QUICK Battery Chargers

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Tomorrow I am buying a replacement for one of my batteries, AC-Delco, bought in 2007. I am also considering a new three-stage charger (IUoU) instead of the simple one that came with the boat.

The charger that I have in mind is the "QUICK SBC NRG 140 FR" which has two outlets and can deliver 12Amps. Main reason for choice at this stage is price. The batteries are 2 x 100Ah sealed type.

Questions:
(1) Would this charger be sufficient for my needs or do I need more amps?
(2) Does anyone here have an opinion about QUICK chargers?

My only experience of QUICK was a windlass that I installed on my previous boat, some seventeen years ago, and which is still giving good service.

TIA for any opinions.

 

[salar]

I have had Quick chargers in two boats and they are excellent (also with 2 x 100AH batteries). Unless there is something seriously wrong with your engine charging system you only need 12 amps to keep the batteries topped up and conditioned. The alternator should deliver enough to keep the batteries topped up during the day. Make sure you have a heavy enough cable to the charger to deliver 12 amps over the distance from the battery.

 

[sarabande]

The specification for the QUICK SBC NRG 140 FR looks quite clever, and flexible. Each output fused, which is good. Variable speed fan, so likely to be quiet. Small weight also.


Answer to Q1.
12A output is fine for 200Ahr bank. If you are going to be able to leave the boat for a few days with the charger ticking over, and NOT deplete the batteries when sailing (does the engine charge them well when it's running ?) then I do not foresee any problem to fully replenish half-charged batteries in a couple of days, especially with 3 stage control.

Q2. No experience. But they are sold all over the world. Proof of the pudding....

 

[Skylark]

My bought-new Bendytoy came loaded with Quick equipment. Over a winter hard standing, the chain counter cockpit instrument sun cover blew away. A replacement cost more than £60! I did a google search for comparison and typically Nasa cost £5 and Garmin, Simard and Raymarine cost between £10-20. This is for a plastic cover which must cost pennies to manufacture.

I'm sure their equipment is fine but be prepared to be utterly ripped-off if you ever need spares.

 

[Flica]

Tomorrow I am buying a replacement for one of my batteries, AC-Delco, bought in 2007. I am also considering a new three-stage charger (IUoU) instead of the simple one that came with the boat.

The charger that I have in mind is the "QUICK SBC NRG 140 FR" which has two outlets and can deliver 12Amps. Main reason for choice at this stage is price. The batteries are 2 x 100Ah sealed type.

Questions:
(1) Would this charger be sufficient for my needs or do I need more amps?
(2) Does anyone here have an opinion about QUICK chargers?

My only experience of QUICK was a windlass that I installed on my previous boat, some seventeen years ago, and which is still giving good service.

TIA for any opinions.

I had a Quick charger for about 5 years - it finally died without histrionics in Messologgi.

Cheap and cheerful would be a fair assessment.

 

[Bobc]

I've heard of a number of people who had them let go after only a few years. They don't seem to last very well.

I have a Sterling which seems ver good.

 

[Stemar]

Just a thought. For the cost of the charger, you could get 60w of solar panels and a two output controller which works whenever there's a bit of light, including at anchor.

I have 40w of panels and a controller that concentrates on the starter battery until it burps then turns its attention to the domestic one. Both are fully charged when I come to the boat. Even in midwinter, a week on the mooring puts back what I've used the previous weekend. For the odd occasion when you want to give a boost, a cheap and cheerful car charger would do the job, with the advantage of being able to top up the car after a few short winter trips with everything turned on.

 

[KevB]

I had a quick charger which did it's job for about 12 years. I only replaced it because I wanted a third outlet.

 

[salar]

My Quick chargers have lasted at least 7 years in constant use, probably more because I can't pinpoint when I bought them. Maybe 10 even. If you use them as designed there isn't much to go wrong is there?

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Thank You for all the opinions.

Update:
Replaced the old battery (bought in Septenber of 2007 according to the marks that I found on the label).
Removed the old charger - it was only pushing out 12,5 Volts.
Still no response from Force4 about the QUICK model.

Meanwhile, a friend has lent me a 12Volt 30 Amp three-stage charger (Bulk-Equalise-Float) to try until I get things sorted. He was keeping it as a 'spare'; apparently it is a 'souvenir' from a North Sea oil-rig... It seems to be well made and is a "MORVEN BCM 1230" and has 3 outlets

New 'problem' is now: The thing is marked "lead acid"; does this mean that it should not be used on a sealed type battery (AC-Delco S1111H) or can I go ahead and use it? According to the spec sheet (thank you Google!) the boost voltage is 14,4Volts while the float voltage is 13,8

Thanks for your patience with me.

 

[Flica]

Thank You for all the opinions.

Update:
Replaced the old battery (bought in Septenber of 2007 according to the marks that I found on the label).
Removed the old charger - it was only pushing out 12,5 Volts.
Still no response from Force4 about the QUICK model.

Meanwhile, a friend has lent me a 12Volt 30 Amp three-stage charger (Bulk-Equalise-Float) to try until I get things sorted. He was keeping it as a 'spare'; apparently it is a 'souvenir' from a North Sea oil-rig... It seems to be well made and is a "MORVEN BCM 1230" and has 3 outlets

New 'problem' is now: The thing is marked "lead acid"; does this mean that it should not be used on a sealed type battery (AC-Delco S1111H) or can I go ahead and use it? According to the spec sheet (thank you Google!) the boost voltage is 14,4Volts while the float voltage is 13,8

Thanks for your patience with me.

Probably not a good idea to use over an extended period.
The equalising charge for open lead acid is usually considerably higher than for sealed batteries and the bulk charge is put in more forcefully. With open batteries, as you can easily top-up the electrolyte to ensure you have a fuller charge.
However, all is not lost - you can frequently top up allegedly low maintenance batteries by digging your way through the valves on top of the cells and treating them as normal open batteries. On the early AC Delco, sealed batteries the valve came out quite easily - but they demanded an extraordinarily high charging regime.
The quoted voltages are not too high for sealed batteries - the problem will lie in the equalising phase current (if there is one as quoted).

 

[braehouse]

We have a Quick charger that has been in service since 2005. The only comment I have is that the fuses are soldered in and if they blow it is a return to manufacturer. Not a big job to re-solder yourself but I have not managed to find the fuses that they have used yet. No biggie for me as I have 3 outlets and only need 2. Hope this is useful.

Chris

 

[RichardS]

New 'problem' is now: The thing is marked "lead acid"; does this mean that it should not be used on a sealed type battery (AC-Delco S1111H) or can I go ahead and use it? According to the spec sheet (thank you Google!) the boost voltage is 14,4Volts while the float voltage is 13,8

14.4V / 13.8V will be fine for a sealed/maintenance-free lead/acid battery.

Richard