Sterling Chargers - Where to buy?

[MedMan]

I would like to buy a Sterling 1230CED. Can anyone tell me where I can get one from by mail order at a good price? The 'Distributers' Link on the Sterling site is not a link at all and Google can't find anyone either.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtretreat.com>http://www.yachtretreat.com</A>

 

[stephenmartin]

Have you tried PCBoat Bits on 01638 721 509

email: quoteme@pcboatbits.co.uk

www.pcboatbits.co.uk

specific http://www.pcsboatbits.co.uk/download/MARATHON/76to86.pdf (page 9)

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1>Don't make the same mistake twice...Make a different one

 

[steve_cronin]

See PM

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[sundance]

Wouldn't touch the things if I had a choice. Grossly over-priced, with a user 'manual' (a sheet of paper full of inaccuracies) that looks like it was written by a cantankerous child; all overseen by a man who has as bad and insulting a manner as they come.

All good reasons to take your business elsewhere, I should think. There are lots of better and more cost-effective chargers on the market, with efficient and courteous service people to back them up.

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[MedMan]

There are lots of better and more cost-effective chargers on the market

I would be interested to read your recommendations.

I have spent some time searching and have certainly not found 'lots'. Those that I have found [Mastervolt and Victron] are much more expensive.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtretreat.com>http://www.yachtretreat.com</A>

 

[smb]

I bought mine, a 50A unit, 3 years ago through Seateach in Emsworth. They had the best published price at the time but also proved to be helpful then (eg when I could not get down during opening hours to collect it they left it behind the bar of a local pub) and since.

Agree with Sundance re the 'documentation' and attitude, but that aside it has kept my lead acids in good shape so far. Be sure that what Sterling describe as 'equalizing' is what you expect it to be.

www.seateach.com - I have no interest other than as a satisfied customer.

Steve

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[markdj]

Sterling have been nothing but helpful with us regarding wiring of advanced regulators etc. - you just need to put across that you know what you're talking about on the phone otherwise the person on the other end will go down the "he's wired it wrong" route and start stating the obvious. In our case, one of the reg's was DOA and was replaced ASAP. Both are now charging battires through splitter diodes with voltage up to 29.6volts for first stage of equalising.

We now have a 80A battery charger, advanced regulator, 2500w inverter and power management panel and everything works sweet.



MDJ

<hr width=100% size=1>Princess Owners Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.princessownersclub.com>http://www.princessownersclub.com</A>

 

[mdrifter]

What about a Hi Tec 12/25/3 from Merlin? c. £200 and can feed different types of batteries but not a mix. Looked after my lead acids for two years so far...

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[bendyone]

cant afford to have you looked at some f thier prices???

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[capricorn]

Just bought one from Compass. £140 for the 20A Charger plus a fiver delivery. Best price I found by about 20 quid.

Agree totally with the comments about the "unusual" documentation. Patronising and cheeky !

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[steve_cronin]

Yep.

That's about where I am at the moment and I have also come through the same conclusions as yourself.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[steve_cronin]

Absolutely no connection....

..or personal interest with Mr C Sterling but when a so-called "expert's" staff slag him and his products off at a major boat show, is it surprising that he gets alittle annoyed when people challenge his obvious technical superiority.

I found Sterlings very helpful indeed and despite an apparent fault being caused by my plugging something in 90degrees out, they rushed a replacement to me within 24hrs at NO CHARGE and before I had returned the old unit.

I suspect that Medman, himself an acknowledged expert and author on cruising in the Med. has already done his research and that all he was asking for was the name of a supplier NOT a tirade of invective against a company that the informed amongst us have come to respect, "Warts and all"

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[snowleopard]

when i bought mine a couple of years ago aladdin's cave (hamble) offered the best price but seateach agreed to match it.

my understanding of the term 'equalisation' was that it blasted 16+ volts into the battery to remove sulphation. this is not what mr sterling means and the charger i bought doesn't do this.

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[boatmike]

I won't comment on the other correspondents opinions. I have Stirling chargers on both my engines. They do exactly what it says on the tin and they have been totally reliable. They are also built to a high quality standard and in my view are good value for money. When I needed guidance in fitting (one of my alternators is a weird type) They were helpful, courteous, and competent. I bought mine from ASAP supplies where I get most of my stuff as they also do seem to stock most things and do what they promise. Their discount structure is also competitive I believe. I know for a fact that some of the other makes mentioned don't function as well and are not built to survive in a marine environment. I recommend you stick to Stirling.

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[Robert_]

I recently got a Sterling charger (1240), directly from the factory in UK by internet. It is one of the cheapest modern charger sold in Europ. Works fine, reliable and does exactly what is promised.

The factory URL is

http://www.sterling-power.com/

Online shop ("Online shop" button on the left side of the screen) works well :

https://sslrelay.com/s74222713.oneandoneshop.co.uk/.....etc(cookie)

May be your web browser is not properly tuned (cookies not accepted ?)

Sorry for my poor english ...

Robert.

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[castaway]

I was trying to make a choice as to whether to buy the Adverk or Sterling, I knew that there would at some point be a quiery on the instalation so I was very keen that I would be dealing with someone I could communicate with.

I had a chat with the owner of Adverc at the boat show, and later spoke to the man from Sterling.

At the end there was no doubt which I would go with.. and I bought an Adverc.

In fact I would have rather remained with nothing at all rather than bought from Sterling!

Regds Nick



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[sundance]

Re: Absolutely no connection....

Are you sure 'you have no connection' with Mr. Sterling?
............................ 'challange his obvious technical superiority'. Is that for real?
What technical superiotity? Mr. Sterling is an arrogant man who copied and poached his way to 'technical superiority'. The only letup to the gibberish in his excuse for a user manual is the charging curves that are a dircect copy of those produced by TRACE Engineering in the US for their Inverter-chargers. The jargon he uses so badly in his 'manual' is further an obvious but pathetic copy of text taken from TRACE and other US manuals. His reference to 12 VDC on-board refrigerator power consumtion is 'monumntally' incorrect!

The bottom line is this. There are countless people who will confirm that he is an unbelievely arrogant man with little or no respect for his customers. Indeed there are many he has openly insulted and verbally abused. Who needs to deal with someone like that?
People blessed with true 'technical superiority' have no need to behave like him!!!!!

For MedMan: Trace Engineering are world leaders in Inverter and charger technology. I know them and their product very well. We have used their product in three solar electric homes, have recommended them to countless others and have used a TRACE 400 watt inverter-charger for 7 years on our boat without the slightest problem. It charges our batteries to perfection when we need it to and it gives us beautifully clean 220 VAC power for watching Videos/DVDs, listening to our stereo system and allows extensive use of my Laptop on board, all at 95-97% efficiency. My advice to you is to check out the Xantrex website for TRACE products. With the current favourable pound - dollar exchange rate, you could be in for a nice surprise - and might even end up with the finest of inverters to boot!

By the way, there is nothing new or mysterious in 'three-phase smart charging' - it has been around for many years!

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[Robert_]

Re: Absolutely no connection....

Sun Dance,

"Are you sure you have no connection with" ... Trace Engineering ?

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[sundance]

Re: Absolutely no connection....

Not a trace, but I did know a duchess from Dortmund once. She was quite a ...........hmmm! Sorry, I digress.

Trace?
No, not a trace!

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[Dave99]

When I was fitting a charger on a friends boat, he was reading the instructions out and I thought he was making it all up. You dont really need them anyway, its fairly self explanatory.

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