Sterling Battery Charger

Steve_Jones

Steve_Jones

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I have just purchased a Sterling Pro-Budget 12v 10A charger. The unit looks really simple and comes with just a 1 page spec sheet. I have attached it to my 100Ah domestic battery which iscurrently at home. My problem is that it has been on charge now for over 48 hours and has remained on what looks like 'full' charge. The system is supposed to automatically switch to 'float' once the battery is charged and a green LED and display on the LCD panel should indicate this. The weird thing is that if I connect the charger to the battery AND THEN switch it on, it shows a yellow LED and the words 'Equalise Charg'd', I don't know what this is supposed to indicate but the yellow LED tells me that it is on full charge. If I leave the charger powered on and then connect it to the battery it shows a green LED and 'Float' appears on the LCD panel. So, one of those must be correct.

I have called Sterling tech support and was told in no uncertain terms just to leave it be and 'go down the pub'!! or, 'stick a multi-meter on it to see if its charged'. Very helpful!! I bought an auto 4 stage charger so that it would take care of things on its own, but it simply doesn't appear to work.

Any ideas gratefully received!!

I've seen some posts on here relating to Sterling's less than helpfull tech support, can't say I disagree at the moment!
 
Sterling are famous for their helpful attitude !
If there is a fault and you end up with a warranty claim then you really will see them at their best !
(For the benefit of any US readers this is irony.)
 
Re: Have you...

Sorry, all the chargers shown on Sterling's website have 3 outputs, and I know from experience that people sometimes have problems when they don't link unused outputs. Your charger's obviously different.
 
Re: Have you...

Steady now!
December's PBO, page 97. Sterling Powers advert shows single output and triple output, so presumably Steve has bought the Probudget Digital Single Output charger.

I've just fitted a 20amp triple output with no problems.
pvb is absolutely correct, on the triple output all unused oulets should be connected to a used outlet. The setting up procedure on the triple unit requires the positioning of a number of switches. One switch changes the equalising charge from 14.8 volts(for lead acid and traction batteries) to 14.4volts(for sealed and gel batteries). The other switches control the length of time for the equalising charge. Obviously I don't know if Steve's charger has these switches, but it's a good place to start.
It could be a small problem with the sealed battery, so might I suggest borrowing a lead /acid battery, a hydrometer and a dc clampmeter. Partially discharge the battery, connect the charger and monitor the charge rate and charge state with the clamp meter and hydrometer. This will give you a clearer idea of what the led's indicate.
good luck!
David
 
I had a Sterling multi bank all singing and dancing 20amp battery charger that had only been used about 10 times in all. It packed up and I sent it back to Stirling for,what I think would have been a simple repair. They refused to repair it saying it was an old model, obolete and not worth repairing. When I pointed out the thing cost around £240 in 2000 and I thought they may reconsider they said "well you can't expect it to last any longer than that". I thought it should. I bought a charger from Halfords for £12 and it works fine. Stirling didn't send the old one back to me either!
 
You have just experienced Sterling's (in)famous after sales service that many of us have written about before on these forums.

No doubt the instruction manual wasn't worth the paper it was written on either, the one I got was full of typos and factual innacuracies.
 
Thanks guys I had just been thinking of buying a Sterling charger for my new boat. If it is any consolation this is one sale they have lost
 
I have a similar unit, and yes it does seem to stay yellow for a much longer time than I expected, but, it does turn green eventually. In the end it seems to do a decent job.
 
I bought one of these for a work application and "borrowed" it for a while to recharge a car battery flattened by long disuse. Worked fine. I did, however, occasionally get "funnies" with the display and, yes, IIRC this might have involved a clip slipping off the battery then getting re-attached. Connecting to the battery then switching on (which I would always try to do with any charger) it displayed the correct sequence of indications and a DVM showed sensible voltages.

I then, in a moment of gross carelessness, started the engine without removing the charger /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Since the DC leads were trailing over the fan this resulted in the unit being subject to some severe shock load testing... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif After carrying out repairs it now has an indicator cover re-glued on and shorter leads but otherwise works fine. It is currently back at work keeping - of all things - a jet ski battery float charged. (And I bet you can't guess the application...)
 
ive spoken to charles sterling several times after i bought one of his smart chargers and he was a gentleman, bit of a cynic but helpful and funny. would not be without the charger, makes all the difference and has been working well for the last 3 years.
stu
 
Mine's also worked faultlessly for the last three years. I didn't find installation a problem - just followed the instructions which seemed clear enough, and it's done what it said on the box.
 
I have had a Sterling charger for a year now and had no problems. I was chatting to Sterling on the phone today with a general query and they seemed to have all the time in the world to gas about charging and voltages, and even how to adjust the output voltage. I have not found them to be anything other than helpful and their kit seems to work well.

Pops
 
Just to clarify -certainly on the multi output charger the switches which someone reffered to, are on the inside of the casing if I recall correctly.
 
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