32V charger recommendations

[MadHatter53]

I have just replaced my aging 8V batteries and now I’m ready to replace the original lamarche unit.
I haven’t found many options other than analytics which Metama had mentioned and currently has on his 53My. the analytics has a 4 week build time and priced at around $1,200. They also specify that my battery banks need to share a common ground, I assume I do but not sure. Not looking for an inverter just a straight up smart charger so any help is appreciated.

 

[SEVEN]

See attached.

 

[jmooney]

When my original LaMarche charger failed, I got the same Sentry charger as above . No problems . I wanted a simple charger. Obviously , if I have to go to a agm or some other battery , I will have to get a smart charger. Since I got over 8 years on my last set of batteries, I’ll probably stay with flooded lead acid batteries.

 

[MadHatter53]

My new batts are all FLA’s. I had 4 out of 8 that I assume froze and burst the tops off 2 others Got cooked, I never had a battery freeze prior to this. Sentry doesn’t make the 32V anymore I did find a used one but I prefer new.

 

[rustybucket]

Our sentry failed and after much research i went with Analytic 40amp 32v charger. Seems like a really nice charger, nothing but good things to say about it. Had it onboard for 2 years now. The new analytic is about 50lbs lighter than the old (ok, maybe not that much but it was a breeze to install).

We had to go with such a high amp rating at the time b/c we had 6 DC underwater lights and were planning to add 6 more. Well, we have now decided to go with AC underwater lights so our charger is way overkill at this time, but that's definitely somewhere I like being overrated, even if by accident lol.

At the time the analytic seemed like the highest amp rated charger and the highest quality I could find. It was expensive and there was quite a long lead time on it, but not sure there are many 32v chargers of any brand sitting around on shelves.

When comparing amp ratings be sure you look at the duty cycle. I think the analytic is rated for a super high duty cycle, maybe even full time, at 40 amps where the other chargers rated at 40 amps were rated for like 30min or 50% or something like that. Don't quote me on those numbers, just be sure to pay attention, 40 amps does not always equal 40 amps from brand to brand.

 

[SEVEN]

My new batts are all FLA’s. I had 4 out of 8 that I assume froze and burst the tops off 2 others Got cooked, I never had a battery freeze prior to this. Sentry doesn’t make the 32V anymore I did find a used one but I prefer new.

They still make them. I just bought one from them directly.

 

[MadHatter53]

Most places say they have them in stock until you try to order then they say they have discontinued the 32v version. Even on sentry’s websites think they show as discontinued.

 

[SEVEN]

Here’s where I got it. I called direct. One week later I had it. The web doesn’t say anything about not having them. Give it a try Monday. I just got mine about a month ago. I know they didn’t sell me the last one because another friend just received his last week.

 

[SEVEN]

That was hard to see. Here is the site

 

[MadHatter53]

Seven you are correct Sentry does still have the 32V chargers. In my mad quest I somehow passed by them. A call will be placed on Monday.

 

[metama]

I haven’t swapped out the sentry for the AS yet. It came in last week. Call them price are lower then you find online. I when with lower amps for 2 reasons(long story) and it was 600-800 ish after shipping. my old charger never really pulled over 20amps, we will see how I feel about the lower amps in the long run.

the one you want is the new smart charger that is not really posted yet. Model BCA1050-32

It’s just over 1,000.

let me know if you want to buy my old sentry!!!

 

[cenger]

Prices on a new Sentry charger seem to be all over the place what should one expect to pay for a new 32V Sentry charger? I see that La MARCHE also still makes a 32V charger. The old one has last almost 40 years and still going, are the new ones any good?

 

[MadHatter53]

Thanks for the info and offer Phil. I Now have the Sentry, the analytics and I see that Newmar has a 32V charger to choose from.

 

[luckydave215]

I've had the Newmar for several years now, it works perfectly. The only time the batteries use ANY water is during a long cruise, the alternators still charge like the original battery burner ferroresonant charger.
It's not that the alternators are that bad, it's that the Newmar is so good that I can tell the difference.
Newmar makes their 32V chargers to order (like others) but the time from order to delivery was pretty quick.

 

[cenger]

I’m going to replace my LaMarche charger with a new Sentry charger tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone knows the weight of the LaMarche? Is it a one man job to get it down? The new Sentry is a fraction of the size.

 

[SEVEN]

It’s better to use two people if possible. It’s about 60 lbs if my back remembers. Could be as much as 80. Two of us took it out.

 

[luckydave215]

It took two of us (big guys) to remove the old charger, and it was a struggle.
I easily held the Newmar in place with one hand and drove the screws with the other.

 

[davidwigler]

Looks like you’ll have a starboard list to deal with.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Sentry is not a smart charger. You need something with an equalize function to desulfate the plates in the batteries to make them last longer. Analytic will do that and end up saving you money on batteries in the long run.

 

[chuckbullett@gmail.com]

Hi THere;

Chartmaker has a McCarron VMI Constant Voltage Charger & Power Supply on board.

According to the website the 32Volt model is still available, but now its owned by QMI. It has an equalize function. So far so good. It is quite large.

Website: http://www.qme-inc.com/products.html

Good Luck