[C320-list] Battery Charger Problems

[Dick Walker]

Agree Herb
Dick Walker
WindWalkerII #687
619.435.8986



-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of hcreech at comcast.net
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 8:52 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Battery Charger Problems

Bob, 
The consensus on this list seems to be Xanrex and think one other but don't recall the name, maybe Charles. Everyone has had problems with the original ProMariner. My old unit completely fried my batteries. I replaced it with the Xantrex 20, 4 or 5 years ago and could not be happier. If this was your original charger you were probably due for a replacement any way. One other benefit of the Xantrex 20, other then the fact that it works great., is that it is completely silent. Well mine is any way. 


Herb Creech 
Cloud Chaser #606 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: BairdRJB @ aol .com 
To: C320-list at catalina320.com 
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:38:12 AM 
Subject: [C320-list] Battery Charger Problems 

Arrived at the boat this weekend to discover both batteries dead; 
completely drained. Shore power was hooked up correctly and the breaker-switch was 
in the on position for the battery charger. The only auxillary units 
left on were the bilge pump and refrigeration. The boat had been sitting 
unused for several weeks because of the weather. Mold was starting to appear 
in the fridge, so it must have been out for a while. There was not even 
enough power in the batteries to get the marine radio to function. 

Borrowed the marina's battery charger and trickle charged the batteries for 
several hours. Created enough battery power to turn on the engine. 
Alternator seems to be working ok . 

Question is: do chargers just up and die like that? Our is a Promatic 
30-3. Doesn't seem to be any switch on the unit itself. When the 
dockside power cord is connected to the boat, and the breaker switch to the 
charger is turned on, the needle on the charger unit doesn't move at all. And 
yes, there is power coming from the dock-side outlet through the power 
cable. 

Before I order a new unit, I thought I would check in with you experts. 
Any suggestions would be helpful. This is our first full season with the 
boat and still learning. 

If there is one factor that may or may not have to do with this problem is 
that several weeks ago I was fiddling with the two knobs at the battery 
panel where you can switch from battery 1, to 2, All, or off. Off to the 
right are two red knobs. I was trying to learn how to turn on the anchor 
windlass (the lower of the two red pull-knobs). The top knob appears to be 
the main breaker. I couldn't get either knob to move and didn't want to 
bust them by pulling/pushing too hard. Never did figure out how to work the 
windlass. Other than that, I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. 

With the batteries both juiced up again, all seems to be working well. I 
left the boat for the week, but did not reattach the shore power cable. 
Left the battery switch to Battery 1. The only auxiliary item left on is 
the bilge pump. The fridge is now turned off. 

Thanks! 

Bob and Ingrid Baird 
Whitehall, Michigan 
Star Dust, 2001, Hull 784