The Portable Battery Equalizer .................

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Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,650
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
................ their existence, performance, and has anyone ever used one if they do exist ?

I currently have a Xantrex Truecharge 10TB for battery charging which does a stellar job as far as it goes. Unfortunately, it doesn't allow for equalization and I have no intention of chucking a perfectly good charger for one that includes equalization.

Do they exist at a price that makes it worthwhile for the extra year or so of battery life :confused: :confused: :confused:.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Just leave the batts on the charger when you are away from the boat. Bringing your SOC to 100% will have a much greater effect on battery life than an occasional equalization.
My personal opinion is this is another gadget to keep WM in business and of marginal use for recreational boaters.
 
Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
My understanding is that it shouldn't be done on the boat. I know there are solar chargers that have equalization functions in them. If you find a portable on let me know.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Doing it on the boat is OK but you do want to be there when it is going on. Some chargers have a 21ish day automatic equlization feature which will kick in without the operators knowledge. I know that mine resets to 0 days everytime I unplug from shore power so it is not much of an issue if I go sailing often. I have come back to some lowish battery water levels on occasion though.
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,650
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Bill Roosa said:
Just leave the batts on the charger when you are away from the boat. Bringing your SOC to 100% will have a much greater effect on battery life than an occasional equalization.
My personal opinion is this is another gadget to keep WM in business and of marginal use for recreational boaters.
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Thanks for the info and think I agree with your philosophy 100%.

My first set of batteries bit the dust after only three years due to the poor quality charger installed on the new (1999) boat. They drank more water than I did. Couldn't be the charger because the boat was brand new :doh: :redface:.

When I replaced the two house batteries, I also replaced the charger to avoid overcharging these as well. So far I've only gotten ten years out of these ones and they're still going strong :).

As you previously mentioned, they are always charged to 100% ASAP after a discharge and kept on full charge over the winters.

Gonna have to find something else to pick apart on the boat until it warms up around here.
 
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