When it rains, it pours...

[Brian D]

Dear Ishmael,

Two weeks ago I talked about how my motor whats to drink sea water instead of gasoline. Well, I never got that fixed in my short time here. Now, I find that my batteries are deader than a door nail. So, I go to Walmart and get a small 12-Volt battery just to ensure the bilge pump works, if nothing else in the boat. Now I find out my charger, a Xantrex TC20+ is even more dead than the batteries. But I need a charger to keep the battery going for the next 6 months.

I was thinking of trying to repair the Xantrex but do not have a schematic. So I ask the general forum, anyone been in one of these units? I understand there is an internal fuse that might be issue. Does anyone know if this is true? I am sure it is. The unit does not even power on and I do have 117vac at the input.

If not, then does anyone have any recommendation for a small battery charger to keep the battery alive. Remember it is only powering the bilge pump so the current drain is low or nothing. Just need to keep the battery alive until my next R&R in January.

Thanks for any help.

Yours Truly,
Capt'n Ahab

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Brian
Don't have the schematic but there is an internal fuse. As someone else posted on another forum, "Contrary to the ‘Do not open no user serviceable parts’ inside (or words to that effect), your ‘customer service’ rep informed me of the existence of an 8 Amp AC fuse (inside), and that I could check this fuse. Well, I found the AC fuse (AND 3 DC output fuses - not previously mentioned)"

 

[sailaway78]

You might want to consider

You might want to consider one of the small solar chargers. They only put out an amp or two, and don't need to be regulated. But you need to be sure there is going to be little or no drain on the battery.

 

[JoeWhite]

The lease expensive solution is to buy a power supply that has a 12 V DC output. I would use an old computer power supply. It will provide all the current you need for the bilge pump.

 

[Brian D]

Well thanks guys. Never thought about using a DC power supply. I have several laying around that I can use.

The Xantrek is toast. See the image. First is the huge burn spot on the left side. And over on the right side just to the left of the two black monitor connectors has some corrosion going on. Not sure what that is all about.

Anyway, this is not Xantrek's problem, this was probably due to my neglect. So not picking on Xantrek, they make good products and I for one have had zero issues until last year and my major brain implosion.

Thanks guys, I will come up with a solution tomorrow or Sunday.

 

[Manny]

how about one of these?

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I have one that I use for my dinghy battery, it shuts off the charge when it senses it's full. A bargain at under $20.

M

edited to add: It comes with three different connectors, alligator clamps, a lighter plug, and ring terminals.

 

[zeehag]

brian-- ye get enough sun for solar, as phillip suggested---is a good way to make sure the bats dont die and boat aint gonna sink......and doesnt need to go thru the charger--just regulator and hook it up. good luck and keep moby dick out of the bilges......

 

[Brian D]

Well I went and purchased a Shumacher XCS15. I liked the looks and it seems usable around the house when I put a quality charger back in the boat. One battery is holding a charge but the other has a shorted terminal. The charger will not even recognize that the battery is connected. But, I think I will dispose of both batteries and get either AGM or Gel when I get new batteries for the boat.

Thanks guys and as always, I can depend on the boaters here to help a brother out.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Brian, I hate to have to tell you this, but Roger Long and Maine Sail recently had a discussion about your new charger and determined it is NOT a good one. Do a search on Schumacher with Roger's name and you'll find the thread.

 

[Brian D]

Oh well, too late. I put the charger in the boat this morning and since the battery is new, I set the charger to maintenance mode. Took about 3 hours to reach 100%, the charger is running cool and the battery is not hot. So we will see what happens when I come home in 6 months.

Thanks for the heads up. New batteries and new charger in January.

 

[zeehag]

beats not having one....might last foever --- who knows-- gooodluckand have fun!!