Guest 2621a charger issue (again)...

JamesTXSD

This is not my first go-round with the Guest 2621a charger that C-Dory installed when our boat was new. We have been through a couple of these, and the current one just crapped out (again).

I called Guest to ask their Tech Support what they recommend. My new buddy, Shad, said that he hadn't heard of anyone having an issue with the 2621a charger. Then, he proceeded to tell me that the 5/5/10 (20 amp) charger isn't enough for 3 grp 27 batteries. Interestingly enough, no one (not the factory at the time or Guest) had said that in the past. If fact, when I asked about a bigger capacity charger, I was told that isn't necessary.

As in the past, one bank on the charger crapped out, followed by the second one. I am beyond (barely) the 2 year warranty, so this is on my dime... what other onboard battery chargers have given you folks good service?

Shad suggested I go with a 2631 charger (10/10/10). I'm thinking anything BESIDES a Guest might be the way I will go.

Just for reference, he was also surprised that the motor alternator could charge the batteries while cruising. I am leery of any tech rep who tells me, "We never have a problem with that..." especially when I have had a problem in the past.

What do you suggest? Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

Best wishes,
Jim

journey on · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:20 pm Post subject:

I remember when I bought things from Sears, long time ago. When whatever it was died, the little old lady would say "we never had trouble with that, you're the only one that's complained." That must be a stock answer than and it certainly is now. My response was "I'm not complaining, just give me my money back."

I've had good service from a Xantrex charger. It's gone through 2 boats now. For various reasons, I have the 40 amp, but a 20 amp will do. 40 amp at Defender is $360, 20 amp $285. A Guest 2631 is $310, for comparison.

I threw the factory installed Guest away when I got Journey On home. I thought it was too small to do the job.

Boris

Bill K · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject:

You made me go out and look at mine that was installed last month, it is a 2611A.

Yes it does look awful small.

Discovery · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:58 pm Post subject:

Jim,

Throw the Guest away. I bought a Promariner, ProTournament 150 for the 22 Angler I got last fall. I had another model of that charger on a Tracker fishing boat and it was still going strong, with the original 3 group 27 deep cycle batteries after 10 years, when I sold the boat last August. Maybe I was lucky or maybe its a great charger. I do leave it plugged in 24/7 while the boat is in storage, and check the water a couple of times a year.

http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=51015

Brent[/url]

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:10 pm Post subject:

I remember when I bought things from Sears, long time ago. When whatever it was died, the little old lady would say "we never had trouble with that, you're the only one that's complained." That must be a stock answer than and it certainly is now. My response was "I'm not complaining, just give me my money back."

Is what Boris said!

It goes right along with saying "no problem" instead of " You're welcome"!! Drives me nuts, but that's a short trip these days!

Ditch the Guest and try ANYTHING else! Are you on the road yet?

Rob & Karen · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:28 pm Post subject:

Jim,

I don't have any personal experience with them, but I have seen Mastervolt recommended on other forums.

Rob

http://www.mastervolt.com/marine/products/chargemaster-12v/

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the suggestions, so far, folks! This place is a great resource. Brent, you two were with us when I threw the first Guest away, in the Florida Keys! We'll be heading out soon, and will pass a Bass Pro or 6 along the way. I'll check 'em out.

Ray · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:21 pm Post subject:

Me being an electronics geek and all - the reading I did on these guys' design had me sold. It sure seemed BULLETPROOF to me, and had all of the design elements I would have used myself.

I put one of their single-bank chargers on Seaweed before I sold it - no troubles whatsoever, but only 6 months experience.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|985|1473809&id=1473146

Just another $0.02

Ray

thataway · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:10 pm Post subject:

I don't know anything about the Genius chargers that Ray mentions.

Mastervolt is owned by Actuant as is Guest, but there is no common technology to my knowledge. Mastervolt is a much higher end charger, and after failure of a number of Guest charters, I have gone to Mastervolt. I have a 20 amp charger on the 22 and it is working very well.

Another high quality unit is the Victron. Victron and Mastervolt are both Holland products. I know of a number of higher end vessels which are using both of these in charger and inverters.

Sea Angel · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject:

I must have a unique charger in Sea Angel. It is the factory installed GUEST 2610A charger that services my 2 - type 24 start batteries and the single type 27 house battery.

Though the charger is designed for only 2 batteries, I can charge all 3 batteries via the VSR setup employed. I have also gone through and checked all the wire connections and paths. I did find some questionable connections early on and corrected them before they impacted the system. This unit has been in the boat since July 2004.

I have no knowledge what the differences are amoung the several models mentioned other than the obvious higher charge current capacities. The usual killers are heat and too high a load current from anything like too large a battery, to a short presented to the charged or to a failed battery (any of which would also generate high internal heat, if not outright component failure).

If my GARMIN is accurate, I have abt 1845hrs of not underway time. This is also charger time in which the plotter is ON. This reading is probably accountable for abt 60% of the time, meaning the charger has a lot more hours than noted.

At the present time I don't see any reason to fix something if it is not broken. If and when I do replace the charger I will go with a 'smart 3 bank charger rated at least with a 10/10/10Amp output.

Art

localboy · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:39 pm Post subject:

My IRA · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:22 am Post subject:

Jim,

I certainly would not invest in another Guest charger given their track record on your boat. Mastervolt and Dual Pro (premium models) are two with great reputations.

Levitation · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:39 am Post subject:

I am currently using the Promariner's, ProTech-i series of chargers that Ranger put into the R25's.
I see West Marine is now handling them.

I upgraded from the 1215i (15 amp, 3 bank) to teh 1240i (40 amp, 3 bank)
The 1215i resides in our farm shop where it keeps a rack of batteries on trickle charge over the winter.

However, the other thing I have done is a portable battery charger by Schumaker that I keep in the boat as a backup unit (and for a loaner) Their SC-1000 The boat is currently in the yard and that charger is trickling the battery set (6 batteries)
This has alligator clamps that you could cut off and install a ring fitting to fit the battery clamps for a more permanent installation. They have bigger chargers.

http://www.batterychargers.com/CategoryDetail.aspx?CategoryName=Battery-Charger%2FMaintainer

Just to give y ou some more choices.

cheers

Aurelia · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:39 am Post subject:

Jim, Do you already have a VSR or other system to charge your house batteries away from the dock while running?

Greg

Aurelia · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:01 am Post subject:

Think I found the answer to my question. I have also had some luck with promariner models myself so far.