[C320-list] Xantrex TRUEcharge2 40-amp chargers - experiences?

[Steve Barrar]

I have my original Xantrex charger from when I bought my boat in 2012 #85 and I think it is cooking my batteries…so I bought this one instead …thought I would give it a try…the customer reviews were all 4 to 5 stars. I never buy anything any more without reading the reviews. I hope to install it this weekend.

NOCO Genius GEN2 20 Amp 2-Bank Waterproof Smart On-Board Battery Charger for $160.00 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JSJS5I/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Stephen Barrar
Pa House of Representatives 
160th Legislative District
Chairman of House Veteran Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Capitol Office 717-783-3038
Chadds Ford office 610-358-5925




> On Jul 1, 2016, at 2:16 PM, danny jensen <danny at jensenshouse.com> wrote:
> 
> I have had my Xantrex TrueCharge 40A installed for about 5 years. I have a
> aux panel also. The until replaced a Charles charger located in the Port
> Cockpit locker. The unit started its life charging 2 lead acid banks until
> I did a rework on my batteries and paralleled my house bank as Jeff
> recommended. My house bank now charges my starting battery via an ACR.  I
> live in southern CA and run my refrigerator in the summer time so I keep
> cold beer on board. The temps sometimes get hot in the summer but not as
> hot as other parts of the country. I always make sure I turn off the switch
> under the port aft locker that powers the AC panel before I plug and unplug
> the dock power.
> 
> The only issue I continue to have is the remote panel of the TC40A gets in
> an error state (status lights flashing on remote pannel)  when I have the
> refrigerator load is on and the battery charger is on. I have called Xantex
> and they said this is "normal" behavior?  However, the charger still keeps
> charging when in the error state. I also have a xantrex linklite battery
> monitor and any happy with this setup.
> 
> If I were in the same situation, I would not hesitate to buy a new xantrex
> but I would investigate.
> 
>   - cooling in location where xantrex is
>   - compliance with turning off power at dock before plugging in unit
>   - possibility of using a surge suppression. If it is cheap and easy to
>   do.
> 
> 
> Hodges is selling the unit for $305 and you already have the wiring in
> place and the remote panel. This is an no brain'er in my mind just roll the
> dice and buy another one.  This job should take less than 1 HR. Do you want
> to spend your summer boating time doing more work?
> 
> Danny
> #972
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 8:24 AM, B. Stumpp <bstumpp at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
>> I replaced my working Guest 2-stage charger with a new Xantrex 3-stage 40
>> amp charger and the remote panel.  After only four years the Xantrex just
>> failed.  The Xantrex tech said these cannot be repaired.  Although I was
>> not
>> happy with only getting four years out of the charger, a friend has one
>> that
>> so far has lasted 10 years.  So I decided to get another Xantrex since it
>> should be a relatively easy replacement and I already had the remote panel
>> for the charger.  That was until I started reading reviews of the charger
>> on
>> Westmarine.com.they are not stellar.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> So, before looking for alternatives I would like to hear the experiences -
>> positive and negative - of others on this forum who have installed a
>> Xantrex
>> charger.  Anyone?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Bruce Stumpp
>> 
>> Adventure, #647
>> 
>> Frog Mortar Creek, Maryland
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>