Sterling 60A Charger Locking Up *HELP*

G

GonzoF1

.
Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
My new (in December) Sterling 60A charger keeps locking up and going to 0V and 0A. In order to reset it, I have to kill the AC power and restart it. Each time THAT happens, it goes into conditioning mode. Prior to the new GC batteries, it worked fine.

We have been at the boat for three hours and I just reset it for the third time.

Any idea what is going on here? I am kind of worried about this and need some advice.

Thanks!
 
justsomeguy

justsomeguy

.
Feb 20, 2011
8,060
Island Packet 35 Tucson, AZ/San Carlos, MX
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
It is likely going into California sleep energy saving mode... Run it in PS mode. The switch from BC (CEC compliant mode) to PS mode is in the manual.
 
G

GonzoF1

.
Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
I'll give it a try and get back. THANKS!

(BTW--- it did not do it overnight last night. Which to me, seems strange.)
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

.
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Are the batteries charged? Might not have done it overnight due to higher electrical usage in the cabin????
If the batteries are charged then, as MS indicated it will stop charging the batteries to prevent overcharging them no matter what mode you operate the unit in. BTW PS stands for Power Supply (ie big wall wart) and should only be used when the batteries are not in the boat and you need 12 volt power. PS mode will supply too much voltage and not be conducive to battery longevity.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Bill Roosa said:
If the batteries are charged then, as MS indicated it will stop charging the batteries to prevent overcharging them no matter what mode you operate the unit in.
Click to expand
This is incorrect, it stops charging & floating the batteries, & goes to sleep, because the California Energy Commission demanded it.


Bill Roosa said:
BTW PS stands for Power Supply (ie big wall wart) and should only be used when the batteries are not in the boat and you need 12 volt power. PS mode will supply too much voltage and not be conducive to battery longevity.
Click to expand
This is 100% INCORRECT.... All you're doing is confusing the matter by posting incorrect information..

PS mode was kept on-board the chargers software as a way to get around the California CEC rules (California Energy Commission), for those of us who prefer to do so. The Sterling PCU chargers all ship in "BC" mode set up for California compliance, and you simply revert to "PS" upon boot and make it a regular battery charger like it always had been before they were required to meet the CEC rules.

When you first boot the charger you will see 888 on the screen followed by "bc" for about 5-7 seconds. While "bc" is still on the screen hit the up or down arrow until it says "ps" then hit enter. The charger is now running as a standard battery charger, just as it did before the CEC rules, and is no longer beholden to the "sleep mode" laws of the State of California...
 
G

GonzoF1

.
Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
While I haven't rest it to PS mode YET, it makes sense that this is the problem. The previous batteries were three old 8D cheap-o's. One was a dead short and the two remaining were over halfway to the grave. With this in mind, the charger was never able to get to a full SOC with them and thus, never went into sleep mode. That is, I assume, why the issue never revealed itself before now. The new batteries just came online last weekend.

I'll report back when I have evidence that the changeover to PS mode is successful. I guess it will have to be next weekend after she has sit on float for a while and full charge is eventually established.
 
B

Blitz

.
Jul 10, 2007
708
Seidelmann 34 Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Maine Sail said:
PS mode was kept on-board the chargers software as a way to get around the California CEC rules (California Energy Commission), for those of us who prefer to do so. The Sterling PCU chargers all ship in "BC" mode set up for California compliance, and you simply revert to "PS" upon boot and make it a regular battery charger like it always had been before they were required to meet the CEC rules.

When you first boot the charger you will see 888 on the screen followed by "bc" for about 5-7 seconds. While "bc" is still on the screen hit the up or down arrow until it says "ps" then hit enter.
Click to expand
Does this apply to the ProMariner ProNauticP Series chargers as well? Seems like the manual is silent on how to get it in PS mode, although the box indicates it should be able to do this. I thought these chargers were essentially the same as the Sterling.

Gonzo - any luck?

Thanks
 
G

GonzoF1

.
Sep 20, 2015
123
Navigator 4200 Classic New Bern, NC
Hey Neal... All I can say is that it did not happened in the past week (while we were away) and it was still in BC mode. I did put the charger into PS mode just yesterday. So at this point, there is no conclusive evidence that BC mode was the issue. However, now that it is in PS mode, if it happens again we will have something to go on.
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,959
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Blitz said:
Does this apply to the ProMariner ProNauticP Series chargers as well? Seems like the manual is silent on how to get it in PS mode, although the box indicates it should be able to do this. I thought these chargers were essentially the same as the Sterling.

Gonzo - any luck?

Thanks
Click to expand
Top of page 19 in the manual. http://promariner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CEC-_PRONAUTICP-MANUAL-PRINT.pdf

SELECTING THE POWER SUPPLY MODE

1. Initiate self-test by repowering unit or by pressing the SETUP/ENTER and

&

Power Fault

buttons simultaneously for 5 second
2. While the digital display is indicating either “bc” or “PS” push either or

With the charger powered down, connect the cable to the Helm Remote port on the ProNauticP.

to toggle the selection between “bc” and “PS”
3. While the display reads “PS” press SETUP/ENTER
The unit will remain in this mode unit it is reprogrammed.
Click to expand
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom