Wiring Xantrex Echo Charger

[redsky49]

I have revised my 12V wiring for the umpteenth time and my Echo Charger now fails to charge the engine start battery.

Wiring description on the echo charger says:
Solid red to house battery positive terminal (source)
Striped red to starter battery positive terminal (recipient)
Black wire to ground

Black wire to ground???? Ship's ground?? Or does this mean to starter battery neg. Terminal???

I know I am just not seeing something obvious, just not sure what.
Help please

[Blue Stocking]

All DC grounds are common, but for most accurate voltage sensing, battery Negative is best.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by redsky49

I have revised my 12V wiring for the umpteenth time and my Echo Charger now fails to charge the engine start battery.

Wiring description on the echo charger says:
Solid red to house battery positive terminal (source)
Striped red to starter battery positive terminal (recipient)
Black wire to ground

Black wire to ground???? Ship's ground?? Or does this mean to starter battery neg. Terminal???

I know I am just not seeing something obvious, just not sure what.
Help please

Battery neg or DC neg bus... It won't turn on without the neg wire connected and it also won't turn on until your batteries climb in voltage during charging..

[redsky49]

I have concluded that the unit is officially kaput.
Continuity confirmed on all wires - Receiving power in, just no power out.
House bank happily purring away at 13.6V, just no happiness at the engine battery.
Got seven years out of a Xantrex unit. Guess I shouldn't complain.
Think I will try some other vendor. Any suggestions?

[redsky49]

As follow up to Echo Charger failure, I removed the unit and noted that it had a rattle.

Closer inspection showed it has a small grey or silver piece about 3/8" across, believed to be metal, that is rattling around the insides. And like all Xantrex products, not easy to disassemble due to use of rivet-like fasteners.

I normally blame myself, rather than the device, when something doesn't work. Yesterday I spent hours trying to figure out the problem, when no amount of re-wiring would have helped.

Just goes to show....

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by redsky49

I have concluded that the unit is officially kaput.
Continuity confirmed on all wires - Receiving power in, just no power out.
House bank happily purring away at 13.6V, just no happiness at the engine battery.
Got seven years out of a Xantrex unit. Guess I shouldn't complain.
Think I will try some other vendor. Any suggestions?

I've had good luck with Victron Cyrix....cheap and reliable.