Battery charger/monitor

[Sailshabby]

My trusty but ancient (by today's standards, anyway) Freedom 15 battery charger/inverter finally keeled over, so it's time to get out the wallet. Note: I'd also used a Link 2000R controller with it.

Question is input on a new charger (don't need the inverter function) and monitor. Two banks, with the house set 220a out of 4 Trojan T-105s. Starter is a run of the mill Type 24. I'd prefer a monitor that goes beyond idiot lights so I can track A and Ah.

Based on 3 minutes of googling, thinking 20 amp smart charger, ProSine or perhaps Xantrex. Victron or Xantrex monitor.

Thoughts, fellow denizens?

Thanks.

[smac999]

for monitor the victron 702. it'll track A and AH of house bank and voltage of both. no new monitors track 2 banks. you'd have to buy 2.

if you have 4 t05s then you have about 440 ah not 220. you probaly want a 60a+ charger. 20 is too small. how big is your current one? 60-80a?

the current xantrax chargers are junk

[StuM]

Yep, T105s are rated as 225Ah @ 6V at C20. Assuming you have four of them wired in parallel/series to give you a 12V system, you have about 450Ah, not 220.

Trojan recommends charging them at 10 - 13% of their 20 hour capacity, so that means a 45 - 60 Amp charger. (60 would be quicker).

[rourkeh]

Take a look at blue seas systems equipment.
https://www.bluesea.com/products/cat...ttery_Chargers

[Sailshabby]

Originally Posted by StuM

Yep, T105s are rated as 225Ah @ 6V at C20. Assuming you have four of them wired in parallel/series to give you a 12V system, you have about 450Ah, not 220.

Trojan recommends charging them at 10 - 13% of their 20 hour capacity, so that means a 45 - 60 Amp charger. (60 would be quicker).

Correct, 450. Got my mind tangled in the wiring. Current (no pun intended) puts out - used to put out, rather - 75a, according to the paperwork.

[fallingeggs]

I second the Victron 700/2. If you also buy the Bluetooth dongle, Victron has a neat app that allows you to monitor historical data from the 700/2, which is helpful to ensure you are fully charging those T-105s at an appropriate interval (maybe not an issue if, during the week, the boat sits fully charged at a dock (or has solar)).

For the charger, check out the Sterling ProCharge 60 amp version.

Marine Battery Charger - Sterling Power ProCharge Ultra- Power Factor Corrected (PFC) PCU - 60amp

Sterling is considered higher quality (and price; although, you can get the above for $450 from forum sponsors) than Xantrex, which has had it share of problems. With the Sterling, you'll have complete control over the charging curve for the T-105s. Not sure what your charging source is, but the 60amp Sterling is said to work very well with the Honda 2000.

It also just so happens that MaineSail has written a great how-to on correctly installing and using both of the above...

Keeping Your Battery Monitor More Accurate Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com
Installing A Marine Battery Charger Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com