Battery Charger
- Thread starter SeaSpray
- Start date
Hi Steve, I've had mine for a couple years and it's been great. I think I paid $185 for it. I had the West Marine 5 amp dual charger for 10 years and it too worked well, just a bit small. It was also made by Xantrex. They both will charge two unevenly discharged batteries at the full rated amperage. The 10TB is rated for 200 AH maximum total capacity. I have a group 24 starting battery and a group 31 house and they're well within that limit. Two things I really like about it are 1) Since it's not limited by fixed length charging leads I was able to mount it on the bulkhead under the galley where it's dry and I can readily see the led display. 2) When I'm anchored I can run the charger while simultaneously using a microwave or coffee-maker w/o overwhelming my 1000 watt generator. By the time I've finished breakfast and done the dishes I've recovered the energy used overnight by the Wallas. Now I'm ready to go fishing and I'm charged up for electric downriggers and electronics.
You can visit the Xantrex website and download the manual. They also have technicians you can talk to if you have any questions. Real people that speak real English.
You can visit the Xantrex website and download the manual. They also have technicians you can talk to if you have any questions. Real people that speak real English.Attachments
This is good advice.
I presume this is important for those with single batteries, ie, without a spare or spare bank for the house circuit. If you do have a house circuit (which can be switched to for charging when back underway, after using the cranking battery or bank to strat the engine(s)), you might consider just a little maintenance charger. I bought a little $35 one (portable) at NAPA I have been extremely pleased with and use it just to keep the battery banks (house and cranking) up to snuff when the boat is on land or docked for long periods. As I understand it, this is a great investment in terms of battery life too.
I presume this is important for those with single batteries, ie, without a spare or spare bank for the house circuit. If you do have a house circuit (which can be switched to for charging when back underway, after using the cranking battery or bank to strat the engine(s)), you might consider just a little maintenance charger. I bought a little $35 one (portable) at NAPA I have been extremely pleased with and use it just to keep the battery banks (house and cranking) up to snuff when the boat is on land or docked for long periods. As I understand it, this is a great investment in terms of battery life too.
mikeporterinmd
New member
That's when it starts geting a bit more expensive! $72 if you want the
nice SS inlet, 3x10g wire is expensive, and then the panel. I recently
did an installation. There are photos in my album. I'm really happy
so far, but I did the install over the winter, so I don't know how well
it will work in practice. One thing I'm hoping for is being able to
carry just a 25' cordset since the inlet is right at the stern. Or maybe
2 25' cords and a locking collar. Should be easier to store 2 cords than
one big one. Anyhow...we'll see.
I'm really happy with that charger...but it was more expensive.
Too bad they don't make an XC2012. I had considered the TrueCharge
line, but I decided against it because the cost of the base 20 amp
charger and remote display was nearly the cost of the XC3012, and
the XC3012 supports different battery types on different banks. Don't
think the others do. If we add a refer. of some sort, I'll probably use
AGM for the house batteries.
Mike
nice SS inlet, 3x10g wire is expensive, and then the panel. I recently
did an installation. There are photos in my album. I'm really happy
so far, but I did the install over the winter, so I don't know how well
it will work in practice. One thing I'm hoping for is being able to
carry just a 25' cordset since the inlet is right at the stern. Or maybe
2 25' cords and a locking collar. Should be easier to store 2 cords than
one big one. Anyhow...we'll see.
I'm really happy with that charger...but it was more expensive.
Too bad they don't make an XC2012. I had considered the TrueCharge
line, but I decided against it because the cost of the base 20 amp
charger and remote display was nearly the cost of the XC3012, and
the XC3012 supports different battery types on different banks. Don't
think the others do. If we add a refer. of some sort, I'll probably use
AGM for the house batteries.
Mike