[Marcvet]

My Balmar 30 amp charger packed it in (not sure why or how) and i want to replace it with either a Xantrex or Charles. Does anybody have any experience pro or con either make. I'm charging 2 banks, one bank of 6 golf cart batteries and one group 27 starter.
Thanks
Marcvet
s/v Gantman

 

[klem]

I have used the 40amp xantrex units extensively to charge banks of 8 golf cart batteries. The old models got really hot and needed an external fan aimed at the cooling fans or they would not last long. The newer ones don't get nearly as hot and don't seem to need external cooling. They truly are a "smart" charger and once you get the cooling sorted out, they work quite well.

 

[jason3317]

I have a Charles 5000 (60AMP) charging a pair of 6V Lifeline AGMs (300AH), plus a start battery via DuoCharge.

American made, well built aluminum chassis with cooling fan. Smart charging profiles for AGM, Gel and Lead-Acid.

One potential negative, no equilization cycle.

I would buy again.

Others will recommend Iota, too.

 

[Maine Sail]

Have had

Have owned both a Xantrex and a Charles and would not buy either a second time. I would suggest looking into an Iota..

 

[motion300]

Have owned both a Xantrex and a Charles and would not buy either a second time. I would suggest looking into an Iota..

What he said Get the iota with the smart controler Save $ and get a better unit

 

[jason3317]

Have owned both a Xantrex and a Charles and would not buy either a second time. I would suggest looking into an Iota..

When MaineSail, speaks, I listen. You should, too.

But, Maine, can you give some more insight why you would not own the Charles or Xantrex again? It is because the Iota is just better, price value wise? Or something else?

Thanks.

 

[Maine Sail]

But, Maine, can you give some more insight why you would not own the Charles or Xantrex again? It is because the Iota is just better, price value wise? Or something else?

Thanks.

Xantrex cooked itself, twice, and Xantrex customer support was basically non-existent.

Charles had a nasty resonant hum. Sent it back, re-installed it, and hum was worse. Took months to get it back from service and was still broken.

 

[sailingdog]

Besides, the IOTAs are far more reasonably priced...

 

[wwilson]

Be sure to get one with an equalization (conditioning) circuit. Your batteries will thank you for it.
Look at NewMar as well.

 

[negrini]

I had both Xantrex and Charles. First powered a 300amps bank for years, second powered a 450amps bank for the 3 years I owned it. I liked both and would have then again. Well, may be it's because wife hummms on me louder ...

 

[Waltthesalt]

I use a 60 amp Balmar to charge a 300AH house bank and a separate 30 amp charger stock with the diesel that charges the 45 amphr starting battery. The Balmar has a smart voltage regulator and the engine one is a dummy. I use a "zap-stop" on both.

 

[watom]

Iota

Are we talking about this IOTA battery charger
IOTA Battery Chargers
My recent Prosine 2.5 craigslist purchase fried and Xantrex won't do anything as I do not have a receipt it was a new unit in the box. So I am looking to get something less expensive. Xantrex is very slow to respond do not recommend them I sent Technical services a email and called several times no help, finally responded to my email three weeks later after it fried and now are really no help. The interesting thing was it fried while out sailing, only the VHF GPS and Autopilot we on somebody came below and said I smell something burning, never pinned it down until after returning to the dock.

 

[watom]

A second question

Do you all also have a fuse between your battery charger and the battery is so what amp is the fuse and what setup do you use Maxi fuse Mega fuse or Anl fuse.

 

[btrayfors]

Watom,

If your battery charger fried and you smelled it while you were out sailing then: S T O P

Do not go any further until you have checked out your DC electrical system. There's a problem, and you don't want either to screw up a new charger or, worse, start a fire.

If you feel you don't have the requisite skills, then it would be wise to spring for an hour of a professional ABYC-certified marine electrician' time to look over your system.

BTW, if you just go ahead and install a new charger and it DOES create a fire, your insurance company may balk at any reimbursement.

Yes, you need an appropriately sized fuse in the charger circuit.

Bill

 

[watom]

Fried Charger

Bill all I did was remove my old promariner 40 and replaced it with the new charger. Same AC supply hooked the positive to red and negative to black just like the old on. The new Prosine was charging my batteries fine even though the remote panel didn't work. Could have the alternator been feeding back to the charger and the old one didn't matter but the new solid state couldn't take it.

 

[sailingdog]

You do still need a properly sized fuse for the charging circuit.

 

[DoraPearl09]

Battery Chargers

Does anyone have any experience with ProMariner Protech 1230I Plus Battery chargers? I am replacing an older 30Amp Guest Charger and would like some insight, the Promariner is about the same physical size which is apealling to me. I have heard that Charles is a pretty good battery charger for lead acid batteries, does the ProMariner compare? Has anyone had any experience with Vetron Energy Chargers?

Thanks,

BC

 

[btrayfors]

BC,

Thought someone would have replied to your query by now. Guess everyone's hunkered down for the weekend

The ProMariners are OK, but they are very noisy from an RFI perspective (interference with HF radios).

The Charles Industries chargers have a good reputation, but I've no direct experience with them.

MasterVolt chargers have a good rep, too.

The VICTRON Energy chargers are terrific. Probably the best-built ones on the planet. I've got a MultiPlus inverter/charger and love it. Have installed several others. A friend has three of them on his 60-footer! Only problem is that Victron products are expensive (and, yes, you get what you pay for!).

I'd steer a wide course around any Xantrex chargers. Many problems reported and customer service virtually non-existent.

Best bang for the buck...especially with flooded batteries...are the Iota chargers with the IQ-4 smart-charge option. They're very well designed and built and work extremely well. Very good prices, too, from Arizona Wind and Sun, and other outlets. They come in sizes from 15A to 90A. I've got two (one at home, one on my boat) which have been in use 24/7 for nearly five years.

Bill

 

[DoraPearl09]

btrayfors,

Thanks so much for the response. Its great to heart froms others with far more experience with different issues. You have to love this sailnet community. I'll check out the IOTAs.

Thanks again,

BC

 

[Maine Sail]

BC,

Thought someone would have replied to your query by now. Guess everyone's hunkered down for the weekend

The ProMariners are OK, but they are very noisy from an RFI perspective (interference with HF radios).

The Charles Industries chargers have a good reputation, but I've no direct experience with them.

MasterVolt chargers have a good rep, too.

The VICTRON Energy chargers are terrific. Probably the best-built ones on the planet. I've got a MultiPlus inverter/charger and love it. Have installed several others. A friend has three of them on his 60-footer! Only problem is that Victron products are expensive (and, yes, you get what you pay for!).

I'd steer a wide course around any Xantrex chargers. Many problems reported and customer service virtually non-existent.

Best bang for the buck...especially with flooded batteries...are the Iota chargers with the IQ-4 smart-charge option. They're very well designed and built and work extremely well. Very good prices, too, from Arizona Wind and Sun, and other outlets. They come in sizes from 15A to 90A. I've got two (one at home, one on my boat) which have been in use 24/7 for nearly five years.

Bill

Agree 100%! This is how I see it.

Victron = Lexus - Very reliable, expensive and high WOW factor.
Iota = Toyota - Very reliable, simple and elegant
Mastervolt = Honda - see Toyota above
Charles = Chevy - It works but not as reliably or well as the Jap brands..
ProMariner = Kia - Tried to knock off the Japanese but missed the mark.
Xantrex - Chrysler - Low reliability / can't seem to do much right anymore.

My Charles was quite buggy & noisy as well. I actually have a brand new 2 bank ProMariner in my work shop, still in the box. It won't be going on my boat. It was given to me by a neighbor whom I talked into an Iota. He made a good choice..