ProMariner Protech-4 Series On board Battery Charger

[sailcapt340]

I would like some input from others here regarding my 2000 340 (original 2000) ProMariner Protech-4 Series Battery Charger.
I‘ve never had any issues with it in all these years and still don’t.
I’m on a mooring all season and only use the charger while the boat is on the hard for the winter. I know, Not the best battery maintenance routine but its what I can do.
What I have is (2 - 6 volt golf cart batteries Flooded Lead Acid, wired in series - House Bank) (1 - 12 volt Reserve Flooded Lead Acid)
Today I noticed the panel that covers the charger settings was loose. So I took it off and looked at the settings the charger is set to. Not an easy feat by any stretch.
1. Set for Lead Acid Batteries
2. Set for 1 Hour Absorption Rate
I am looking for advice as to whether the Absorption settings are right. The batteries charge just fine, but looking at the page from the manual I have there are other setting’s available to me.
Please excuse the quality of the photos, as this is not the most conveniently accessible area to get a camera into. Let alone focus and click the button. I did mark the settings on the photos to help and included the page from the manual I have.
Do others use different rates of absorption hours than mine is set at and why.
Thank you for the help.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Pro Mariner Flyback Chargers

Get them off your boat. They are a FIRE HAZARD

Reply #6:

Battery Chargers, Safety, and a FlyBack Burnup

How Many Times Do We Have to Warn You?

battery chargers -- ProMariner Safety & FIRE Issue

While Terry seems to think his problem was with lightning, it sure seems that having to go through so many ProMariner chargers is still OK. Nonsense! Read all the links in Reply #3 and Reply #5 and your head will be spinning until next month!

 

[sailcapt340]

Stu,
All very valid points. I’ll start looking at new ones now. Thank you for the links. And a more accessible area to mount it in.

 

[Stu Jackson]

sc, glad to be able to try to help. You didn't say your charger was a "Flyback" model but I figured from the year it could have been, so gave you the info; most appreciative that you read it and found it helpful - you'd be surprised at how many don't.
I also suggest you keep it disconnected until you get a replacement; because fire...
Oddly enough, the most preferred replacement is now also named ProMariner, but by a completely different company. Sterling makes an identical model. Maine Sail has an excellent writeup about them:

Installing a Marine Battery Charger - Marine How To

Choosing A Charger With battery banks getting larger & larger and battery technology becoming more and more expensive a quality battery charger is not the place you want to skimp on features or quality. *For this article we are installing a: Sterling ProCharge Ultra Battery

marinehowto.com

Good luck, all the best.

 

[sailcapt340]

No its not a Flyback model. But I have seen them before, years ago, on others boats. I‘ll get into MaineSail article later this weekend. Thanks for the help and guidance Stu.

 

[jssailem]

the most preferred replacement is now also named ProMariner, but by a completely different company. Sterling makes an identical model. Maine Sail has an excellent writeup about them:

Stu knows his stuff.

 

[Mac Smith]

I recommend a battery maintainer when laid up. It's a small trickle charger, that cannot do what Stu said. Used for antique cars, mowers and boats.
The 1 hour float time is weird to me. Mine is automatic, 3 states. Bulk, float, absorption.