heart inverter/charger

Maine Sail · Sep 17, 2010

Cabos,

#1 Heart Interface is now defunct and most of, if not all of the products, were absorbed by Xantrex and then most, over time, were discontinued or replaced.

#2 Gel batteries, more so than any other battery, need to have the proper charge algorithm. I personally would not charge brand new gels without the proper charger.

#3 Seeing as Heart is long gone, and gel batteries very expensive, you would probably be best to purchase a new charger that has a Gel setting or has adjustable parameters for voltage output at absorption & float. If my memory serves me correctly those chargers had to be re-programmed by a Heart remote.

The Xantrex True Charge 2 has a gel setting and are somewhat reasonably priced. True Charge 2 (LINK)

Ed Schenck · Sep 17, 2010

I have both the Heart Freedom 20 and the control panel. It is not a remote as such, just a little panel with what looks like a cord with a phone jack on each end. The back of the panel has dip switches that allow you to select Gel batteries. I had gels for eight years before switching to AGMs for the "big cruise". I had also replaced the little panel with a Link 2000. So it sits in a bag on the boat in Florida while I am in Ohio. Seems like if you can adjust the Freedom 20 with that panel that there should be a switch inside to do the same. I will look for the schematic.

seadaddler · Sep 17, 2010

On Inverter

If I remember you can switch the batteries to gel or wet on the top of the inverter where lights will show the battery choice,push button next to lights.
You have this choice on the inverter with out the remote,the lights on the inverter will tell you which battery setting gel or wet.
Nick

Stu Jackson · Sep 17, 2010

seadaddler said:
If I remember you can switch the batteries to gel or wet on the top of the inverter where lights will show the battery choice,push button next to lights.

Nick, unfortunately, no you can't do that. The only switch on the top of the unit is for the inverter, and if you don't have the remote or a Link 2000 or 2000R, the charger is always ON when you're plugged in. How do i know this? I had our Freedom 15 installed for eight years before I got around to installing our Link 2000 (never had the remote).

My recommendation, in agreement with MS about the right charging regimen for gels, is to replace the gels (return them) and get wet cells. Buying a separate charger would defeat the good features of the Freedom combined I/C unit. This, of course, like all things boating, is another option.

You could also hunt around on eBay or Craigslist for a remote or Link. My Freedom has been working just fine for 12 years and I really like it.

Rick D · Sep 17, 2010

Here You Go...

...just have to figure FedEx to Cabo...

http://cgi.ebay.com/XANTREX-FREEDOM...626?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eaf96c292

Stu Jackson · Sep 17, 2010

Good find, Rick.

Also, you should know that without the remote or a Link, you cannot equalize your wet cells with the Freedom. It'll charge, as I mentioned above, but not equalize.

Switched Off · Oct 9, 2010

Gell Battery

I am in the process of replacing my Freedom 10. It has been giving issues for a while.... but during that time I got quite informed on the settings etc. Seems to me I remember the manual telling you how to set the Link 2000 to recognise the Gels. I will look today for the info if wanted.
Greg

cabos said:
Hi,
I have the heart interface inverter/charger on my hunter 42 passage 1995. when got it, I had to through the two house batteries and got instead, two gel cell batteries (the blue ones). AFTER buying the batteries I read on the heart manual that it needs to be reprogrammed for gel cell batteries which can be done only with "remote control". As I do not have the remote control a doubt that I can get it in Mexico. will it "kill" my new (and expensive) gel batteries?

Thanks