Battery Charger dilemma

[tico]

When we get to the boat after any time away and switch on the batteries etc, the voltage indicator shows ~12.65v, all OK, but the battery charger does not start charging when first switched on but waits for 30-45 minutes before kicking in.
Hence when lights go on, elec loo pumped etc, the voltage drops to ~12v because the charger isn't starting. Later on, the charger starts charging and quickly brings the volts up to float level (13.2v)
Charger is a 'Three phase' manufacture. (not actually 3ph 415v)

Is this normal? or likely to be a charger fault? If so then any preferred choice of a replacement between Sterling Power and Mastervolt?

 

[Plum]

When did it last work correctly? Is the charger connected to a different battery than the one feeding those appliances you turn on when you get to the boat?

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[tico]

Been like that since I got the boat (not new) 12 months.
Yes connected to starter battery bank and domestic bank (as well as passerell battery and genny start battery)
Start batts showing full charge.

 

[Dino]

Is it an old charger? I replaced an old Newmar battery charger earlier this year with a Victron. The Newmar never seemed to charge the batteries fully. I watched a few videos on YouTube from Jeff Cote from Pacific Yacht Systems and he made a very good point. It was something like.. if your charger is one of the older units with a pressed steel cover and has louvred stamped into the case then it’s probably an old 3 stage charger and it should be upgraded to a 4 or 5 stage smart charger. He said the older ones were not very smart and were likely to under or overcharge your batteries

 

[cherod]

Is it an old charger? I replaced an old Newmar battery charger earlier this year with a Victron. The Newmar never seemed to charge the batteries fully. I watched a few videos on YouTube from Jeff Cote from Pacific Yacht Systems and he made a very good point. It was something like.. if your charger is one of the older units with a pressed steel cover and has louvred stamped into the case then it’s probably an old 3 stage charger and it should be upgraded to a 4 or 5 stage smart charger. He said the older ones were not very smart and were likely to under or overcharge your batteries

Not so sure about thst , mine is pressed steel / rubber with louverd all over , cost me 70 odd £ last year ! Is very good

 

[rafiki_]

I had a Sterling 3 leg Sterling. This was at least 8 years old and never gave a moments trouble. Victron probably have the best rep, but I was very happy with the Sterling

 

[starfire]

Sterling every time, I have replaced lots of faulty mastervolt chargers, never had a problem with any of the Sterling ones I have fitted.

 

[Plum]

Been like that since I got the boat (not new) 12 months.
Yes connected to starter battery bank and domestic bank (as well as passerell battery and genny start battery)
Start batts showing full charge.

So which battery is your volt meter connected to? If it is only reading the starter battery, maybe the charger starts working straight away charging the domestic bank and then turns to the starter battery after 30 mins.

 

[tico]

Good thought but, i've replaced both the starter and domestic banks and it's made no change. I can switch to monitor the voltage on either bank but it's the charging current i'm looking at. This doesn't move for about 30-40 mins after first switch on , then indicates as one would expect.
PS: Anyone heard of 'Three Phase' chargers?

 

[Bigplumbs]

If it is old and you can afford it the Victron chargers are very good and quite small in comparison. Most also have bluetooth so you can monitor what is going on from your phone. I like that feature.

Mind you if it aint broke dont fix it.

If the charger is seeing the voltage from the starter battery which is good it might take a while to 'spot' the reducing voltage from the domestic batteries and hence the 35 min wait. This might actually be quite normal for an older charger which as others have said is not that smart

 

[halcyon]

Good thought but, i've replaced both the starter and domestic banks and it's made no change. I can switch to monitor the voltage on either bank but it's the charging current i'm looking at. This doesn't move for about 30-40 mins after first switch on , then indicates as one would expect.
PS: Anyone heard of 'Three Phase' chargers?

If you do not switch on any loads does it still wait 30-40 minutes to start ? may have lost it's voltage settings, starting at a lower voltage and 13.2 should be 14.4 volt.

Brian

 

[starfire]

From what I remember of the 3 phase brand, its big, heavy & dumb.
Far better off with a modern digital charger

 

[Bigplumbs]

When my charger recently went I had all this sort of dilemma and wondering and concern. I got the Victron fitted it my self and am now well pleased. I even smile because I think I saved about 2kg from my all up boat weight

 

[tico]

BP thanks- It did the same with knackered starter batteries. will look at Victron, but Sterling have an advantage in that I live close to their UK base
Halcyon-havnt tried that yet, may be a possibility.
SF- Pretty much my assessment, probably time to replace with a modern unit, hence the q re modern units.

 

[Portland Billy]

I leave my charger switched on when not on the boat and connected to mains.
It keeps the batteries fully charged and cuts out when this is achieved.
I thought this was normal practise.

 

[gordmac]

Not really my area but why would you want the charger to operate before the battery has a bit of space to put the electricity? Would seem sensible there is a delay before charging starts. If you switch on a high drain does it start charging sooner? The battery voltage whilst in use will be lower than the rest voltage for the same state of charge.
It is a battery charger not a device to charge batteries rather than something be used to provide electricity instead of the battery?

 

[n.herring]

Is it an old charger? I replaced an old Newmar battery charger earlier this year with a Victron. The Newmar never seemed to charge the batteries fully. I watched a few videos on YouTube from Jeff Cote from Pacific Yacht Systems and he made a very good point. It was something like.. if your charger is one of the older units with a pressed steel cover and has louvred stamped into the case then it’s probably an old 3 stage charger and it should be upgraded to a 4 or 5 stage smart charger. He said the older ones were not very smart and were likely to under or overcharge your batteries

Just done exactly the same, newmar charger was going onto trickle charge and staying there even if batteries needed a boost, after 15 years it had given up.

 

[tico]

gordmac- even with flat batteries it wouldnt start for 30-40 mins!
Dino/NH- think thats it, old charger past it's best, PS sorry 'Three Phase' is the model, made by Newmar

Oh well, its only money!

So.... Victron / Sterling or Mastervolt.. really need 3 outputs and a total of 50A to support domestic use.

 

[Dino]

 

[Dino]

I fitted a Victron 50A IP43 3 outlet unit. Very compact and no noisy fan.