3 Bank Charger

[South FLA]

I want to sell my 2 Bank Dual Pro and get a 3 bank charger. The dimensions I have to work with limit my choices since I don't want to move stuff around too much. I have at max an nice 8"x 12" space in the void that my Dual Pro will be leaving.

Here are my choices:

1. NOCO Genius

http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/marine-chargers/GEN3.html

3. Pro Mariner

http://www.pmariner.com/productFeature.php?ProductNum=42021

3. Guest

http://www.marinco.com/product/15-amp-three-battery-application-charger

I am leaning heavily towards the Noco since it has 10 Amps per bank, but I have not heard about them, does anyone have any experience or input on my choices.

[egolfer]

I have dual bank Pro-Mariner that has been installed for about 5 years.  It works great. I had one issue with a few years ago.  I sent it back to them, they replaced with a new one and it was back in my boat in less then 2 weeks. 

[Wayne P.]

When I was shopping for a 3-bank charger, the smallerst footprint I found was the Dual Pro SE 10A per bank.

It is 9" long, 8" wide, and 5" tall.

[shallow thinker]

I've went through 2 Guest chargers in 9 yrs.  They were 5/5/3 amps.  The last one melted down while on the water so I moved away from having a built in charger.  (I am 100% sure that it was properly wired) I now have a 3 bank 10/10/5 amp Pro Mariner that stays in the garage.  I found a heavy duty cable at a marine salvage yard and wired the socket into the boat and the plug onto the charger.  Works like a charm.

[buzzcatcher]

I would like dibs on your old wore out 2 bank.

PM me with specs and price shipped to NC.

Thanks

[Bamajoker]

ive always wondered, if you have 2 batteries wired together for a 24volt trolling motor and a cranking battery would you need a 3bank charger or will both trolling batteries charge as one since they are wired together.

[jim payne]

If you are using a 24 volt trolling motro then you need a two bank charger(unless you have a 24volt charger which most people don't have) just for them and you need either another charger or a three bank for all three. You can not charge 24volts from a twelve volt charger

[Fishing Rhino]

ive always wondered, if you have 2 batteries wired together for a 24volt trolling motor and a cranking battery would you need a 3bank charger or will both trolling batteries charge as one since they are wired together.

Interesting question, and I'd like to hear a definitive answer.  That is my situation.  starting battery and two 12s hooked up in series.

Two bank charger came wired to the starter on one bank and the 24 volt combo on the other.

Here's the problem.  A tech told me that setup would charge the trolling motor batteries.

I disconnected the leads from the tm batteries, and the charger output was 13.2 volts.  I don't understand how a 24 volt system can be charged with a 13.2 volt input.  Maybe someone on here can explain it to me.

What I did was to disconnect the charger from the starting battery.  The motor's alternator takes care of it anyway.  I connected a bank to each trolling motor battery.

Works much better set up like that.

I've never understood why the onboard chargers, other than for convenience.  You still need an outside power source. 

If mine goes caput, I'll get a regular three bank charger, rig some plugs or use alligator clips to each battery, and do it that way.

I've read a lot of posts and articles about onboard chargers failing.  It seems to be a common theme.

I don't hear so much about it happening to the regular chargers.

I'd have to deduce that at least part of the problem is the onboard charger lives in a hostile environment of moisture, vibrations, and the shock from a hull pounding over choppy water.

There are systems which can take care of all the batteries using the motor's alternator, but those I've seen cost $$$$$$$.

Speaking with one of our members, after a couple or three of the onboard failures, he eliminated the onboard charger, and uses a multi-bank charger that he hooks up when he gets back to the house.

No problems since he made the change.

[jim payne]

Like I said you cannot charge a 24volt battery set up with a twelve volt charger, it just can't be done. You can use your garage charger like anglers did for many many years and they had less problems then they do now(I will get it for that one haha) there are charge from the outboard units that are less then onboards money wish.

[NBR]

You need a bank for each battery. I have had a 3 bank Promariner in my boat for nearly 20 yearsa with out a hitch. Plug in at night when I get home and I'm fully charged in the morning.

[junebugmn]

Just my 2 cent's worth, I have had dual pro's, guest's, pro mariner's, they all work, of the three the pro mariner was the cheapest, a 5/5 or 6/6 I don't remember but in three or four year's never had a problem with it : also you dont need to charge your starting battery your alternator doe's that. Junebugman

[NBR]

Junebug, You are right about not charging the cranking battery most of the time. When you are fishing long hours with little run time on the big motor. The cranking battery being hooked up to live wells, depth finders etc can and will get down to where it won't start the big motor. I had it happen to me about Thursday on a week long trip to Ontario some years ago.

I charge them all every day they are used.