battery charger

[ed webb]

As I am looking to upgrade my charger, I was looking at ebay for a xantrex charger and there are several listed. I am not sure what the amps are the promariner that I am looking to replace, but there a couple of different models and I'm clear on which one I should be considering. I have included the link to ebay. any advice is greatly appreciated,

Ed

[Ron Hill]

Ed : You usually try to get a charger that will put out about 10% of your battery bank Ahr capacity.

With that said you'll have to decide on the A Hr size of your battery bank. 
Xantrax has two chargers that you should look at - the 20 amp and 40 amp chargers that can charge two banks.  I wouldn't look at the 10 or 60 amp versions.  I have the 20 amp which works just fine for me. 
A thought

[ed webb]

Thanks Ron,
Now how do I determine the A hr. I understand that I should add up the amp useage for each item, but since the things that run the most are the fridge, lights in the evening, television in the morning,  microwave for a few minutes at a time, the radio, space heater when it's cold, and when it gets warm enough several fans.

[Stu Jackson]

Ed, if you look at the stickies on the Main Message Board, there is a battery charger evaluation by John Nixon, here:  http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4352.0.html

Please, do NOT buy a Promariner.  Here's why:  

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3073.0.html

and

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5179.0.html

Also, read the Ample Power Primer, www.amplepower.com, Tech Documents tab.  Download it and keep a copy at home and one on the boat.

There aren't too many good ones out there.  I would also avoid Charles.  Do a search on "charles redux" and you'll find these:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2143.0.html

and

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,605.0.html

Good luck, keep us posted on your decision making process.