Minn Kota 4 Bank Charger Problems.

[08rdskeeter]

Guys,
I need help. I have a Minn-Kota 4 bank battery charger and the other day we got back from a fishing trip and plugged it in like we always do, two of the lights on the charger were glowing red. I got to looking closer and it said check connection. I found out that 4 of the fuses were blown?? I tried to replace the fuses but they kept blowing? I decided to undo all of the wiring and take each battery out to check them as well as clean all the connections thinking this would help and it didn't? Then we got a volt meter and plugged the charger in and noticed that the polarity on the 1 and 4 wires was switched( the white wire was negative and the black wire was positive? The other 2 and 3 wires were the opposite? I tried calling Minn-Kota and they didn't really know what to say except it sounded like it was messed up and b/c we bought the boat second hand the Warranty was void. When you check the voltage coming out of the charger the 1 and 4 is running about 6.8 or so and the 2 and 3 is running around 3.4 or so. I don't know what to think or do now? Has anyone else ever ran into this problem?
Thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Minn Kota 4 Bank Charger Problems.

If you are checking voltage with the charger disconnected that is not a valid check. Connect the leads and then check voltage. I would look carefully at the charger label to see what the correct polarity really is. If two of the outputs are correct and two are opposite, I would not expect blown fuses on the two outputs which have correct polarity. I suspect incorrect connections. Start by leaving the outputs disconnected. Replace the fuses and plug in the the charger. If they blow again, the charger is toast. If not, I suspect a wiring problem.

 

[08rdskeeter]

Re: Minn Kota 4 Bank Charger Problems.

Thanks,
I checked the polarity with the charger plugged in and that is when i noticed the difference? We are thinking maybe it got a surge and switched the polarity then some how, that is maybe what blew the fuses in the first time? I got everything hooked back up and the number 2 and 3 work but the 1 and 4 will not shut off automatically or shall I say drop down to the trickle charge like 2 and 3. I just hooked up 1 and 4 with the wires reversed to keep the polarity the right way and keep the fuses from blowing but the charger is saying check connection.. I feel that the charger is messed up but wonder if i can still use it but not leave it plugged in more than a night or so?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Minn Kota 4 Bank Charger Problems.

If it seems to be charging, measure the voltage at the batteries. If it's higher than 12.6 they are charging. If not, it isn't. I would still question the reversed polarity.

 

[08rdskeeter]

Re: Minn Kota 4 Bank Charger Problems.

Thanks