Hi friends,
I have aboard a Xantrex Truecharge 40+ charger. It came with the boat. There are two battery banks that came with the boat; a single West Marine sealed start battery and a pair of Costco flooded cell house batteries. These also came with the boat.
I've noticed that the two-yr old start battery doesn't hold a charge very well and started to look into the charger. I found that there is a switch to choose between flooded, gel and AGM for battery type. My question is; since I have one bank of each type, which setting should I use?
(Before posting here, I called Xantrex and eventually got a guy on the phone. I stated the question and he replied "It's up to you, depends which bank is more important to you." Now, forgive my forthrightness, but I replied, "That's not an answer. Sorry, but there's got to be a more scientific answer than that." Whereupon the Xantrex rep. hung up the phone on me.)
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA
You should not mix different types of batteries on the same charger. Flooded, gel and agm batteries have different charging voltages. You can see this on the label on your charger if it is still in place. The three bank outputs are not separately regulated. If you set it for flooded, the gel will likely be under charged and if you set it for gel, the flooded will be over charged and possibly dry up. Hope this helps.
Tom & Janis Grover
C36 #0949
SR/WK, M25XP
Midland, ON
Having two battery types is something of an issue however if you have to pick one, choose the larger bank as it costs more to replace. Assume the lower charge rate on the starter battery will still put enough juice into the battery to start the engine. If the starter battery will not start the engine, then the main bank should, assuming it is the correct deep cycle type (something you should probably check as well as the AMP Hour rating). You can always change the starter battery out if and when the time comes as it is less expensive.
John Meyer
John Meyer
Hilbre
C36 MKll, Hull 2135
Cabrillo Marina, San Pedro, CA
Is your AGM the "sealed start battery?"
One of the ways I've found to find the battery regimens needed for different battery types are the alternator regulator manuals. You can read or download the Balmar manuals, go to [url]www.balmar.net[/url], download the MC-612 or 614 manuals and read the basic programming voltages.
You'll find there is little difference between AGMs and standard deep cycle wet cells.
Check those against your charger manual. If you don't have that manual, Xantrex has them on their website under discontinued products.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
The main issue (as has been stated) is that the two battery types require different charging voltages and the charger will only provide one, on all of the 3 outputs.
I have the same unit and my house batteries are lead-acid 4D's and my starting batt is a lead-acid type 24 (therefore I keep the charger on flooded of course).
It will be cheaper for you to switch to a type 24 or 27 lead acid when the AGM eventually gives out...
I'm very disappointed to hear of the "support" you got from Xantrex
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---
As Stu mentioned sort of alluded to, are you sure your "sealed start battery" is an AGM or Gel? If so what make is it? There are sealed "maintenance free" lead acid batteries that are just flooded lead acid that you supposedly don't have to ever add water to. If it's that you have no problem, if for sure it's really an AGM or a Gel you do have a problem.
Bud, good point, our reserve bank is a sealed LA type.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thank you to all who replied. It turned out I do have a sealed lead calcium start battery, as some of you predicted. That means both banks are flooded cell, but the charger had been set to gel. The temp setting was wrong, too (Xantex manual says to use low temp if the charger is always on). D'oh. Probably explains why my start battery wasn't holding a charge properly. I was out this weekend and didn't experience that, so I'm hoping things are set right now.
Thanks again!
Nick Tonkin
*Former* Website Administrator, C36/375IA
*Former* owner, C36 tr/fk #255, Santa Barbara, CA