Xantrex Charger wiring

Chris Patterson · Apr 23, 2013

I would think that you leave the third leg abandoned, ie: future use.

Sailvayu · Apr 23, 2013

I agree with Chris, but double check the manual.

MSter · Apr 23, 2013

If your charger can deliver all available amps to 1 or 2 outlets then no need to use a jumper. If however the output is split equally then you should either use a jumper or better yet use an ACR or similar combiner and have all amps feed your house bank. Let the ACR take care of directing the charging were it's needed.
Mike

Barnacle Bill · Apr 23, 2013

If I understand your question, you have a charger that can accommodate 3 batteries, but you only have two. So, then, wire up the two batteries and leave the wire out for the 3rd battery. If the wires are hardwired in to the charger (usually you have to add them and attach them with solderless connectors) then just tape up the bare end. If you add the wires, then use two and not the third.

Steve Dion · Apr 23, 2013

Ken: When I replaced my charger on my HV36 I went with the XC series of chargers. There were 2 things that I liked. First thd charger gives me 30 amps to each battery bank as it charges. It does 3 banks but charges one at a time. Second the XC series allows me to have three different battery chemistries with a single charger.

MSter · Apr 23, 2013

Ken,
If you have an ACR there is no need to direct any charging to the smaller less used bank. I think you should direct all the charging output to the larger more heavily used bank. The question is does the charger split it's output in 3 and only send 13.33 amps max to each outlet or will it provide all 40 amps to 1 outlet. The Sterling and Promariner
chargers will, I'm not sure the Xantrex does.
Mike

Maine Sail · Apr 23, 2013

Ken13559 said:
I bought a new 40A 3-banks Xantrex Charger Truecharge2 4012. However, I've only 2-banks of batteries. Bank#1 2x100AH and Bank#2 1x100AH. Should I jumper 2 output of the charger together to feed to Bank #1? And the single the remaining 1 output goes to Bank#2?

All three of those output are internally parallel anyway so one or two outputs is fine and you can just leave #3 open. With the ACR I would feed it direct to the house bank and let the ACR do the rest.

Some manufacturers, such as Sterling and ProMariner, suggest loading all the outputs equally via jumpers. This puts less load one each output FET or Diode. It will work either way.

Knowing Xantrex they went extra cheap on the outputs, figuring the loads would be shared, so I personally balance the outputs on them with jumpers.

Again, it will work either way....

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Apr 23, 2013

Ken13559 said:
I bought a new 40A 3-banks Xantrex Charger Truecharge2 4012. However, I've only 2-banks of batteries. Bank#1 2x100AH and Bank#2 1x100AH. Should I jumper 2 output of the charger together to feed to Bank #1? And the single the remaining 1 output goes to Bank#2?

The Truecharge2 does not need to be jump. Actually it senses the state of charge of each bank and will direct full amps to the depleted bank. So for fusing, remember that you need to fuse each side to at least 40 amps.

onecoolair · Apr 23, 2013

Ken13559 said:
I bought a new 40A 3-banks Xantrex Charger Truecharge2 4012. However, I've only 2-banks of batteries. Bank#1 2x100AH and Bank#2 1x100AH. Should I jumper 2 output of the charger together to feed to Bank #1? And the single the remaining 1 output goes to Bank#2?

Looks like you picked a really nice battery charger. You should read your manual again. Looks like it has some pretty nice programing options and abilities.

Maine Sail · Apr 24, 2013

Ken13559 said:
Noted all replies. Red Flag: if internally all 3 "+" terminals are connected together, then that would negate the function of ACR if I run separate cables to the 2 banks. One failed bank will deplete the other via the charger (internal connection). I'll now need to check and verify. Thanks for the info.

Internal paralleling is via a one way FET or diode on the output so no "back flow"..

Maine Sail · Apr 24, 2013

Ken13559 said:
Oh ok. Noted about connection through FET. So resistance should be pretty high that there shouldn't be leakage. One thing i need to check whether each terminal current is limited or not.

Each terminal can push the entire capacity of the charger. It is "distributed by demand". This means no load on #3 = no output on #3... All load on #1 = all output on #1..

gettinthere · Apr 24, 2013

Confirming...
My truecharge 40+ has a total capacity of 40 amps, not 40 per leg. This info was from Zantrex.

Maine Sail · Apr 24, 2013

gettinthere said:
Confirming...
My truecharge 40+ has a total capacity of 40 amps, not 40 per leg. This info was from Zantrex.

Yes it is a 40A charger in total output, they are not a 3 X 40A / each leg....

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Apr 24, 2013

Maine Sail said:
Yes it is a 40A charger in total output, they are not a 3 X 40A / each leg....

But each leg could see 40A at some point. If bank #1 is full and bank #2 needs charging, it will selectively charge bank #2 at 100% capacity. At that point, bank #2 will see 40A. So make sure that each leg has at least a 40A fuse.

I had that problem two years ago when I installed my Truecharge2. I was fused for 30A per bank but was only using one bank at a time through the selector switch. So when I came back to the dock, I would plug in, turn on the charger and blow a fuse.

Of course this is all fixed now as part of my rewiring with an ACR, thanks to the help of MaineSail.

Xantrex Charger wiring

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