Promariner ProSport 20 install

[GnrlPatton]

My charger finally crapped out on the boat, and I've bought a Promariner ProSport 20 to replace it. As I was reading through the install instructions, I kept reading "Important: The pair of Red and Yellow wires in one cable jacket MUST GO TO THE SAME 12VDC Battery".

My setup is a standard 12V battery for the starting bank, and a pair of 6V Trojan T-105s connected in Series, so that I get 12V.

Despite the warning on the install instructions, can I use one wire to go to the starting bank and another to go to the house bank? They are all at 12V after all, but the repeated use of the warning about separate batteries in the instructions had me worried...

Thanks,
Kevin

My boat: 1988 230 Weekender; Mercruiser 5.7L (260HP); Alpha 1 Gen 2 drive

 

[mduggan]

how many connections are on the new promariner device?
casacding batteries properly to change 6, 12, 24 VDC has no effect. if its done properly and the batteries are good. your all set. promariner is a very good product out of nashua NH.
if you have any doubts of your configuration, call them.
be prepared to replace the batteries, (you should anyway). all battery banks need to match the same, go AGM, as there are dip switches for the charger to maintain only a certain type of battery cell. if you got a new unit from promariner it will automatically sulfinate the cells and condition them.
but they all must match the same type of cell construction.
if you have the room dump tandem cells to get the VDC you want and go with optima batteries AGM. there expensive but stable as hell, take a beating. blue top spiral cell.
Matt

 

[MLauman]

Short answer is yes. That should probably read 'MUST GO TO THE SAME 12VDC BANK'. I think they are just making the point that the wires within each pair must not be scattered among different banks.

 

[SevenTeas]

Maybe you should have bought the charger for three batteries instead of for two. Promariner makes one for three batteries.

 

[MLauman]

Maybe you should have bought the charger for three batteries instead of for two. Promariner makes one for three batteries.

Not exactly true. They make one for 3 banks - not 3 batteries. While in some cases each battery equals one bank, that is not the case with the OP's setup. His 2 6 volt batteries are connected in serial - creating one 12 volt bank.

Connecting a 3 bank charger to each of his batteries would likely damage the charger - or at least confuse it to a point where it would not work correctly.

 

[penbroke]

You should be fine.


Frank

 

[Nehalennia]

Maybe you should have bought the charger for three batteries instead of for two. Promariner makes one for three batteries.

If he were to get a 3 bank charger and keep the set up he has he'd still only use two banks as the charger won't send 6V to each of the 6V batts, then 12V to the starting battery. The 2 - 6Vs are installed in series to gain him the 12V so he'd hook the charger for those 6vs up with the positive of the charger to the first 6v Battery's pos terminal and the neg of the charger to the negative of the second 6V battery.

The problem I see is that this charger may not meant for 6V batteries in series. A call to ProMariner will confirm that.

 

[MLauman]

The problem I see is that this charger may not meant for 6V batteries in series. A call to ProMariner will confirm that.

A typical 12 volt automotive battery consists of 6 cells. Each cell produces about 2 volts and they are connected serially internally to produce your 12 volt output. A 6 volt automotive battery is the same scenario, but with 3 cells instead of 6.

In each case you end up with 6 2 volt cells connected serially. The charger does not know the difference.

The things to avoid are:
1. combining different types (lead-acid, Gel, AGM)
2. combining different sizes (amp-hour rating)
3. combining different age (old vs new)
on the same bank.

 

[Nehalennia]

A typical 12 volt automotive battery consists of 6 cells. Each cell produces about 2 volts and they are connected serially internally to produce your 12 volt output. A 6 volt automotive battery is the same scenario, but with 3 cells instead of 6.

In each case you end up with 6 2 volt cells connected serially. The charger does not know the difference.

The things to avoid are:
1. combining different types (lead-acid, Gel, AGM)
2. combining different sizes (amp-hour rating)
3. combining different age (old vs new)
on the same bank.

I agree.

 

[boatmailster]

A typical 12 volt automotive battery consists of 6 cells. Each cell produces about 2 volts and they are connected serially internally to produce your 12 volt output. A 6 volt automotive battery is the same scenario, but with 3 cells instead of 6.

In each case you end up with 6 2 volt cells connected serially. The charger does not know the difference.

The things to avoid are:
1. combining different types (lead-acid, Gel, AGM)
2. combining different sizes (amp-hour rating)
3. combining different age (old vs new)
on the same bank.

to make sure that charger is completely confused he could put those two 6V batteries connected in series in a single box and write 12V on it. I bet you it will work

 

[GnrlPatton]

A typical 12 volt automotive battery consists of 6 cells. Each cell produces about 2 volts and they are connected serially internally to produce your 12 volt output. A 6 volt automotive battery is the same scenario, but with 3 cells instead of 6.

In each case you end up with 6 2 volt cells connected serially. The charger does not know the difference.

The things to avoid are:
1. combining different types (lead-acid, Gel, AGM)
2. combining different sizes (amp-hour rating)
3. combining different age (old vs new)
on the same bank.

Perfect, that's what I was looking for. The 2 banks are of different age (starter just replaced this year, house 3 years), but they are all of the same type.

Thanks everyone for your help and wisdom!

Nehalennia, beautiful picture in your signature, is that up in Canada?

 

[ProMariner]

Sorry to burst your bubble but this is not the right charger for your application. You need a larger charger and one that is designed to work as a power supply to manage house loads.

Please give me a call in the morning 603-766-7603.

Jim Mitchell
ProMariner
Manager, Technical Services Group

 

[GnrlPatton]

Yikes, I'm about 2/3 of the way through my install, only have the wiring up of the batteries left to do. Jim, I will give you a call tomorrow to figure this out.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[GnrlPatton]

Jim, thank you very much for your time yesterday! I have a plan for what I'm going to do, I'll be in touch with you shortly once I figure out all the details.

Thanks much!
Kevin

 

[MLauman]

Well what is the right charger. I need to replace the batteries in my 1987 390 ec and thought it would be a good time to replace the charger as well. I have four group 27 deep cycle batteries. It looks like the two on the port side are for th port engine and the generator. The two starbord I think are for the house and starbord engine. What type and size charger do I need.

First you need to determine how many banks you have. I assume that the 2 port batteries are permanently wired in parallel - that's one bank. The starboard ones might be permanently wired together as well - that would be bank 2. However, if there's a battery selector switch between them then you have 3 banks.

As for sizing a specific model, I would call Jim (above) after you have determined how many banks you have.