New onboard charger for Grady 330

[grady33]

It appears my Guest charger model 2722 B manufactured in 2006 is no longer working. Looks to be a duel 15 amp charger. I have 4 batteries and I’m wondering if I should get a 2 bank, 3 bank or 4 bank charger? It appears the current 2 bank charger is able to charge all 4 batteries which is how it came from the factory. Any recommendations on what to replace it with? If I opt for 4 bank, do I need to rewire the batteries?

 

[SkunkBoat]

If you have 4 batteries set up in pairs(2 batteries in parallel ) then you have 2 "Banks". The charger treats a bank as one big battery. So you only need a 2 bank charger.

I just changed my configuration to 3 Banks...one starboard starting, one port starting, and a double house bank.

I am using a 3 bank ProMariner20.

 

[MA208]

I have the same charger 2005 model. I thought it was bad as it was always red. Turned out batteries were bad. Changed all 4 and it charges now. Did you check the batteries?

 

[everwhom]

Pretty sure I have the same charger in my 2003 330... One thing I discovered is that the charger is not compatible with AGM batteries... If/when I have to replace my charger I'll probably get one that can handle AGM as I'd like to have that as an option when I have to replace the batteries. I'd probably add a charger that can do 3 banks. But, so far I've been happy with the 2 dual banks... I thought I'd add a third house-only bank, but actually haven't had the need.

 

[Mr.crab]

I also purchased the Promariner 20 3 Bank, returned it after calling the manufacturer they said
it will only charge 3 batteries. In that charger a bank is only single battery, in my case going to install
six batteries. They said the Promariner 1260p 3 banks of parallel AGM batteries, the smaller
charger will not charge them if they somehow go dead.
Thanks

 

[SkunkBoat]

I also purchased the Promariner 20 3 Bank, returned it after calling the manufacturer they said
it will only charge 3 batteries. In that charger a bank is only single battery, in my case going to install
six batteries. They said the Promariner 1260p 3 banks of parallel AGM batteries, the smaller
charger will not charge them if they somehow go dead.
Thanks

I don't know about that. I have Lead batteries so maybe something is different but...
Instructions show how to connect the promariner Sport20Plus charger to parallel batteries. You connect charger so that Negative is on one battery and Positive is on the other battery. This means the current travels through equal distance of the jumpers. The charger will see it as one big battery, because it is one big battery. Had my 4 batteries connected as stated earlier all winter and the charger cycled normally. They are connected to shore power at the dock now and continue to be charged.

This charger distributes the charge to the 3 banks by need and has cycles for recovery and maintenance.

 

[DennisG01]

I also purchased the Promariner 20 3 Bank, returned it after calling the manufacturer they said
it will only charge 3 batteries. In that charger a bank is only single battery, in my case going to install
six batteries. They said the Promariner 1260p 3 banks of parallel AGM batteries, the smaller
charger will not charge them if they somehow go dead.
Thanks

I don't know about that. I have Lead batteries so maybe something is different but...
Instructions show how to connect the promariner Sport20Plus charger to parallel batteries. You connect charger so that Negative is on one battery and Positive is on the other battery. This means the current travels through equal distance of the jumpers. The charger will see it as one big battery, because it is one big battery. Had my 4 batteries connected as stated earlier all winter and the charger cycled normally. They are connected to shore power at the dock now and continue to be charged.

This charger distributes the charge to the 3 banks by need and has cycles for recovery and maintenance.

I'm not sure if Mr. Crab is talking about the upper level "ProNautic" series, or not... but I "imagine" that PM's recommendation comes more from the fact that he's running 6 batteries all together, not so much that there are 2 batteries wired in parallel to be "one bank". PM might just be recommending using a larger amp charger to keep up with demand on a daily basis as a 30-amp is kinda small for that set-up. But generally speaking, yes, the charger doesn't know if it's one battery or two batteries (in parallel).

 

[SkunkBoat]

I'm not sure if Mr. Crab is talking about the upper level "ProNautic" series, or not... but I "imagine" that PM's recommendation comes more from the fact that he's running 6 batteries all together, not so much that there are 2 batteries wired in parallel to be "one bank". PM might just be recommending using a larger amp charger to keep up with demand on a daily basis as a 30-amp is kinda small for that set-up. But generally speaking, yes, the charger doesn't know if it's one battery or two batteries (in parallel).

Yep, if you're routinely running down 6 batteries by powering an inverter to run a refrigerator/microwave/hot tub then you need a bigger charger than a Sport20 plus .

 

[wspitler]

When I replaced mine I spoke with Promariner engineers and they recommended the 4 bank charger for four batteries, even though there were only 2 banks on my 330. The new chargers are different and it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but they gave me a deal so I bought the 4 bank. It has worked great for the past few years. A standard DC (non pulsed) would not seem to know the difference, but according to the engineers, the newer pulsed chargers know there are two batteries if connected as one and they are designed to optimally charge only a single battery. My batts seem to be in great shape and we run the deep cycle (house) bank down at night quite often.

 

[Fishtales]

Unless you change the battery configuration you only need a 2 bank. I'd look at a Genius brand intelligent charger. I got a great deal on a min Kota off Amazon dual bank marine charger that I use in my garage for my toys.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse....been in electronics since 1979 and a lot has changed but Electricity 101 has not changed.
:hmm
If you have two batteries hard wired in parallel, with no fancy isolation electronics (ACR or VSR) between them, they are one battery.
Yes, connecting two charging circiuts to the the terminals of each may double the capacity to charge them vs one charging circiut.

The electronics in the controllers of the newer chargers however will not be able to sense the charge of the batteries separately because they are electrically connected to the same point.
Again, if they are hard wired. If they are sometimes isolated from each other then they are not always truly parallel.