I have an '85 28.5 with the simplest two battery system imaginable and am looking for a recommendation for a GREAT battery charger. I only get to use the boat weekends and frequently it amounts to only a couple of times a month. The batteries are seperated as a starting and house set. Please don't say Guest as I've already gone through two of those. This should be EASY, why is it such an issue?
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Look at Statpower
Rich: I just purchased a Statpower 40. Looks very good. It was recommended by my repair guy. I got mine from Back Woods Solar in Idaho. They had the BEST price I could find anywhere. This unit does not have an inverter. I think it was about $375 + shipping. www.backwoodssolar.com Good luck
Rich: I just purchased a Statpower 40. Looks very good. It was recommended by my repair guy. I got mine from Back Woods Solar in Idaho. They had the BEST price I could find anywhere. This unit does not have an inverter. I think it was about $375 + shipping. www.backwoodssolar.com Good luck
J
Jay Hill
Agree with Steve, except...
...for the amount of use you are going to put on the boat, I recommend the StatPower 20. It's a max of 20 amps and you only have two batteries. The 40 amp version is designed for systems that need fast recharging or have lots of batteries such as two or three per bank. I also highly recommend the remote indicator panel. I just installed mine recently and love it. Besides, the 20 amp version is about $100 or more cheaper; the remote panel is about $30 if I recall correctly. StatPower won the Practical Sailor testing everytime for the last several years. Definitely the best and their warranty is great.
...for the amount of use you are going to put on the boat, I recommend the StatPower 20. It's a max of 20 amps and you only have two batteries. The 40 amp version is designed for systems that need fast recharging or have lots of batteries such as two or three per bank. I also highly recommend the remote indicator panel. I just installed mine recently and love it. Besides, the 20 amp version is about $100 or more cheaper; the remote panel is about $30 if I recall correctly. StatPower won the Practical Sailor testing everytime for the last several years. Definitely the best and their warranty is great.
Agree with Jay, except...
Actually Jay, you are correct. I probably could have gotten away with the 20 amp unit too. But, the price for the 20 amp at W/M was about $329 + tax + shipping. The price for the 40 amp at W/M was $449. The 40 amp unit from Back Woods Solar was $365 + $7 for shipping. WIth the prices so close I decided on the larger unit. They did not offer the 20 amp unit. Do you see any problem having the larger unit with the prices that close together?
Actually Jay, you are correct. I probably could have gotten away with the 20 amp unit too. But, the price for the 20 amp at W/M was about $329 + tax + shipping. The price for the 40 amp at W/M was $449. The 40 amp unit from Back Woods Solar was $365 + $7 for shipping. WIth the prices so close I decided on the larger unit. They did not offer the 20 amp unit. Do you see any problem having the larger unit with the prices that close together?
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Jay Hill
Not at all...
...bigger is better if the same price. I think you did the best thing in your pricing war. Faster charging for the same money; gotta love that. did you get a remote panel? If so, where did you install it? If not, do you have a separate battery guage installed somewhere? (My '85 H31 did not have ammeter standard.) Where'd you put your charger? Just curious since we have the same boat.
...bigger is better if the same price. I think you did the best thing in your pricing war. Faster charging for the same money; gotta love that. did you get a remote panel? If so, where did you install it? If not, do you have a separate battery guage installed somewhere? (My '85 H31 did not have ammeter standard.) Where'd you put your charger? Just curious since we have the same boat.
Charger charger, who found the charger
Jay: I mounted the charger in the pit. It is just above the water heater. I do not have the unit installed yet (sometime this week) but it is going to be in the same location as my old Pro Mariner. I plan on installing the monitor after we are up and running.
Jay: I mounted the charger in the pit. It is just above the water heater. I do not have the unit installed yet (sometime this week) but it is going to be in the same location as my old Pro Mariner. I plan on installing the monitor after we are up and running.
E
Erci
Big Bucks
Now I agree that one of the suggested chargers would be nice but in all honesty, I think a couple of inexpensive trickle chargers should work fine for your needs. AS you said , you have a simple system so why complicate it. I have used such a charger on my batteries for at least 15 years and have always had power. Average battery life around 5 years. No, I don't have blenders , hairdryers, fans, chartplotters etc, but I do have a stereo, depth, knot, wind speed and wind indicator. I use lamp oil and alcohol stove. I also use a small portable radio in the cockpit and have a self contained anchorlight. These batteries easily last a season. Just a thought. Maybe I'm too old fashioned.
Now I agree that one of the suggested chargers would be nice but in all honesty, I think a couple of inexpensive trickle chargers should work fine for your needs. AS you said , you have a simple system so why complicate it. I have used such a charger on my batteries for at least 15 years and have always had power. Average battery life around 5 years. No, I don't have blenders , hairdryers, fans, chartplotters etc, but I do have a stereo, depth, knot, wind speed and wind indicator. I use lamp oil and alcohol stove. I also use a small portable radio in the cockpit and have a self contained anchorlight. These batteries easily last a season. Just a thought. Maybe I'm too old fashioned.
J
Jay Hill
Steve, the remote panel fits...
...perfectly on the port side of the standard power panel under the companionway. You may already have something installed there, but it makes all the "electrical" stuff and controls in the same place. Cutting the wood was easy enough with a small hand saw. Jigsaw would probably work for the horizontal cuts but will NOT work for the vertical ones. Put my charger in the same place. Previous type was an automotive type with trickle and spring clips. Dang thang drove me nuts. Rich, if you want my old automotive type, I'll send it to you. It's taking up shelf space in the garage.
...perfectly on the port side of the standard power panel under the companionway. You may already have something installed there, but it makes all the "electrical" stuff and controls in the same place. Cutting the wood was easy enough with a small hand saw. Jigsaw would probably work for the horizontal cuts but will NOT work for the vertical ones. Put my charger in the same place. Previous type was an automotive type with trickle and spring clips. Dang thang drove me nuts. Rich, if you want my old automotive type, I'll send it to you. It's taking up shelf space in the garage.
D
Doug Gould
Statpower pricing...
I recently opted for the Statpower 20 after a sealed 10amp Guest charger burned up. Locally we have a West Marine and a Boaters World. Although it was not in stock at Boaters World, they quoted $229 for the unit. I went to West Marine, where they matched the price and had one in stock. I could tell it was a painful price match for them to make. I felt so sorry for them...I agreed to pay the full price after all. NOT!!! Anyway...check around first before paying full retail. P.S. So far the Statpower 20 and remote panel work great!
I recently opted for the Statpower 20 after a sealed 10amp Guest charger burned up. Locally we have a West Marine and a Boaters World. Although it was not in stock at Boaters World, they quoted $229 for the unit. I went to West Marine, where they matched the price and had one in stock. I could tell it was a painful price match for them to make. I felt so sorry for them...I agreed to pay the full price after all. NOT!!! Anyway...check around first before paying full retail. P.S. So far the Statpower 20 and remote panel work great!
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