Disappointed with Sterling Power products

[sunquest]

Back in 2009 I purchased a Procharge 20 battery charger from Sterling to replace a Procharge20 which I "blew up". It was a good deal with 35% off as a " trade in". Since then the unit has been replaced twice for the same problem, that is it functions as it should in all charging aspects but the cooling fan fails to come on, resulting in the charger overheating and shutting down until it has cooled down when it restarts charging. Recently for the third time the same fault has returned albeit new units were supplied each time. I returned the unit to Sterling who state the unit is out of warranty and suggest I purchase the latest model as the Procharge has been superceded. When I ask what the fault is they say it's tested and cannot or they don't want to repair it. This is a surprise as to me the problem is one of two things - either the fan has packed up or the element which switches on the fan is faulty. Easy to diagnose and easy to fix I would have thought. I have asked for a wiring diagram but this was refused.
Three faulty units in 4/5 years suggests either the design or quality of the product is suspect. Sterling are returning the unit to me and I propose to disconnect the fan and replace it with a 12volt comparable one. I will connect it through a 240volt relay to supply 12 volts when the charger is on. One downside I can see is the fan will be permanently on whilst the charger is on. My faith in Sterling products is low and I question whether they actually R and D their products, or source to their specification from Asia or wherever.
Any observations or suggestions welcomed. Thanks

 

[Billjratt]

You don't need a 240 volt ( or any volt ) relay. Just connect the fan across the output of the charger before the regulator (so the battery doesn't run the fan all the time).

 

[sunquest]

You don't need a 240 volt ( or any volt ) relay. Just connect the fan across the output of the charger before the regulator (so the battery doesn't run the fan all the time).

Many thanks Billjratt, makes perfect sense.

 

[cliff]

Give your local trading standards a call giving them all the facts and dates. Mr Sterling's attitude may very well be adjusted by a call from TS.

 

[chrisb]

I am surprised to hear this . My almost new pro charge 60 developed a fault 3 months after purchase . An email to Sterling from Grenada where I then was brought a reply from Mr Sterling himself within two hours . The outcome was that an engineer was sent onboard at no charge to me and the faulty unit was replaced .Can't fault the service

 

[sunquest]

I am surprised to hear this . My almost new pro charge 60 developed a fault 3 months after purchase . An email to Sterling from Grenada where I then was brought a reply from Mr Sterling himself within two hours . The outcome was that an engineer was sent onboard at no charge to me and the faulty unit was replaced .Can't fault the service

Ah but once again the unit was replaced not repaired but I do accept it was not returned to Sterling. My fault appears to be fairly straight forward and even with the resources at Sterling they cannot or will not repair or replace it.
As a matter of interest it is now 6 days since I asked for the unit to be returned, I think an email is in order.

 

[Boo2]

Back in 2009 I purchased a Procharge 20 battery charger from Sterling .... My faith in Sterling products is low and I question whether they actually R and D their products, or source to their specification from Asia or wherever.
Any observations or suggestions welcomed. Thanks

Yep, I've seen lots of similar posts on these forums and have resolved simply not to buy from this supplier. Shame, as the specs of several of their products are quite enticing and if I believe they'd be any good I would certainly be interested...

Boo2

 

[Dazedkipper]

I have seen 'Sterling' products being sold under different names (US sites) and concluded that both the US outlet and Sterling are just badging products from another source.

 

[BlueChip]

You don't need a 240 volt ( or any volt ) relay. Just connect the fan across the output of the charger before the regulator (so the battery doesn't run the fan all the time).

Or use a temperature switch controlled switch mounted on the heat sink. I have my battery charger in a locker and use a 12v PC cooling fan to vent the locker switched by such a device, it only kicks in when the charger is running at >20A
I got mine from CPC, they are available in different temperature ratings and in N/O or N/C configurations.

 

[sunquest]

Thanks for all your input, I emailed Mr Sterling 24 hours ago and still no response. My disappointment is turning to total dissolutionment and doubt whether I will ever buy off them again.
Good suggestion Blue chip, can you give me a product number/ source for the Temperature switch
Many thanks.

 

[BlueChip]

Thanks for all your input, I emailed Mr Sterling 24 hours ago and still no response. My disappointment is turning to total dissolutionment and doubt whether I will ever buy off them again.
Good suggestion Blue chip, can you give me a product number/ source for the Temperature switch
Many thanks.

Something along these lines woul do the job. URL:http://cpc.farnell.com/honeywell-s-c/2455r-01000079/thermal-switch-n-0-60c-45c-reset/dp/SN36002

You would need to mount it on the heat sink with self tapping screws using thermal paste to get a good temperature transfer, when the switch reaches temperature, the contacts close and the cooling fan starts. When it cools the fan stops.

 

[Gwylan]

Well, that's interesting.

We have a Sterling charger and the fan is temperamental. sometimes it works silently away, but from time to time it makes the most awful noise and will only be placated by a sharp thump or a splash of WD40 [not when it is running, I add]

Sad really because I sort of believed that Sterling were a cut above some of the badged up boxes that appear on the market.

Have moved on to a couple of Lidl smart chargers at £13 each - bit of a difference in price and totally silent.

 

[Tintin]

I have seen 'Sterling' products being sold under different names (US sites) and concluded that both the US outlet and Sterling are just badging products from another source.

Perhaps Mr Sterling will be along to refute this, after all their website and literature makes great play about how they design everything and how they are a cut above the rest - if he cannot defend the re-badging claim then his marketing materials should be referred to the ASA for adverts and web, and trading standards too just for good measure.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Perhaps Mr Sterling will be along to refute this, after all their website and literature makes great play about how they design everything and how they are a cut above the rest - if he cannot defend the re-badging claim then his marketing materials should be referred to the ASA for adverts and web, and trading standards too just for good measure.

Just for balance, I have 2 alternator regulators, a battery charger and an inverter, all Sterling, and all have performed faultlessly for 6+ years. These were all fitted to my boat when I bought her.

I also installed the alternator regulator on my last boat and because I'm a technical numpty I phoned Sterling for installation advice and the phone was answered by Mr Sterling who was not only unhelpful but quite rude with it. Because of that experience I would think twice about buying from him again.

 

[RIBW]

My faith in Sterling products is low and I question whether they actually R and D their products, or source to their specification from Asia or wherever.
Any observations or suggestions welcomed. Thanks

I'd put it this way:-

After a recent experience (a complete rewrite of a manual so that it made sense and could be related to the physical unit) I have culled my list of potential Power suppliers.

I found responses from CTEK to any enquiry to be polite, prompt and professional (i.e. they make engineering sense). Also their spec. sheets are comprehensive and free of opinion. My current CTEK unit works flawlessly and I will use them to replace an ageing Tecsup when that reaches the top of the task list.

For every day tasks ashore (spare batteries etc) I use 2 Lidl chargers which have also worked well over the last 3 years

Regards
Bob

 

[Graham_Wright]

Perhaps Mr Sterling will be along to refute this, after all their website and literature makes great play about how they design everything and how they are a cut above the rest - if he cannot defend the re-badging claim then his marketing materials should be referred to the ASA for adverts and web, and trading standards too just for good measure.

I was told they are manufactured in the US and Sterling tweak them. I could not buy straight from the manufacturer.

 

[Dazedkipper]

Perhaps Mr Sterling will be along to refute this, after all their website and literature makes great play about how they design everything and how they are a cut above the rest - if he cannot defend the re-badging claim then his marketing materials should be referred to the ASA for adverts and web, and trading standards too just for good measure.

Just do an eBay search for marine battery chargers and you'll see the same models with different names.

 

[sunquest]

Something along these lines woul do the job. URL:http://cpc.farnell.com/honeywell-s-c/2455r-01000079/thermal-switch-n-0-60c-45c-reset/dp/SN36002

You would need to mount it on the heat sink with self tapping screws using thermal paste to get a good temperature transfer, when the switch reaches temperature, the contacts close and the cooling fan starts. When it cools the fan stops.

Thanks for your suggestion Blue Chip. Finally I spoke with a lady at Sterling Power who informed me the cost of repair was prohibitive but they would offer me 25% off a new charger. Bearing in mind the charger functioned normally except for the cooling fan being inoperative I refused her offer and had the unit returned to me . Low and behold the problem turns out to be the temperature sensor on the heat sink. So, thanks to Blue Chips suggestion, for less than a fiver a new sensor will be purchased and a very low repair cost will be made.
My original disappointment turned to disallutionment and now total dismay with Sterling Power Products and I will not or recommend them to anyone who asks.