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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Guest Battery Chargers

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/28/2005 : 00:47:35

Abacus has a permanently installed dual bank Guest 2610A battery charger installed. Its a three stage charger that supposedly trickle charges the batteries once they are topped off.

A few months ago one of my batteries was 1/3 dry. It took a good amount of distilled water to top off.

Is this normal even though its trickle charging? I've heard some vendors (outdoor world) bash Guest chargers; they said the Guest chargers are "known" for that.

Abacus is in the Florida keys. I noticed the dry battery in the spring BEFORE the heat kicked in.

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus 1984 C25 #4679

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 06:16:51

Albert, we have just installed the same charger in Joint Decision.
We have not heard any bad news about it (till your post.)
I'll check the battery more frequently though just in case.

Do you have two batteries installed? Are they the same identical batteries, how old are they and when did you intall the Guest 2610A?

Our batteries are #1= Factory installed #2= 90Ah deep cycle.

BTW, when I was installing the 2nd battery, I could not see how on earth the primary battery could be removed without cutting the fiberglass well it sits in.

ps. We're be sailing in the bay today on route to pennekamp, part of our 6 day 'cruise'.
I'm guessing that the well was originally designed prior to the availability of modern battery boxes. My second battery sits on a tray made from 1.5" pvc piping fiberglassed to the hull forming a ridge around the front and back of the battery. Then strap for the battery box is attached to the fiberglass well of the primary battery and the other end is attached to one of the fiberglassed pvc tubes. Feels rock solid.

Edited by - britinusa on 07/28/2005 06:18:02

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 09:25:04

Evaporation from the battery is normal, even with a multistage charger, so levels must be checked periodically to maintain the proper levels.

I may be wrong, but I believe chargers work by sensing when the battery's potential output voltage has reached a certain level (12.6-13.8V). When the battery voltage hits that range, the charger shuts down. If the water level goes down through natural processes, the battery can't reach its full voltage potential so the charger keeps feeding the battery which boils off even more fluid until the battery is cooked.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 10:26:10

Albert,
It has been my experience that if you have to add water every few weeks, and your charger is working properly, the battery is on its last legs. A battery in good condition will very rarely need water and only a small amount every few months. If you have to add water more than once a month I would go ahead and replace it. Don's comments are exactly correct.
By the way, I have a Guest charger and it works beautifully (when hooked up to a good battery).
Joe

Edited by - on

GeorgeB
1st Mate

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90 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 10:37:11

Yes that is the straight scoop, I just want to assure you that I have had good lock with a Guest Charger that I had running constantly for 18 months. Just had to keep the water up

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2005 : 12:07:33

Here is a link to [url="http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm"]Deep Cycle Battery FAQ's[/url] on the Marine-Electronics.net website. Its got some good info.

Edited by - on

albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2005 : 00:53:17

Batteries are identical and both were replaced when the charger was installed.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2005 : 09:40:30

Based on the evidence, it sounds to me like one of the 'sides' of the charger is running too 'hot'. Either supplying too much voltage and/or not sensing the battery charge properly. I think you could use a voltmeter to monitor the situation... if you see charging voltage on the battery most all the time you'll know you have an issue.

Edited by - on

albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2005 : 00:38:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Here is a link to [url="http://www.marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm"]Deep Cycle Battery FAQ's[/url] on the Marine-Electronics.net website. Its got some good info.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

After reading this link, I think the problem was caused because I haven't been checking water levels on a regular basis. S. Florida heat, charging heat, etc. would lead to evaporation over a period of time. I'll start checking regularly.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2005 : 10:59:53

>..." because I haven't been checking water levels "

Checking water levels is a good practice but doesn't explain why one battery cooked and the other is still fine. I'd pay close attention to the voltage on that side of the charger.

Also, if you're worried about evaporative losses, why not get a semi-sealed 'maintenance free' battery?

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.