Another on-board charger thread. I'm upgrading but need a comparison

[dusty2221]

I know there were several great threads on chargers over the winter, but I have a few more questions, specifically on a few. David, I'm sure you can set me straight pretty quickly.

My system has grown and changed significantly since the "winter project" thread where I had completed pics. Hopefully, I can get all new pics up soon. BUT, as a result, my battery and charger needs changed. Right now, I have a dedicated 2 battery 230 total amp hour bank for the stereo. For shore charging, I have an on board Pro Sport Dual 12. The two stereo batts are tied in parallel, with each one getting it's own lead from the charger. This has been great, but I am now considering adding a 3rd battery to my stereo bank, to get a total of 345 amp hours. In doing so, I'll be upgrading my on board shore charger. I want to move onto a 3 bank 30 amp charger, and believe I have it narrowed down to 2 choices.

1. Pro Sport Tournament 300
2. Inteli-Power PD2130V 30

Both of these chargers seem very comparable to each other, in the sense that each will allow the 30 to be split however needed between the 3 batts, and wont cap any of the banks at 10 amps. Cost wise, they are nearly identical according to what I have found online. Does anyone have experience with either of these two specifically? Like I said, I have a ProMariner already, and have zero complaints, but as battery needs go up, charger needs do as well. My main goal is to extend the battery life as long as possible by keeping them healthy with a charger that fit the job.

Also, I had one other idea to consider switching to, I thought of running either:

1. Use two Pro Sport 20 Dual banks, which would allow all 3 stereo batts AND the crank battery to be charged and I could pull my trickle charger that is on the start battery. And same with the above 30 amp chargers, each one would allow either of the two it is hooked up to any amount up to 20 that each battery needed.
2. Pro Sport Tournament 300Quad - This is the priciest option, but still an option. It has the same specs at the 300 from what I can tell, however, will allow the 30 amps to be split between 4 batteries.

Any input?

Links for above mentioned chargers in case any one is interested.

Current Pro Sport Dual 12:
http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=42012
Pro Mariner 300
http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=51030
Inteli Power 30 amp 3 Bank
http://www.earmarkcaraudio.com/Xcart/product.php?productid=17019&cat=261&page=1
Pro Sport Dual 20
http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=42020
Pro Mariner 300Quad
http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=51034

[sandm]

can't offer any input on the above scenario for charging, but if you do go a different route and need something to do with your old charger, I have a 2-battery stereo setup and a single starting battery like your system now that could use an onboard charger for the right price ;)

[EarmarkMarine]

Dusty,
If you have 345 amp/hours you need a 40 amp charger. A 30 amp is less than 10 percent of your A/Hs and is not enough. The rule for proper desulphation is 10 to 13 percent. Step up to a 40 amp as its barely more cost. Also, consider your 50 A/H cranking battery which brings you up to 395 amp/hours.

David
Earmark Marine

[dusty2221]

David, can you offer any info on the chargers I mentioned? Im pretty sure the inteli has a 40 amp offering, however, the two 20 amp prosports would get me to 40amps, it just wouldnt be as fancy as the all in one.

[lsvboombox]

http://www.jmdualpro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=10

[dusty2221]

http://www.jmdualpro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=10


I looked at those, but that charger doesnt appear to allow the full amperage to be distributed as needed, its limited to a per bank setup on the charger.

[EarmarkMarine]

Dusty,
To answer your question, once we get past a certain point we go strictly to the convertor class of battery chargers. The Inteli-Power (this particular series) are made for continuous power supply and battery charger 24/365 in a large cruiser or motoryacht. Fan cooled. Current limited self-protection. 4-stage. High-speed, high-efficiency switching supply versus an EI transformer. Disribute on demand. Available in 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 80 amp models. In a word...quality.

David
Earmark Marine

[cab13367]

Dusty,

In addition to the 10-13% of total amp hours guideline for the charger, remember that you do not need a three bank charger because you have three batteries since you will be wiring them in parralel. This means that for all intents and purposes, it's really the same as having one battery. They will all discharge and charge at the same rate since they are permanently connected together, pos to pos, and neg to neg. So you can get a single bank, 40 amp charger for the three stereo batteries and you are set. Just connect the charger pos lead to the pos of the first battery and the neg lead to the neg of the third battery. Or get a little larger dual bank charger and connect one set of leads to the stereo bank as described above and the other lead to the starting battery.

Al

[dusty2221]

Cab, great post. I hadn't even considered that. Thanks bud. I'll take a look around and see what I come up with. I guess one benefit to going this route, I don't have to worry about one that allows for all banks to use the amount needed, since it will charge as one large bank.

[cab13367]

Cab, great post. I hadn't even considered that. Thanks bud. I'll take a look around and see what I come up with. I guess one benefit to going this route, I don't have to worry about one that allows for all banks to use the amount needed, since it will charge as one large bank.

Dusty,

If you get a dual bank charger, you will still want one that can send all the current to the bank that needs it most so that if your stereo bank is more depleted than your starting battery, then it can send most/all the current there first.

Al

[dusty2221]

Right, with this case, I'll be dedicating the "new" charger (whatever I go with) to the stereo bank and keep my existing just for the crank.

[cab13367]

Since you already have the prosport12, my suggestion is to keep that and dedicate it to the starting battery (just leave the second set of leads disconnected) then get a good 40A+ single bank smart charger for your stereo batteries. I think that will be the best way to go and the most economical as well.

[cab13367]

Looks like we were typing at the same time and thinking alike! I think you have your answer.

[dusty2221]

I'm on the search for one as we speak. Turns out, a single bank 40 is harder to come by that you might think!

[EarmarkMarine]

A good triple bank charger wired as a single bank charger is a single bank charger. No harm will come to it and it can still profile and condition correctly and still deliver its full capacity.
I wouldn't over-complicate it.
Keep this in mind.
You are not going to suddenly introduce 400 amp/hours of fully depleted batteries to your alternator...not if you expect it to last. But, there may be a long camping or other long holiday weekend when AC or a Gen is not available. In this case you would need the occasional service charge from your alternator to have stereo play for the entire weekend. So in order to facilitate this you split your bank into two cascading banks so that your alternator can safely service half your collective amp/hours at a time. Now, you may on occasion be discharging and charging separately which justifies a dual bank charger. Plan ahead.

David
Earmark Marine

[dusty2221]

Did a little more reading, found these recommended by some sailers and larger yacht style boat owners

http://www.iotaengineering.com/dls30.htm
accompanied by the smart controller:
http://www.iotaengineering.com/iq.htm

And actually, they have a DLS 30 with the built in chip, making it automatically a 3 stage smart charger


Any experience?