Crealock 34 - Battery Charger Recommendation

[LouAnn34]

Greetings all,

This past weekend my Pro Mariner 12 volt charger quit working (stopped "humming") ... I believe it was manufactured in 1987 - the booklet is dated 1983.

The charger is located on the port side, inside the engine area about 3 feet back from the engine and forward of the gusher whale pump.

I am looking for recommendations for a new charger ... I have four 12 volt wet cell group 31's using Blue Sea combiners so as to have two banks of batteries.

Thank you for your advice.

sv Lou Ann
C34, #68

[outbound]

stay away from Xantrex. Replaced one with another. Didn't work. Did it again. Didn't work. Did it a third time. Worked. Only good thing was supplier gave us no guff. Just kept giving use new ones when prior failed. Once got one that worked been fine since. Still the hours involved and loss of use was frustrating.

[RainDog]

I just replaced mine. Did a lot of research and opted for the Iota. I went with a 55 amp, but they come in sizes from 15 to 90.

Where do you store the 4 batteries? Would love to see a picture of your install. Putting in two more is my next project.

[LouAnn34]

Greetings,

Three fit in the original box and the fourth is next within a plastic battery box in the cockpit port locker.

I hope this helps.

[arisatx]

Originally Posted by LouAnn34

Greetings,

Three fit in the original box and the fourth is next within a plastic battery box in the cockpit port locker.

I hope this helps.

LA34:

This thread by MaineSail may be of help re: chargers.

But looking at your photo, I am wondering how you've got your batts interconnected. Here is how I would expect a house bank of 4 Group 31's connected (diagram courtesy of another Maine Sail thread on 1/both/2/off switches here).

[34crealock]

Slightly off thread. I located my fourth 12volt bat in a plastic bat box under the quarter berth aft of the nav station. Iwired it to the 12v power panel through its own switch. If I leave the main bat SW in both it won't discharge bat #4.I was a pilot for 40 years so I can't help making back- ups for back- ups. It is charged by its own solar panel. I want to add a pair of 6v deep cycles this year but I'm not sure where yet?

[wsmurdoch]

I have a Xantrex True Charge 20 amp battery charger. I've had no problems with it at all. I installed it in 2005. It is in the engine compartment.

I have three group 29 batteries in the house bank and one Optima battery for the engine starting battery. Two of the house batteries are in the original battery compartment at the bottom of the port locker. The third house battery is on a shelf to starboard of the rudder shaft and the starting battery is to port. A 75W solar panel along with a CS-130 alternator controlled by a Xantrex regulator charges the house batteries when we are unplugged. An Xantrex Echo Charge keeps the starting battery topped up.

Because Irish Eyes is tiller steered, the space where the quadrant would be is open. That is where the two extra batteries are.

Bill Murdoch
Irish Eyes
1988 PSC 34

anchored in South Beach
Irish Eyes to the Bahamas

[thor]

I had a full electronics redo done this Winter. I went with a Victron Eneergy Phoenix 50A.