Battery Charger not charging

boater2065

Active Member
Jul 30, 2018
222
Everett, WA
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Searay
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merc
Hi all, looks like my pro marine battery charger is not charging the batteries on my 02' 260 DA. It is a Pro Marine Flyback 20-3 (assuming it is the original but not sure, photo attached). I'm plan to take a trickle charger down to the boat later to charge the starter battery enough to fire it up and test if the alternator is charging the batteries.

Assuming that is the case, I am curious what kind of charger is recommended for my boat? I have two house batteries and one starter battery. Everything about the boat that uses DC is pretty standard for the 260...fridge, lights, stereo, fresh water pump. There is no HVAC on the boat, etc.
I'm a newb when it comes to electronics on the boat, so just looking for some tips that may help me choose the best charger to get me back up and running.

Thanks,
Jeff
IMG_20190925_124417.jpg IMG_20190925_124354.jpg
 
Thank you both for the suggestion I will look into that charger.

Excuse my ignorance here but I have another question. When the engine is running, does the alternator charge the batteries directly or does it go through the marine charger before charging the batteries?
 
Last edited:
Thank you both for the suggestion I will look into that charger.

Excuse my ignorance here but I have another question. When the engine is running, does the alternator charge the batteries directly or does it go through the marine charger before charging the batteries?

the engine alternator charges directly, not though the charger. I also replaced my Pro Marine 30 amp with a Pronautic 1240p. Great charger.
 
@Creekwood Thanks for the help there. I currently have the starter battery charging so i can fire it up and test the alternator and overall battery life.

In addition, can anyone help with troubleshooting tips for the battery charger?

1. I'm assuming the two charger cables are connect properly? I have one starter 12 volt battery and two 6 volts batteries in series as my house 12 volt. One charging cable goes from the charger to the positive on the starter and the other charging cable goes to the positive on one of the 6 volts. To me that seems odd, but i admittedly don't know much about all of this.

2. What is the best way to test for power coming out of the charger? Should i remove the two charging cables and test with a multimeter while AC power is on?

3. Any other ideas of how to test if the charger is dead?
 
@Creekwood Thanks for the help there. I currently have the starter battery charging so i can fire it up and test the alternator and overall battery life.

In addition, can anyone help with troubleshooting tips for the battery charger?

1. I'm assuming the two charger cables are connect properly? I have one starter 12 volt battery and two 6 volts batteries in series as my house 12 volt. One charging cable goes from the charger to the positive on the starter and the other charging cable goes to the positive on one of the 6 volts. To me that seems odd, but i admittedly don't know much about all of this.

2. What is the best way to test for power coming out of the charger? Should i remove the two charging cables and test with a multimeter while AC power is on?

3. Any other ideas of how to test if the charger is dead?

You can test for voltage change at the positive to negative posts by turning off the charger and running the batteries down a bit, then turinging it on and testing the voltage.

But... that old charger is not great. You may want to just let it die. The new ones are much much better. The pronautic has a ramped charge cycle that matches the charge rate optimally to the battery type. It also has an automotic desulfate cycle that will help you maintain the life of your dual 6 bank (I have the same setup)
 
@Creekwood Thanks. That is great info. After researching the pronautic, it does look very nice and has lots of features i would find useful regarding battery info. I may end up doing that. I don't want to get stranded when we go out, especially now that winter is arriving quickly.
 
I have ordered the ProNautic 1230 and am eagerly awaiting for it to arrive. As i was removing the old charger, from the bilge, I came across one more question to ask you all. If the new charger does not match up with the mounting holes in the hull from the previous charger, what is the best way to screw into the fiberglass? Hand screw driver only? Pilot holes first? I havn't drilled anything into the fiberglass yet and it's a bit scary thinking about it.
 
DO NOT screw directly into the hull side. Unless you are planning on adding "spikes" to the outside of the hull ;)

There should be a piece of wood that is fiberglassed into the side of the hull for a mounting plate. Note the length of screws currently used and either re-use those or make sure not to use longer ones. In this case... hand/power makes no difference. Whichever one you are more comfortable with. If in doubt, use hand tools. If you do have to drill new holes, put a piece of tape on the drill bit so you don't go too far - or, really, just drill 1/4" so you get past the glass so the screw starts easily.
 
@Lazy Daze LOL that is my concern. I have kept the existing screws and plan to use those unless they will not fit through the new charger's mounting holes. I assume the previous charger was screwed into what you described as wood behind the fiberglass, as it was thicker in those areas. If i have to screw new holes, i'll be sure to make them in that same location. Thanks!
 
I have ordered the ProNautic 1230 and am eagerly awaiting for it to arrive. As i was removing the old charger, from the bilge, I came across one more question to ask you all. If the new charger does not match up with the mounting holes in the hull from the previous charger, what is the best way to screw into the fiberglass? Hand screw driver only? Pilot holes first? I havn't drilled anything into the fiberglass yet and it's a bit scary thinking about it.

on my boat and I expect on yours the charger is mounted on a bulkhead not on the hill sides. If so it is just a gellcoat covered marine plywood bulkhead. So you should be able to screw into it by hand but a pilot hole would help. If it is on the hull side there should be mounting strips of wood laminated in the fibreglass you can screw short screws into.
 
@Creekwood Thanks. I see that now and am sure that's what it was mounted to. Also mounted on that laminated wood is the negative bus bar, bilge light and a few hose/wire organizer clamps. I feel much more confident with mounting the new charger now. Thanks all!
 
on my boat and I expect on yours the charger is mounted on a bulkhead not on the hill sides.
On this boat, it is mounted (indirectly) to the port hull side. But you're right in that many are mounted to a bulkhead.

And, yes, the Flyback is/was the original model. Mine went kaput about 7 years ago - installed the same replacement you are installing.
 
I was able to get the ProNautic 1230 installed in the boat and everything seems to be working. Definitely an upgrade over the old one as it has more options, settings and features. @Creekwood or anyone else who has a similar model charger, how do you setup the "battery type" on this charger if you run different types of batteries? My boat has one 12 volt AGM (sealed) battery for cranking and two 6 volt deep cycle batteries (flooded) in series. From the presets on the pronautic, i'm not sure how to set it for two different style of batteries. For now i moved it to custom and set volts to 13 and amps to 13. Any advice??
 
I did not have that issue because both my banks are flooded cell batteries, not AGMs. I think you can call their support number and they can tell you how to do it. My guess is that you will want to use flooded setting. The house bank is the one that will really use and benefit from the intelligent charging cycle, and they are flooded.

One other comment, because the new charger will really push the amps and will periodically run a desulphate conditioning cycle (high volt/amp extended charge cycle), its really important to regularly check the water in the batteries. I find that my 6v house bank in particular loses water and I have to top the cells up several times over the summer.
 
I was able to get the ProNautic 1230 installed in the boat and everything seems to be working. Definitely an upgrade over the old one as it has more options, settings and features. @Creekwood or anyone else who has a similar model charger, how do you setup the "battery type" on this charger if you run different types of batteries? My boat has one 12 volt AGM (sealed) battery for cranking and two 6 volt deep cycle batteries (flooded) in series. From the presets on the pronautic, i'm not sure how to set it for two different style of batteries. For now i moved it to custom and set volts to 13 and amps to 13. Any advice??
You should not be mixing different battery types on one charger. That’s why you did not find directions on how to do it with the documentation that came with the pronautic 1230 charger. I suspect that’s why you had trouble with your original charger. You are going to have to go all AGM or Flooded aka wet batteries not both.
 
Thanks @radscoot I'm curious what the best solution is then. I knowingly don't know much about batteries, but from what i've read, house batteries are best to be deep cycle while cranking battery is best to be AGM. Do most people use two battery chargers? Or is it fine to use AGM for house batteries? All of a sudden i'm more confused than before.
 
I also have the same unit that went bad. I was recommended to get the model 63120 charger. Is it possible they recommended the wrong unit?
Glenn
 

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