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

[Scott Thompson]

   I had a Victron BMV 702 installed last year, along with a Victron MPPT
   solar charge regulator and a Ganz 40 watt solar panel tied to the top
   of the Bimini. The battery monitor measures all current going into or
   out of the house bank, and also reports the voltage (but not the state
   of charge) on the separate starting battery. I also installed a new
   Blue Seas dual circuit battery switch that connects the starting
   battery to the engine and the house bank to the DC panel and other
   loads when "on," with an option to combine both banks. The house bank
   is charged directly by the solar panel or shore power charger, and the
   starting battery by the alternator. But any source can charge either
   bank as needed since the banks are also connected via a Victron Cyrix
   intelligent battery combiner. The batteries stay fully charged when I'm
   off the boat, even though I'm on a mooring. However 40 watts of peak
   solar charging is not enough for living on board with the refrigerator
   running, so I may upgrade that in the future. I'm also thinking of
   adding a separate Victron monitor for the MPPT solar controller.
   The installation seemed straightforward, although I did not do it
   myself. The one problem I encountered was that the yard installed the
   shunt backwards so that the Victron was recording discharges when the
   batteries were charging and vice versa. Fortunately that was fairly
   easy to correct by disconnecting everything from the shunt and turning
   it end for end.

   On 7/17/2016 10:23 AM, Angus Henderson wrote:

All sounds good Dave. I have recently done a similar thing I terms of replacing
the 4D's with GC batteries and adding solar panels except that I used a fixed pa
nel on the davits.
I was wondering whether you added a digital battery monitoring system and if so
what type. I have just added a Victron BMV 702 but have not got it to work prope
rly yet.
Angus
Hull#999
Sent from my iPhone


On Jul 17, 2016, at 4:17 AM, Utility Email [1]<kswanson123 at comcast.net> wrote:



I replaced my OEM Charles 30A Charger with a new 40A Sterling Charger per recomm
endations by Compass Marine.

I also replaced my 2 stock 4D batteries with 4-6V Trojan T105 Batteries along wi
th a new flexible Solbian CP125 solar panel with Genasun MPPT charge controller.
  The solar panel stows under the aft bunk when I am not using it and attaches t
o the top of our bimini with Tenax fasteners when we deploy it.  I couldn't be h
appier.  We now have 450Ah of batteries, a very fast and smart charger, and on a
 sunny day, our single 125W panel keeps up with our main refrigerator.  We can s
tay away from a marina plug in for weeks now!  I'll post some pictures of our ne
w charger, battery and solar panel setup in my owners photos directory on the C3
20IA website.

Dave

S/V Emily Ann
2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, Washington






On Jul 1, 2016, at 3:05 PM, Jon Vez [2]<Jonvez at comcast.net> wrote:

Bruce,
The original Xantrex were great chargers and the older ones are probably still t
icking. However, several years ago they were bought and their quality and custom
er service went downhill. I think that's why you see the mix of terrible reviews
 and those that are happy with them. I put one of the original Xantrex on my 320
 and it was awesome.
My current boat has a Charles and I don't particularly care for it for a few rea
sons--no equalization option, to change battery chemistry settings you have to r
emove the unit as they are on the back and use dip switches. Finally no battery
temp sensing. The temp is internally regulated on the charger.
The factory has since switched to the Pronautic, which along with Sterling would
 be my choices.

Sent from my iPad


On Jul 1, 2016, at 11:24 AM, B. Stumpp [3]<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

References

   1. mailto:kswanson123 at comcast.net
   2. mailto:Jonvez at comcast.net
   3. mailto:bstumpp at comcast.net