Sterling Pro Charge Ultra 24/20 - Float Mode Query

[Deleted member 36384]

Since my boat has been laid up I have run the Sterling charger from a basic generator whenever I am at the boat. The charger always ramped up to about 28-29V / 13A before dropping back off and settling at around 26V / 3A, or something like that. The last couple of weeks the charger self tests OK, then the fan comes on permanently and it goes into float mode. However, there is no voltage displayed on the charger, only 0.5A - 0.7A, steady, it appears to change from time to time but not when I have been watching.

The batteries are 4 x 6V Trojan domestic T105 Milage Masters and 2 x 12V low cost starter batteries, both open lead acid and the charger is connected to both the start and domestic batter banks. The domestic bank is old, in excess of 7 years old, and last month I found the electrolyte quite low and topped up over the plates. This is not the first time I have found the electrolyte low. I also left the radio on for a few days between visits which would have drawn some current from the batteries. I doubt very much if the batteries hold charge for any significant time now and are scheduled to be replaced before the boat goes back in the water towards the end of the season.

So, would this suggest that I have knackered my Sterling Charger using it with an unregulated generator power supply or knackered batteries that are fooling the charger into thinking that they are charged. I have a BEP battery monitor but it is useless, reads voltage, 24.7V, does not show any current (always under read current compared to the Sterling display), and always shows 100% capacity, I have never relied on it except as a volt meter.

Your opinion would be appreciated.

Thanks,

BlowingOldBoots

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Bump, just the once. I have email Sterling with the same query but no response. I also called their UK number and selected the technical advice option, but no reply.

 

[captainboo]

Keep trying with Sterling for an answer. I have a Pro Split R which was giving odd indications and the chap on the technical helpline talked me through testing it in situ on the boat. I still wasn't convinced so he said send it back for testing. He tested it and said they couldn't find a fault but sent me a brand new unit free of charge for peace of mind just 2 days ago. Result.

 

[nigelmercier]

A modified sine wave generator will blow up many electronic devices.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

A modified sine wave generator will blow up many electronic devices.

Thanks, I looked this up and found a technical article on eBay of all places.

Because of the plateauing peak outputs, appliances running on a modified sine wave will have to deal with more power for a longer time, and this equals additional heat. For this reason, many appliances that are designed to run on grid power will overheat if run on a modified sine wave.

From: -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Fact-sheet-Pure-sine-wave-VS-modified-sine-wave-/10000000177654483/g.html

Which probably means I have damaged the charger's circuit board. I'll remove it and send it back to Sterling and see what they say. Bollocks!

 

[ianj99]

Unless it states that you mustn't use it with quasi sine wave inverters then they should repair it foc if it is still under warranty. Good luck. My Sterling charger packed in just out of warranty and wasn't repairable because it had been superceded and no spare parts were left. I declined their offer of 10% off the new model and bought a different make.

If yours is out of warranty don't expect any better service...

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Unless it states that you mustn't use it with quasi sine wave inverters then they should repair it foc if it is still under warranty. Good luck. My Sterling charger packed in just out of warranty and wasn't repairable because it had been superceded and no spare parts were left. I declined their offer of 10% off the new model and bought a different make.

If yours is out of warranty don't expect any better service...

It's out of warranty and the blurb has no warning about 'quasi sine wave' power supply. In fact it is promoted as being compatible with world wide power supplies and mentions generator usage as well. Last night I read the stuff again on his web site, so I am quite confident that there are no restrictions on the type of power supply that is used. Of course, that's not to say that it has not been damaged by my generator. Maybe the generator is a red herring though and it is some other issue. It actually happened after the hot spell a couple of weeks ago and the boat is in direct sunlight, with the cockpit locker, where the charger is mounted, fully side on to the sun. He is still selling the Pro Charge Ultra.

 

[ianj99]

It's out of warranty and the blurb has no warning about 'quasi sine wave' power supply. In fact it is promoted as being compatible with world wide power supplies and mentions generator usage as well. Last night I read the stuff again on his web site, so I am quite confident that there are no restrictions on the type of power supply that is used. Of course, that's not to say that it has not been damaged by my generator. Maybe the generator is a red herring though and it is some other issue. It actually happened after the hot spell a couple of weeks ago and the boat is in direct sunlight, with the cockpit locker, where the charger is mounted, fully side on to the sun. He is still selling the Pro Charge Ultra.

I replaced mine with a single output Voltcraft 30amp charger for the domestic battery and a trickle charger for the engine battery - there's no drain on this except when starting and then its topped back up again in seconds so doesn't need anything else. In fact a small solar panel would do.

The Voltcraft has worked flawlessly but I did, as a precaution, wire a changeover switch to the output so if necessary I can charge the engine battery from it but its never been needed.

If the Sterling charger is still on sale, they should be able to repair it, but don't be surprised if they tell you its not and try to sell you another at a small discount.

 

[wofforduk]

Hi!

The issue with these generators isn't necessarily the quasi wave form from the generators (as our products have power factor correction built in) but actually the spikes that can be created from them. Quasi can also prove a problem for digital electrics such as timers on microwaves ect as they 'listen' to the wave form for the timing. Also, randomly, products with a thyristor control will be problematic as they chop the wave form up to vary the power coming from it. If in doubt, choose sine wave.

sorry to hear your not haaving the best of luck getting in touch, by all means drop me an email directly at william @ sterling-power.com

Of course if it is under warranty we will repair/replace for you no worries. It sounds like your charger isn't working as it should, but we always say to check all your voltages at our unit just in case a connection has become loose - being a boat owner myself I know this can happen!!

All the best
Will

 

[ianj99]

Hi!

The issue with these generators isn't necessarily the quasi wave form from the generators (as our products have power factor correction built in) but actually the spikes that can be created from them. Quasi can also prove a problem for digital electrics such as timers on microwaves ect as they 'listen' to the wave form for the timing. Also, randomly, products with a thyristor control will be problematic as they chop the wave form up to vary the power coming from it. If in doubt, choose sine wave.

sorry to hear your not haaving the best of luck getting in touch, by all means drop me an email directly at william @ sterling-power.com

Of course if it is under warranty we will repair/replace for you no worries. It sounds like your charger isn't working as it should, but we always say to check all your voltages at our unit just in case a connection has become loose - being a boat owner myself I know this can happen!!

All the best
Will

I have to take issue on several of your comments:
1) Any properly designed electronics will have spike and surge protection components fitted so there should not be a problem with spikes - and where is the proof that all quasi sine inverters actually produce these spikes? Such spikes would likely generate interference anyway so the inverter would not meet CE, FCC etc requlations.
2) The comment about the microwave and other timers being affected is nonsense. Its not difficult to apply a low pass filter to a quasi sine wave and produce a clean signal suitable for generating a timing pulse or square wave from. (it works for digital audio and video too!)

 

[wofforduk]

In reply,
1. this was to do with the OP using a generator, not an inverter. Our quasi inverters do not have spikes. having looked down the scope into these generators, some are pretty hairy until a good load is applied.

2. go buy a cheap quasi inverter and run a digital microwave.. to be fair most of the time it would work but there is always a level of uncertainty. Trust me if it was that easy our R&D team would have done it!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

... by all means drop me an email directly at william @ sterling-power.com ....

Thanks Will, I'll get in touch.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Just to close out this query. I called Will at Sterling Power when down at the boat and he talked me through some checks which verified that the unit was not working. It was returned to Sterling Power for checking and was found to be unrepairable. The unit is out of warranty and Sterling Power offered me a very good discount on a new one (with two years warranty), or a pre-used model FOC (with no warranty). I have spent a bit of money this summer on the boat and have a couple more modifications / upgrades / repairs to do so decided on the pre-used model. So top marks to Sterling Power for customer service and support.

To be honest the Procharge Ultra worked very well and refreshed what were already very old Trojan T105 batteries about 3 years ago. These batteries have been abused the last two years (boat being refurbished out of water) and perhaps the combination of very tired batteries, very old batteries and the crappy generator were just too much and killed the charger. I forgot to ask what was wrong with it!

 

[ianj99]

Just to close out this query. I called Will at Sterling Power when down at the boat and he talked me through some checks which verified that the unit was not working. It was returned to Sterling Power for checking and was found to be unrepairable. The unit is out of warranty and Sterling Power offered me a very good discount on a new one (with two years warranty), or a pre-used model FOC (with no warranty). I have spent a bit of money this summer on the boat and have a couple more modifications / upgrades / repairs to do so decided on the pre-used model. So top marks to Sterling Power for customer service and support.

To be honest the Procharge Ultra worked very well and refreshed what were already very old Trojan T105 batteries about 3 years ago. These batteries have been abused the last two years (boat being refurbished out of water) and perhaps the combination of very tired batteries, very old batteries and the crappy generator were just too much and killed the charger. I forgot to ask what was wrong with it!

Hopefully the free replacement will last a bit longer, but I'd have thought they might have managed a 12m warranty and it does tend to show a lack of confidence in the product not giving any warranty at all.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

How can you deduct that from the post? My charger is well over its two year warranty. They were not obliged to do anything at all. Instead I have a working charger FOC. They came to me on this thread, I never contacted them. What it shows is not a lack of faith in their product but a decent attitude to customer service.

Will from Sterling Power could not have been more helpful and patient with me when we went through the tests on the boat.

 

[ianj99]

How can you deduct that from the post? My charger is well over its two year warranty. They were not obliged to do anything at all. Instead I have a working charger FOC. They came to me on this thread, I never contacted them. What it shows is not a lack of faith in their product but a decent attitude to customer service.

Will from Sterling Power could not have been more helpful and patient with me when we went through the tests on the boat.

Well that wasn't my experience.
When mine packed up just out of warranty - no Wil from Sterling replying to my thread or going through any tests, no free replacement: a discount off an even more expensive replacement for the obsolete one was all I got and was declined. Even the chandlery couldn't get anywhere with Sterling via their distributor.
Their attitude then was basically tough - think yourself lucky we've offered a discount off a replacement. This type of product should work reliably for many years and we are not the only ones to have suffered from premature failure just out of warranty.

I'm glad you got a good result, maybe Sterling are a bit more sensitive to negative threads on here than they used to be.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Fair enough and I have read threads where the owner of Sterling Power was criticised for his abruptness and attitude.

Based on my experience I would suggest that perhaps they have a different attitude now to their customers.

 

[ianj99]

Fair enough and I have read threads where the owner of Sterling Power was criticised for his abruptness and attitude.

Based on my experience I would suggest that perhaps they have a different attitude now to their customers.

Indeed, - a victory for social media and commonsense on Mr Sterling's part for appointing a customer services ambassador to the job he is ill equipped to do!