Factory Charger Died

JGrider · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

I could use some advice. I have not used my boat but a couple of times and have only spent overnight twice but I plan on spending a lot more nights on the water. I currently only have two batteries and I Have a guest 2610A that just died.
Money is important to me so I have been looking a lot on Ebay and online but I still want to buy the best charger I can for the money. I have seen a lot of chargers and I have read a lot of posts and I have gotten even more confused. I have also seen a few chargers and inverters combined.
Heres my questions,, What would you recomend for the beginner? Please, actual model numbers. I must tell you that the Guest is very simple to replace with only five connections, so I would like it good but simple if that is possible.

Thanks,
John

Will-C · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:29 am Post subject: Factory Charger Died

How old are your batteries? After about four or five years I would start to replace at least one at a time. Try calling Guest and see what they say if you can get thru to them. Maybe move up to a bigger model as Guest makes a pretty wide variety of chargers.

D.D.

Aurelia · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

It would be helpful to know what your use plans are. Will you go out for an overnight then head back home on a trailer to be recharged slowly in the driveway or are you planning to be out night after night and plugging in at a marina or do you actually keep the boat in the water all the time? Is your boat wired for shore power or are you just relying on your batteries for all power needs? How much of your battery capacity will you use in a day and how quickly will you need the charging to occur? If you are a minimal user and only need charging ability similar to the stock unit, I would not hesitate much to use the two bank model listed here for 80 bucks.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/AutoBoat-Batteries-Chargers/On-Board-Chargers-Inverters%7C/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104465880/ProMariner174-ProMite-Chargers/737749.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-auto-boat-batteries-chargers-on-board-chargers-inverters%2F_%2FN-1100565%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104465880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104794380%253Bcat104698080

If you are discharging your system more deeply by anchoring out overnight and running accessories, followed by a repeat of the same the next night, how much engine use will occur during that day for recharging and what engine is on your boat? I would at least consider a higher output charger if you are discharging your batteries significantly because if you follow that with a day of little engine use, and a night at a dock, you may need a bit faster charging ability depending on the size of your batteries and how much you use them while recharging.

Instead of a 5/5amp two bank model, you could consider a 10/10 two bank model with a total of 20 amps charging capacity which should fill up two of your average batteries overnight even if they are still running lights and other small items. See the 20amp, 2 bank model listed here.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/AutoBoat-Batteries-Chargers/On-Board-Chargers-Inverters%7C/pc/104794380/c/104698080/sc/104465880/Cabelas-Advanced-Anglers-ProSport-II-On-Board-Marine-Battery-Chargers/734150.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-auto-boat-batteries-chargers-on-board-chargers-inverters%2F_%2FN-1100565%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104465880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104794380%253Bcat104698080&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104794380%3Bcat104698080%3Bcat104465880

There are many brands and models that can do the job but if your charger is exposed to a moist environment and you plan to install in permanently, I would at least plan to purchase a marine "type" charger that is water proof or resistant.

The more you can tell us about your boat and your plans, the more detailed the recommendations we can give.

JGrider · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:30 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

Thanks for the replies. I will be using shore power often and tying up at marinas so I will atleast step up to a 20 amp charger.
Thanks

Doryman · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:37 pm Post subject:

A general comment about this topic:

I installed a Xantrex LinkLike battery monitor on the Tom Cat before going to the Broughtons earlier this "summer" and it was freaking awesome. I run a big WAECO freezer off an inverter (the DC input died) and with the LinkLite I learned when I could run the freezer and when not. My general practice was to turn it off overnight when not connected to shore power. The insulation was sufficient to keep the food and jugs of ice (which I swapped out of the perishables cooler) nicely frozen.

Warren

petemos · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:38 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

I had a 2621A charger fail on me. See this C-Brats link: www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=16166. I contacted Guest and they seems to be replacing it under warrantee, even though it is in a new 2007 boat I bought in 2008. I also had used it very little, maybe 4-5 weeks in the last 3 years. I would go to the Guest site and put in a request for service. They may be able to fix it or give you a replacement for very little or no cost.
I have not received the replacement unit yet, but when and if i do i will drop you a note.

Jim

JGrider · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

Thanks Jim, I read your previous post yesterday. I think mine is atleast a year out of date and I did not buy mine new. I think the warrantee would be gone.

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Factory Charger Died

petemos · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

The unit just arrived. Brand New. These Guest guys are great as my unit was also out of warrantee and it was $379 for a replacement. I would still contact them and give it a shot. Just go to the Guest site, select service and fill out a request.

Jim

JGrider · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

Thanks Jim. I give it a try. Glad they helped you.
John

JGrider · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:46 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

Could someone tell me if they believe a zantrex 1000 charger/inverter would run a small microwave?
PS Guest representitive told me that my 2610A was to far out of warrantee to offer me any assitance.

Aurelia · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject:

If that model puts out 1000 watts, it could just barely start and run our little sharp model but I should warn you it is not a normal model and is no longer on the market. Sharp half pint. I would expect a 1500 watt model would safely run most smaller microwaves out there.
Even if they say 700 watts on the box, they likely need over 1000 at startup.

BrentB · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject:

on a related note

An useful device is a Kill-a-Watt meter and sells for less than $20 with free shipping on many web sites ...buy.com, Meritline, ...
see
http://p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html

It measures watts, volts, line frequency and amps

Very handy tool!

JGrider · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject: Factory Charger Died

Aurelia, Did you mean the inverter was an old model or the microwave was an old model. Your probably right about the startup requirements.

BrentB · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

The K A W link is down, try http://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4400-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU