Best 32V Smart Charger or Charger/Inverter...and where to buy?

[steve940]

Hi All,

I'm changing out both port and starboard battery banks (2 X 4/side X 8V batteries and want to upgrade my Sentry 30A charger to a 3-stage smart charger to extend battery life of my new lead-acid batteries...

I need a 32V (not 36V) smart charger either with or without an inverter. I'd appreciate suggestions as to make/model, approximate cost and best place to buy...and I'm in a bit of a rush...

Thanks in advance for your help and let me know of any interest in the Sentry take-out...

Steve
Sophie 56MY

 

[stewart]

I bought my 32v 25 amp smart charger programable from Charging Chargers .com
Cheers Stewart

 

[GJH]

Before I learned that my Sentry was fixable/adjustable, I was getting ready to buy a NewMar. It didn't look like the Quick Charge from Charging Chargers was a marine charger, though at $400 bucks it's a great deal; how long have you had yours Stewart? Also it is one bank, so by by the time I bought two, I wasn't that far from the NewMar.

The other top line alternatives are the Outback or NewMar inverters (take some doing to have them charge more than one bank) or the Analytic charger.

Since putting a new control board in my Sentry, it has been golden, charging a bank made up of Deka 8V195s and a bank of Rolls 8HHG25s. Saved myself about thousand bucks. Have a trained tech take a look at your Sentry, many authorized CruiseAir techs are also trained on the Sentry chargers (same company).

 

[OBXTucker]

MikeP has a great thread on this site about his Outback 3232. It's on my list of things to buy, but haven't done it yet. My old Sentry's are still kicking, so I haven't bitten the bullet yet.

 

[Boatsb]

I'm in the middle of an install of a 24 volt 6000 watt 120/240 system in a 12 volt boat. It was decided that trying to match the boats original voltage made no sense and we just added the needed batteries separately. I think its a better design and more cost effective than using one of the few 32 volt products available. Its also easier to get batteries.

 

[MikeP]

I know we've been around this 32/24/12V thing many times in the past...

It is true that you won't find 8V batts or general 32v items at West Marine but any battery shop has/can get the batts with no trouble at all and all the 32V stuff is available through the usual on-line suppliers, including Sams...or even ordered at WM. I have never had any difficulty finding a 32v component that I needed. I'm not suggesting that a person shouldn't convert voltage if that's what they are comfortable doing, just saying that there is no problem getting (or rebuilding) any 32V items that the boat uses.

 

[Boatsb]

I know we've been around this 32/24/12V thing many times in the past...

It is true that you won't find 8V batts or general 32v items at West Marine but any battery shop has/can get the batts with no trouble at all and all the 32V stuff is available through the usual on-line suppliers, including Sams...or even ordered at WM. I have never had any difficulty finding a 32v component that I needed. I'm not suggesting that a person shouldn't convert voltage if that's what they are comfortable doing, just saying that there is no problem getting (or rebuilding) any 32V items that the boat uses.

Invert not convert Mike.

The point is if an inverter is being installed it may be easier to make it stand alone and add batteries and additional storage capacity to the vessel with 24 volt systems that use standard 12 volt batteries allowing you to use more available items. 32 volt components are less popular and less available. It is not being used in new vessels and getting harder to find.

If you have not had a problem finding anything in 23 volt you probably have not looked for some items yet. You also will pay more for many items in 32 volt but that's just because there is no economy of scale in producing them.

 

[stewart]

My new charger from Charging Chargers is programable for all lead, mat, and all sealed, batteries
it has 4 programs including charge, float,and timed over voltage to de sulfate, it is wired to the house bank port side, has worked well for about 8 months since new, straboard side is start bank and charges from starboard engine alternator, hope this helps.
Cheers Stewart

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have the Outback 3232 and the Analytic BCA1000.

The Analytic is a two bank charger, but the Outback is more programmable.

 

[MikeP]

"If you have not had a problem finding anything in 23 volt you probably have not looked for some items yet. "

Well, you may be right but I honestly can't think of a single 32V electrical component on our boat that I haven't either rebuilt or replaced since we've owned it and I was able to get everything with no problem. I agree the prices are sometimes slightly higher, for example, 2 2000GPH 32V Rule bilge pumps I purchased last year were 89 bucks and the 12s were 79 for the same capacity. I was curious about current prices...I just did a check on 2000GPH Rule Bilge pump prices at Star Marine (where I bought them last year) and the 32V pump is $98.95, the 12v is $89.95 but the 24v pump is $107.95! Seems odd that the 24 would cost more than the 32 but there it is.

OTOH, it is entirely possible that all 32V items will, some day become become impossible to find since, as you pointed out, nobody produces a 32v boat anymore. Then again, the self generating power people - where the Outback inverter originated - use a lot of 32V. I have to admit I don't really know why but that makes obtaining an excellent 32v inverter/charger pretty easy.

 

[Boatsb]

I looked at some inverters that are used for solar and they are going 48 volt for efficiency. We went 24to on this boat for that reason.