Battery Charger

[Breal]

I have an original battery charger (don't remember the brand) on my '87 H-31 and it is tripping off at the fuse box. I just bought 2 new batteries & when I began charging them, the charger tripped to the off position after about 10-15 seconds. It tripped off a few times. The guy at my marina said without looking at it that the charger is bad based on it's age.
Are there any tests that I can do or any place I could take the charger to have it tested to ensure that the charger is no good?

PS
The previous 2 batteries bubbled over a few times before the charger began to trip off with those batteries as well. At the time,the charger was tripping off at the fuse box because of the rising temperature inside the batteries. Sort of a safety mechanism. It also blew a few fuses, before I gave up on those old batteries.

Any help would be appreciated..

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Sounds like the best thing you can do is run, don't walk, to your favorite battery charger store and replace the thing. Especially after having just bought new batteries, you don't want that charger cooking them too as it did your previous ones.
Without knowing what it is, I can only guess it is a constant current charger which is good for only one thing - quickly destroying batteries. Presuming you want to make your new batteries last a while, buy a multi-stage charger.

If you are wondering, the clue here is what you said about the batteries "bubbling over" - a sure sign that the charger is not properly maintaining them.

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. I agree.. pitch the old charger. The new ones are MUCH improved and you’ll notice the new batts lasting much longer. Ya don’t have to buy the most expensive charger to get a good one. There are some pretty good ones at the outdoors places like Basspro.com or at places like Defender or Performance Yachts.. I replaced my old (1985) charger with a new Xantrex and am amazed at how the batteries are working better!

 

[Breal]

Thank you both for your much needed insight and suggestions. I'll be tossing it and replacing it.
Thanks again,
Bernard