outputs of the charger be programmed separately?
I think the answer is no.
If no is true it leads me to buy three group 27 wet batteries (2 everything batteries 1 reserve starter) and the 20 amp charger $700. ($150 each for three batteries and $250 charger) Throw out the usable gel batteries?
If the answer is yes I would lean to buying two group 31 wet batteries and the 30 amp charger. $700 ($200 each for two house/starter batteries and $300 for charger) backed up by the gels that I have now as the reserve. Gel cell batteries seem to last a long time when you never use them.
I also have a very old West Marine battery combiner and an old Ample power 3 step regulator that are currently used in the charging system if that helps anything somehow.
WMJR
1987 Pacific Seacraft 31