Battery chargers

[Trojan]

Anyone able to get there hands on a schematic for a Charles 2000 40 amp charger. Mine does not charge right. I may have to buy a new one. But I don't think it will be a Charles because of issues like this. With a schematic I can fix it my self, but I don't think they want you to fix it and I need one now. Looking at it, it looks like it, took a voltage spike.The MOV is fried and the IC's have no manufacturers ID. Anyone ever had there unit serviced by Charles. As in cost of repair verses buying new? They get you both ways.

BILL

 

[jim rosenthal]

Would they warranty it, do you think? Sometimes they will fix anything that goes wrong for a fixed cost- which is usually a lot less than the cost of buying a new one or fixing it yourself. Although maybe not in your case because you are in the business....

I think they are in Illinois, it might be worth calling them Monday to see what they say. If you need a new one, Xantrex/Statpower's customer service is from hell, basically, although some of their products are excellent. I thought Charles Marine was one of the better companies. Have you asked them point-blank about buying the parts from them and putting it back together yourself? Maybe they'll cooperate.

 

[Boatnut]

Anyone able to get there hands on a schematic for a Charles 2000 40 amp charger. Mine does not charge right. I may have to buy a new one. But I don't think it will be a Charles because of issues like this. With a schematic I can fix it my self, but I don't think they want you to fix it and I need one now. Looking at it, it looks like it, took a voltage spike.The MOV is fried and the IC's have no manufacturers ID. Anyone ever had there unit serviced by Charles. As in cost of repair verses buying new? They get you both ways.

BILL

You could give these guys a try, good luck. Let us know how you make out. www.marinepartssource.com

 

[luckydave215]

I too had a dying ferroresonant battery fryer...er...charger, and replaced it with a modern Newmar.
Couldn't be happier.

 

[Trojan]

I can get a new one for around $400 bucks and it's not the money. It's just that I don't believe that there is that much wrong with it. It took a voltage spike and it still puts out 12 volts, but it will not increase the voltage with a load added. I believe it's a comparative IC that is bad but there are no numbers on the chips. So it's hard to guess the chips or the circuit. They do this so they are the only people that can repair them. It's a simple circuit to trouble shoot if you have a schematic and the IC is probably a 25 cent item or it's in one of my drawers. I'm going to poke inside and look at it, see what I can find.
I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say. It's long gone beyond the warranty. Thanks for your ideas.

BILL

 

[jim rosenthal]

Let us know how it turns out. I agree you should be able to repair it if you have the ability, which you obviously do. Is there a generic chip that does this, that you could try in there?

 

[Trojan]

Talked to Charles today. No help, but for $143.46 flat fee they will fix it. I figure it will take at least an hour to get it apart. At least an hour to find the bad part. 20 minutes to replace if I have one. They think its a transformer. An hour to put it back together. With no warranty. It's in a box on the way to Charles. 10 day turn around or less. I can't beat that. $373 was the best price I found new.

I'm currently using a 30 amp auto automatic taper battery charger with a splitter for 2 battery banks and a timer that is set to charge every 4 hours for 1 hour. All mounted on a board laying on the bilge floor. Should work until I get my charger back from Charles.

BILL

 

[jim rosenthal]

Well, that's not hateful, Bill. If you figure the value of your time at anything, it's not a bad deal. And I suppose they will warranty it afterwards, too, won't they. So you more or less come out okay on the deal. Good for you.