On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:01:47 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

For real or hype?

=============================

I have one and it works pretty well. I have revived a few dead
batteries with it but there is a limit to everything.

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:13:00 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Which model have you? They all seem to do about the same, with the
difference being output power and therefore speed of charge.

==================================================

Mine is out on the boat at the moment but I believe it goes to 30
amps. It doesn't really matter that much for all but the largest
batteries because the charger automatically senses battery capacity
and adjusts the charging rate to avoid damage. It also tapers down
the charge for the same reason. Conventional wisdom is that a battery
should be initially charged at no more than 25% of its capacity. For
a typical group 27 marine battery that translates to about 20 amps.

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:37:15 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

I've found sales sites for the products, but no manufacturer's site.
Also, do you know if they properly charge AGM batteries in addition to
the more traditional wet cells?

How are they built? Decently? Do they have quality cables?

=======================

I think I got mine at Walmart. Last time I was there they were
selling a rebranded unit that was clearly the same in most respects.

Build quality seems good, cables and clips are decent, and there is a
setting for wet cell, AGM or gel cell.

There are some other "nice to have" features like a "Desulfater" which
claims to rejuvenate aging batteries. I've used it with some success
but other batteries were beyond repair.

For the price, around $80 or so, it is a very decent unit.

Wayne.B wrote in
:

I think I got mine at Walmart. Last time I was there they were
selling a rebranded unit that was clearly the same in most respects.



Same chargers.....now have Black & Decker's name and orange corporate color
on Vector's chargers. Mine is the 40/20/10/2A unit with battery
recondition and 100A starting. I uses an electronic switching power
supply, not a big old high current transformer. You can't destroy it by
hooking it up backwards or shorting the leads, which simply results in the
computer reporting an error code on the LED display panel. It's fully
protected.

What a bargain. The 40A best model was $88 at WalMart. The cheaper 35A
model without some features was $129 at Waste Marine.

Go figure.

Also, do you know if they properly charge AGM batteries in addition to
the more traditional wet cells?

there is a
setting for wet cell, AGM or gel cell.

Not all Vector chargers have the switch for battery type, but the box
art and the manual for those units makes the claim "safe for all
lead-acid batteries including flooded, AGM and gel."

This is false.

During the second stage of charging they ramp up to 14.8+ volts and
that greatly exceeds the max charge voltage for gels, and for some
AGMs. I learned this by cooking a Group 31 gel battery. When I noticed
the side of the battery had developed ripples (each cell bulging out) I
checked the voltage and saw the problem.

Vector tech support made the outrageous claim that they "could not be
held to know the proper voltage for 'all' gel batteries." I replied
that the 14.1 max volt for the SeaGel batteries was a norm, not an
anomaly. And that since Vector made chargers with a selector switch
they had to know that different types needed different voltage limts.
And finally, that their box text and their manual made exactly the
claim that it was "safe for _all_... flooded, gel and agm..."

"All means _all_" I told him.

Tech support said nothing in reply and after a half minute of silence
from him I hung up.

So be careful! If you have a gel or agm, be sure to buy the unit with
the selector switch. And check the voltage yourself! Don't believe the
box or the manual. (And save your receipt. I owned my VEC1092 charger
for 4 months before using them on the gels. Well beyond the return
window.)

There is a reason marine chargers are more expensive than automotive
chargers, they are ignition-protected, and have ground isolation to
prevent stray AC current from leaking to ground(DC) and causing
galvanic corrosion and rapid zinc consumption.....cheaper is not a good
reason to use an automotive charger, It's OK for a trailer boat in your
driveway, but on an in-water boat it can be detrimental to your u/w
hardware and an explosion hazard! As for the "desulfate" feature,NEVER
use it on any battery other than a flooded wet acid battery or you'll
destroy it...a good charger also monitors temperature to prevent
damage.
Lastly,for the person who posted about the RF noise, I bet the people
in your marina just love having you for a neighbor....Best to save the
auto probucts for the autos...

In article . com,
"markvictor" wrote:

Lastly,for the person who posted about the RF noise, I bet the people
in your marina just love having you for a neighbor....Best to save the
auto probucts for the autos...

That was me -- warning others of the Vector's drawback. I only use it
at home or while we're on the hard.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"markvictor" wrote in
ups.com:

Lastly,for the person who posted about the RF noise, I bet the people
in your marina just love having you for a neighbor....Best to save the
auto probucts for the autos...



The Guest dual 10A charger in Lionheart is 25 db over S9 from 2-30 Mhz. It
must be shut down to even hear a 50KW shortwave broadcaster! I can hear it
running on every HF radio to the end of the dock. This plastic piece of
crap is "marine"....

You're right, ...that charger is best suited for bass boats...