[C320-list] Freedom 20 charger/invertor

[Warren Updike]

Nat, in all likelihood, your Freedom 20 is a Ferro-Resonant type charger not digital. I've read that such chargers are mostly 2-stage chargers, and because of their design, may require 24 hrs. to fully recharge batteries. Undercharging or leaving partially discharged batteries for a period will (over time) cause the battery to sulfate and fail to charge back to the full capacity. On the downside, a ferro-resonant charger will, after fully charging, continue to hit your battery with a small current as long as it is left on. This "...continuing trickle charge ...is high enough to slowly boil away the water or dry out the electrolyte in any unused battery that is left permanently connected..." (per Nigel Calder.) With 2 4D batteries costing as much or more than some newer digital chargers, it might make sense to replace it. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, MD (Chesapeake Bay)

-----Original Message-----
From: Nat Antler [mailto:nantler at pacbell.net] 
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 11:12 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Freedom 20 charger/invertor

Freedom 20 charger/inverter has been working without a problem for over 15 years. Then my house bank with relatively new 4Ds were not being maintained even though the boat had always been plugging to shore power and were almost dead. Hooked up a small portable plugin charger and they came back up after a few days. I checked the breakers on the Freedom 20 and they weren’t tripped. The remote panel wasn’t showing the usual loads. I turned it off and on again. Then after a few days, I was about to replace the charger with a Xantrex 1800, the Freedom 20 seems to be working again. Any ideas? Thanks.. Nat, 320 Natiki #161