Dual Pro charger not working

[gim]

I have a single bank Dual Pro Recreation Series single bank charger for my cranking/starting battery.  This on board charger came with my boat when I bought it in 2015.

 

The other day when I plugged it in, the normal lights would turn on for a second, and then all fade out.  I tried another outlet, same thing.  My hunch is that the charger has simply had it and I'll need to replace it.  Its lasted nearly 10 years.

 

Does anyone else have a potential solution here?  I attached a photo of the charger.  There are 3 indicator lights at the top.  One for power (far right), one for charging (far left), and one for ready (middle).  Usually when I plug in, the power one is always green.  The charging one on the far left will be red while its charging, and when its done, that one will fade off, and the middle one will be green, indicating that its ready/done charging.  With his current problem, none of them stay on for more than a brief second or so, and then they're all off.

 

Luckily, I have a manual trickle charger that I can use in the mean time to charge this battery before I go fishing.  The battery itself is not the issue, as I bought it last November and had it recently load tested to ensure its still good.

 

Any advice will be appreciated.

[A-Jay]

Nothing lasts forever and you got the best that unit had.

10 years is pretty good in my book.

In the interest of not jacking up a perfectly good battery,

Or worse, getting stranded somewhere,

Time for a new unit. 

The Dual Pro Sportsman SS1 Marine Battery Charger is @ $210,

If it lasts 10 years that's $1.75 bucks a month.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

https://www.chargingchargers.com/marine-battery-chargers/ss1.php

 

 

[gim]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Nothing lasts forever and you got the best that unit had.

10 years is pretty good in my book.

In the interest of not jacking up a perfectly good battery,

Or worse, getting stranded somewhere,

Time for a new unit. 

The Dual Pro Sportsman SS1 Marine Battery Charger is @ $210,

If it lasts 10 years that's $1.75 bucks a month.

Good Luck.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking too.  10 years, no issues.  If it needs replacing, so be it.  Every once in a while someone here has enough knowledge on a specific product failure that they can offer a potential solution, so I figure it was worth a shot.

 

I guess the one thing I might consider too is that they still make this specific charger, so I might buy the exact same one to replace this one.  I would prefer to use the same bolt holes and not have to drill any new ones.

[fishhugger]

i think i would worry that the charging unit, which is acting funky, might screw up my battery......... or i guess potentially cause a fire re: battery, if it's a lithium battery in particular

[gim]

6 minutes ago, fishhugger said:

if it's a lithium battery in particular

 

Its a lead acid starting/cranking battery.  This particular charger is not compatible with a lithium battery.

[Bankc]

3 hours ago, fishhugger said:

i think i would worry that the charging unit, which is acting funky, might screw up my battery......... or i guess potentially cause a fire re: battery, if it's a lithium battery in particular

Most lithium batteries you find in fishing boats are Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries.  Also know as LiFePo4 or LFP.  They tend to have a slightly smaller fire risk than your traditional lead acid or AGM batteries.  So while a fire is possible, it's not as high as one would think. 

 

It's complicated and confusing because there are at least 12 different kinds of lithium batteries out there on the market, and most are just labeled "lithium ion", which doesn't mean a whole lot by itself.  And all of those various types span the spectrum from being highly flammable and dangerous, to some with almost not threat of fire whatsoever (solid state lithium).  

[Tackleholic]

I agree with A-Jay;  ten years is a good run for just about anything on a boat.  I had a 4 bank charger which came with my new boat, it lasted 2 years.  The replacement also lasted 2 years, but this time the mfg. repaired or replaced it, not sure which.  Trolling motor battery went into it's 5th year before giving up the "Ghost";  I thought that was pretty good. 

[TnRiver46]

I’d also have to guess it’s shot, might could use a multimeter inside of it to do some diagnostics but that would probably involve soldering for the repair. 
 

I just got a chuckle that it’s called dual pro and it’s single bank 

[Jig Man]

I had an older Dual Pro charger that one bank went on the fritz.  I called Dual Pro seeking advice.  Their advice was to order a new one from them at a significant discount.

 

[gim]

38 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I had an older Dual Pro charger that one bank went on the fritz.  I called Dual Pro seeking advice.  Their advice was to order a new one from them at a significant discount.

 

I called them today too. They said that since it was nearly 10 years old, there wasn’t anything they could do about it. They said I could try to change the fuses and make sure all the connections were tight and nothing was corroded.

 

This charger is less than $150 to buy a new one so I’m likely going to simply replace it with a new one of the same model. It’s kind of in a bad spot way in the back. That’s probably the worst part about this.

[Tackleholic]

11 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I had an older Dual Pro charger that one bank went on the fritz.  I called Dual Pro seeking advice.  Their advice was to order a new one from them at a significant discount.

 

Hope I remember that in 2 years when this one goes.

[casts_by_fly]

17 hours ago, gimruis said:

I called them today too. They said that since it was nearly 10 years old, there wasn’t anything they could do about it. They said I could try to change the fuses and make sure all the connections were tight and nothing was corroded.

 

This charger is less than $150 to buy a new one so I’m likely going to simply replace it with a new one of the same model. It’s kind of in a bad spot way in the back. That’s probably the worst part about this.

 

At that price I'd get a noco genius and be done with it.  A 2-bank 5amp is $140.  A 3-bank 5 amp is $170.  You get more capability with the extra bank and the ability to transition to lithium in the future if you want it.  I know you said you wanted the same screw holes, but I think that's a silly reason to stick with an inferior charger.  

[gim]

20 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

and the ability to transition to lithium in the future if you want it.

 

Do they even make lithium starting/cranking batteries?  I was looking last night and couldn't find any that are specific to that aspect.  All the ones I found were designed for running a bow mount or graphs/pumps/lights, etc.

 

When I bought this battery last fall, I looked for an AGM cranking version to go with my deep cycles for my bow mount.  I could not find one.  The only dedicated, specific cranking battery I could find were lead acid.  This battery needs to start a 75 hp 4-stroke motor, run 2 graphs (both 7 inch), and operate my talon when needed.  The previous cranking battery I had was a lead acid one that lasted nearly 6 years.  I don't usually fish any longer than about 5 hours at a time.

 

I buy my batteries locally at Batteries Plus for logistical reasons.

[casts_by_fly]

30 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Do they even make lithium starting/cranking batteries?  I was looking last night and couldn't find any that are specific to that aspect.  All the ones I found were designed for running a bow mount or graphs/pumps/lights, etc.

 

When I bought this battery last fall, I looked for an AGM cranking version to go with my deep cycles for my bow mount.  I could not find one.  The only dedicated, specific cranking battery I could find were lead acid.  This battery needs to start a 75 hp 4-stroke motor, run 2 graphs (both 7 inch), and operate my talon when needed.  The previous cranking battery I had was a lead acid one that lasted nearly 6 years.  I don't usually fish any longer than about 5 hours at a time.

 

I buy my batteries locally at Batteries Plus for logistical reasons.

 

They do.  Dakota is one I know off hand that's 1000 CCA and I believe mercury marine approved for  a starting battery.  Its called 'dual use' but with 1000 CCA that's more than enough for a big engine.  A smaller sub 150 hp 4-stroke isn't going to tax that.

 

 

[Junger]

44 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Do they even make lithium starting/cranking batteries?  I was looking last night and couldn't find any that are specific to that aspect.  All the ones I found were designed for running a bow mount or graphs/pumps/lights, etc.

 

https://floridalithium.com/products/12v-105ah-dual-purpose-lifep04-battery

 

I have had this since March and it's been flawless with my Mercury 200. The lowest I've ever run it down was 88% with 2x Helix10's and sometimes radio/speakers for long fishing trips. I had a lot of questions, and they're responsive. It's also on the more economic side of the dual starting lithiums.