Purchased a new Guest charger for the boat. It is model 2620A, 20 amp charger. It is strange that it has a fuse on one of the negative (I haven't seen that before) wires to the battery, the other one does not and it is for the starter battery ( or trolling). I don't have a dedicated starter battery, but rather a two bank battery that I usually save one in reserve to start the engine but this varies on different occasions. Anyone familiar with a fuse on the DC negative, any effect on the starter if I don ' t have a dedicated starter battery. Thanks
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1996 C36 Mk II, #1545
Frankfort, MI
That charger is a dual output unit with up to 10A per leg. While there are certainly better 20A chargers out there these work ok..
One fuse is for one banks + and the other fuse is for the second banks + wire. There should also be two DC neg wires.. There should not be a fuse in the neg wire. I suspect you are looking at bank two's + lead??
-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/
Thanks for your reply. Actually there are 3 fuses on the 4 wires coming from the charger DC side. One on each positive as expected but one on one of the negative wire. The without the fuse in the ngative is marked for engine start or trolling. I have never seen a fuse on the negative before. When I go on line and look at other series of Guest chargers I don't see a fuse on the negative. The diagram in the manual for this charger shows the fuse in the negative line. Thinking maybe I should return this charger.and not use this series (2620A). Thoughts, thanks.
1996 C36 Mk II, #1545
Frankfort, MI
Had a Promariner ProTech 4 30 on our last boat and it was supplied with a big fuse on the negative line, the instructions said it was for reverse polarity protection. Thought that was odd but used it anyway.
[QUOTE=roger;14068]Thanks for your reply. Actually there are 3 fuses on the 4 wires coming from the charger DC side. One on each positive as expected but one on one of the negative wire. The without the fuse in the ngative is marked for engine start or trolling. I have never seen a fuse on the negative before. When I go on line and look at other series of Guest chargers I don't see a fuse on the negative. The diagram in the manual for this charger shows the fuse in the negative line. Thinking maybe I should return this charger.and not use this series (2620A). Thoughts, thanks.[/QUOTE]
I've not seen a Guest come through like that but I don't install them unless a customer has supplied it and even then I would try and suggest a more suitable charger.
If you want a really good and truly "smart" charger check out the Sterling Pro-Charge Ultra. With chargers you do tend to get what you pay for.
Chargers are one of the items I replace the most of. The only Guest chargers I like are the small portables because they take a beating in my tool bag and still do ok....
[B][URL="http://sterling-power-usa.com/marinebatterychargerhome.aspx"]Sterling Pro-Charge Ultra[/URL][/B]
The ProMariner Pronautic [B]P[/B] is the same charger...
Also feel free to check this out:
[B][URL="http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/installing_a_marine_battery_charger"]
Installing A Marine Battery Charger[/URL][/B]
-Maine Sail
https://www.marinehowto.com/
I was set to begin my two week sailing vacation this past Saturday and went with what available locally(the Guest charger). I will return it as My vacation plans are out the window now, slipped and fell first thing Saturday morning and fractured my hip. I will check out the chargers you suggested, also any opinions on Mastervolt 12/20-3. Thanks.
1996 C36 Mk II, #1545
Frankfort, MI