[C320-list] Newmar HDM50 Battery Charger

[Dave Hupe]

I just bought this boat and discovered one bad battery of the two (both are Deka 904D lead acid, but one was about 5 years old and the other bought just last season).  The older battery cells had gone dry and would not hold a charge after refilling the cells.  I noticed the old battery and charger were both hot after I had left the charger on for an extended time.  The newer battery was not getting hot. As a result, I turned off the shore power and have just replaced the old battery. 

I will now try charging again and monitor if the charger gets hot. 

Is the existing Newmar HDM50 charger (12 volt DC, 50 amp, 3 bank) likely the original for my 1994 boat?  Does anyone have experience with this charger and have any input about if it typically runs hot (or was this likely because of the bad battery)?  Obviously, I'll watch carefully for a while and will know better if the charger temperature was due to the battery.

If it continues to run hotter than seems good, what is a good comparable replacement charger?  We will use the boat occasionally, but will want to leave the refrigerator running.  

Dave Hupe
1994 (hull 32)
Holland, MI