Guest battery chargers??

[SEAFARI]

I want to get battery chargers for the boats.
Is anyone familiar with this model? Are they reliable? I have this fear of waking up in the middle of the night and seeing flames in the canal! Here's the info from surplus. It cost about $125.00

Guest ChargePro Waterproof Charger 10 amp. Model
#(2611) A trolling motor charger for the boater who needs 10-12 hour full recovery. This charger is ideal for systems with two 12 volt batteries or a 24 volt configuration. Comes prewired with 6' AC cord and two 4' DC outputs. Input voltage range: 90-140V AC. Total output: 10 amps. 2 banks. Dimensions 7-3/4"W x 5-1/8"H x 2-1/16"D

[Trayder]

Chris-

That sounds like the model I have on the other boat. It was the easiest peice of equipment I have ever installed. It comes all prewired with marine grade lugs all shrink wrapped and the unit its self is like a brick. All sealed with two lights green and red, very simple. I cut the AC cord and then I drilled a hole thru the console for a waterproof marine outlet that would accept standard extention cord to hook up , I believe it was made by marinco. I will venture under the wrap soon and get a model number but what you describe sounds like the one.

[Scott]

I've been looking at a few of those models also the 2622 ,new for 2002, or the 2620. What I cant figure out is the differences between them. 2622 is a "smart leg" charger optimizing the charging cycle/amps to the batteries. The other on is "water proof" 3 stage charger that will not over charge your batteries. Both are classed as "waterproof" and I think are UL listed. I think both are 20 amp chargers both around $200. But I still don’t see huge differences between them. To complicate things I'm placing an isolator in also ... This should be interesting getting all this stuff hooked up properly.
Jason do you use that Marinco plug when the boats in the water...or do you use 30amp twist lock....I guess if you don’t have AC power on the boat you don’t need the 30 amp stuff....If only using it for battery charging.

[Trayder]

No 30 amp plug no AC on boat, just a rinky dinky Marinco. I leave the boat on the trailer next to the house so it works out well with a standard extension cord. I normally plug the boat in the evening before I leave and the light starts out red and when I unplug it in the early morn its Green. Has not been red in the morning yet (Do not know what I will do if it is red in the morn [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] )

[timd]

Bass Pro Shop in Katy (near Houston) had the 2611 on sale for $99 this past weekend, don't know if they will match that price mail order or not, but it is worth a shot.

[Capt Skip]

I have stopped useing the Guest chargers after a bad experiance. In addition to the 23 Seacraft I have a 34' Bay built charter boat. She is wood and I like to keep the batteries charged for obvious reasons, bilge pumps. Anyway one morning I hoped aboard to take the charter out and smelled charred wood. After further investigation I found the battery charger charred. It scorached a patch of wood about 3" around the charger. I was very lucky it didn't burn up. Anyway Guest refused to warrenty it after the first year it was 18 months old. They explained that occasionally some diodes inside the case short open instead of closed. This creates the overload which does not trip the GFI recepticle. They know it happens but only rarely and still they would not replace it. Anyway West Marine took care of it as I am a goodn (2 boat$) Customer. I chose to replace it with an aluminum model. I am not an electrical engineer and I am shareing what Guest told me. I am very lucky it was not in the confines of a tight engine box as mine was on the underside of the gunnel protected from weather but open to the air with no other components around.

[Scott]

Capt. Skip

Thanks for the info. on the charger. What did you replace it with?? and what kind of luck are you having with the new charger.

Scott

[Reel Smoker]

I have the 2611 installed in the boat and im always hesitant to leave it on overnight (Thanks Skip for sharing that info cause now I wont leave on unatended)they suggest you use a heavy duty extension cord.Reel smoker.Capt D.