Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I installed this on a cabin cruiser in the summer of '09. The prior charger was the original on a '89 vintage boat. They've come a long way since then. We take the family out and spend the night at the beach or out at anchor. It is imperative that the batteries are in top condition as getting stuck out on the water is not something I want to experience (again).
I've got a dual deep-cycle battery setup, and wanted something to help ensure the batteries would live a long, productive life. I learned the hard way with a prior boat that while the old single stage chargers would indeed charge a battery, they were not good at maintaining a battery and eventually they would fade and have to be replaced (although at some point they'll need replacing regardless, but I'd like that day to be as far off as possible.) For as much as the batteries cost, and the hassle of moving them around, I want a solution that I can plug in and not have to worry about. I also wanted something that maintained each battery separately so that if one had a week cell or something it would not affect the other battery.
Installation was easy. I ended up cutting the plug off the power cord and hard-wiring into a junction box to interface with my boats shore power system. Setup consists of connecting to the batteries and then selecting which type of battery each is so that the charger can use the proper algorithm. Very very simple.
When I arrive at the dock and with the shore power connected I can quickly see the status of the batteries by the color of the individual LED's. The unit is mounted in the engine compartment and I just lift the lid and take a peek. I do like that this has an optional accessory that plugs in to display the battery status remotely, without having to open the engine compartment, but it's a luxury that's not worth it for me but may be a big help for others.
One concern I had when I opened the box was learning about a recharging time limit (this may have changed on newer units so be sure to check). Apparently there is a timer built into the unit that if it stays in the "bulk" charge mode too long it will error out. I'm not real clear on whether it would keep charging at that point or shut down thinking it has a malfunction. Supposedly the recommendation would be to use a higher amperage charger so that it would charge the batteries faster and not have the time out problem. After contemplating this (and really wanting to get it installed that day) I decided that the batteries would generally be charged by the alternator on the boat while returning from that weekends adventure, so that this charger probably wouldn't have to work very hard once it was plugged in at the dock. I'm happy to say I was right, and pleased that I didn't spend more money on the next larger size. But if you are using the charger in a different application where the batteries will be more run-down, then checking the battery size against the charger output would be wise.
I'm storing the boat up on blocks for the Minnesota winter. I've decided to leave the batteries connected to the charger, keeping them in "float" mode all winter. This has saved me a ton of hassle by not having to disconnect and lug the batteries out. Unfortunately I won't know for some time if this was really a good idea or not.
In summary, I am pleased with this charger and would recommend it to others.
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10 Amp Battery Charger
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