Trouble with a Guest Battery Charger Model 2621A 20 amp

[petemos]

Guys, I think by Guest Battery Charger Model 2621A is fried. It’s a 20 amp total, 10amp, 5amp, 5amp unit. There are no lights on the unit, it’s getting 110V power and that is all I can think to look at to determine whether it’s toast. I have checked all the DC outbound fuses and they look good.

Anyone have this unit and anything I may be missing?

Thanks Jim

[oldgrowth]

Jim – you say there are no lights and it is getting 110V. If none of the LED’s come on when the unit is plugged in, the charger is bad or it is not getting AC voltage. How do you know it is getting 120 volts? The only way to know for sure is to take the cover off where the wires connect and check the terminals with a volt meter. If you have done that and there is 120 volts, the unit is bad. If this has not been done, do it.

Dave
www.tolandmarine.com

[petemos]

Hi, Dave, Yes i took the cover off and tested that I was getting 110V to the box. Then it's what i thought, its toast. These must not be the best units as if i used it 3 months in the last 4 years that would be a lot. Got any idea if Guest is really the best replacement unit, or should I just go with a cheaper unit that has the same or better specs? Also I have this Galvanic Isolator that just seems to be in series with the negitive poles for the 110V. Any idea how you tell if that thing is working and or if it could have fried the charger.


Thanks Jim

[Kelly Lynn]

I have a Guest model #16202 20 Amp 10 amp per bank (2 bank). I have it set up through my shore power. Whenever I hook up the shore power the battery charger comes on. I have the charger running all weekend during the boating season and will plug it in once a week during the offseason. Very very happy with the product no problems at all. I would recommend the product. There are pics of my set-up it in my album.

[thataway]

There is a history of limited longivity in the Guest Chargers. I have had several fail. But unless you go to really high end units, there are other brands which have failed also. The advantage of going back to the Guest, is that the wires will "fit" without modification.

The Galvanic isolator should not have any influence on the 12 volt output of the battery charger.

[petemos]

Thanks Guys. I left my charger on for the month while i was away from my home. So maybe they the Guest chargers are OK, if you don't use them for an extended period of time. I did think about the wiring issue if I go with a different unit and will take that into account when I but the new one.

Jim.

[journey on]

I believe that if you check that galvanic isolator, it's in series with the green (case ground) line of the AC power, not the white wire (return.) It's actually a capacitor/filter that allows 60 Hz AC to pass, but blocks DC currents.

As it's name says, it's to block galvanic currents between the dock/shore power and metal on the boat. You've got to give C-Dory an atta boy for including one.

As for high end (more expensive) chargers, I use those because they do a better job of charging and protecting the expensive batteries. The difference in cost between a cheap Guest and a reasonable one is ~$100, which is the cost of a battery.

Boris

[Will-C]

For whatever its worth the Guest Charger that came with my boat is left on all winter, mid December till March. Still ticking, even in the summer in between trips I keep shore power on and the battery charger on constantly.
D.D.

[petemos]

Just received a new Guest Battery Charger Model 2621A from Guest. Sent them a service request to see what it would cost me to fix the unit, as it was a $379 for a new one. Told them how long I used it and even though it was technically out of warrantee, they replaced it for no charge. I sent them a note on july 13th and I got the new unit today.

These guys seem to be great and based on this service; I will buy my next unit from them.

Jim