Xantrex Freedom 20 Charger Problems

[Tayzach]

I have the freedom 20 installed as OEM on my 2001 beneteau 473. The battery configuration is 6 Trojan T105s in series and parallel to form a 675 AH house bank. I have a group 27 as a start battery. All are new. With the start battery connected my charger will not come out of the charge stage. If I remove start battery the charger goes from charge to absorption to float at the correct voltages. It seems the echo charge function is not working correctly but all indications seem normal. I have a Link 1000 battery monitor controlling the charger. I have tested all the batteries and followed all trouble shooting steps I can find. I am looking for any suggestions.

Larry
S/V TraSea
Beneteau 473 #25

[dwhatty]

Originally Posted by Tayzach

I have the freedom 20 installed as OEM on my 2001 beneteau 473. The battery configuration is 6 Trojan T105s in series and parallel to form a 675 AH house bank. I have a group 27 as a start battery. All are new. With the start battery connected my charger will not come out of the charge stage. If I remove start battery the charger goes from charge to absorption to float at the correct voltages. It seems the echo charge function is not working correctly but all indications seem normal. I have a Link 1000 battery monitor controlling the charger. I have tested all the batteries and followed all trouble shooting steps I can find. I am looking for any suggestions.

Larry
S/V TraSea
Beneteau 473 #25

Good luck. Can't help. Can only sympathize. I have a Link 1000 connected to a Freedom 30 inverter/charger and the whole arrangement has a mind of its own that drives me nuts and Xantrex support is totally useless. They do not return emails at all, at all.

[CharlieJ]

I suggest that you bilge the Echo Charge function on the Freedom as the rest of the unit is working well. Install either an automatic charge relay (ACR) from Blue Sea Systems (my favorite) or a Balmar DuoCharge (Bill's (btrayfors) favorite) between the house bank and the starting battery and live happily ever after.

Charlie

[btrayfors]

+1 what Charlie said. Except that for your application (which is identical to mine, except I have a group 31 start battery), I'd recommend the Xantrex EchoCharge because it's very simple to install, totally automatic, and works like a charm. And, it's half the price of the Duo-Charge. That's what I have on my boat and it's worked flawlessly for over five years.

Wish I could recommend other Xantrex products, but I can't. I try to avoid them like the plague. Seems there are always problems and Xantrex support-after-sale is mostly non-existent.

Bill

[Caribsailors]

Originally Posted by CharlieJ

I suggest that you bilge the Echo Charge function on the Freedom as the rest of the unit is working well. Install either an automatic charge relay (ACR) from Blue Sea Systems (my favorite) or a Balmar DuoCharge (Bill's (btrayfors) favorite) between the house bank and the starting battery and live happily ever after.

Charlie

This is the same configuration on my vessel except I've binned 2 Freedom 20 chargers and an inverter. Will never have another Xantrex product. I replaced it with a TrippLitte inverter/charger and has been working flawlessly.

Good luck