West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

[hd883chopper]

Hey everyone,
I have a 30amp WM portable Smart Charger w/ float capabilities. I was wondering if any of you have this charger or are familiar with it.

I just started using it on my 2 starter bats and 2 deep cyc bats it seems to work well except it never seems to get to the "Float" mode. Regardless of what setting (2,10 or 30a) I use, it seems to push up to about 14.5 to 15volts to the bat, then seems to settle down and hover around 13.5 volts. The meter that registers amps pulled says "FULL" so I'm assuming at this point the charger is just pushing a continuous 13.5 volts and the battery is at full charge.

My question is....When does it go into float mode? I thought that was the main reason to buy one of these fancy little dudes? Maybe I'm missing something...Can anyone clear this up for me?

I even called WM support and the tech told me that he thinks the charger has to get up to 14 or 15 volts before going to float. He didn't seem very sure of his answers though. The only thing is that I have seen the voltage surge up there, but then it just settles down to 13.5.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_11151_10001_102155_-1?cid=chanintel_google&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=102155

Thanks a bunch for any help in clearing this up.
HD.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

Yep, you missed something.
Watch this video..tells all!

"continuous 13.5 volts and the battery is at full charge."
That is float mode.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...hanintel_google&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=102155

 

[hd883chopper]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

Ok, that makes sense. The only that's throwing me off is that there is an actual Float Mode indicator light....but it never does light up. It's as if it hasn't gotten there yet. I suppose the light may not be working.

In the video it shows a close up of the digital read out. Underneath the digital read out there are three indicator lights. They are listed (from left to right) Float, Volts, Amps. The volts and amps indicator lights work fine. Never did see the Float light on.

But, like I said. I guess it just could be an indicator light malfunction since the charger does maintain 13.5 volts and says full. Odd.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

Weve got a Black&Decker portable 5/10/15amp charger and Ive also noticed it will say full without lighting the 'float' light. Pretty sure Ive left it on charge for a few days and it did eventually light up. I usually just let it charge till it says 'full' although its nice to know it goes into float if I cant get back to it for a week or so.

How long have you left it on charge after its said 'full??'

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

might need to drop it down to 12.4 or so then the float mode kicks in??

 

[Outsider]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

He didn't seem very sure of his answers though.

Call 'em back and ask who the vendor is, then call the vendor. They'll know ...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: West Marine 30amp Smart Charger - help -

Float mode and its indicator can be designed in a couple of different ways. If the battery is fully charged, the float mode circuit may be designed so that mode is actually turned off hence the light is not on. Should the battery self-discharge or simply drop out of the "full" range, THEN the float mode turns on as does the float indicator. On the other hand, the float mode might be designed so that when the battery reaches full charge the full charge indicator goes off (or it may stay on) and the float mode turns on and the indicator also lights but cycles as the battery goes from full to float, back full, then float again. How the float mode is implemented in the charger will dictate how the light operates. I suspect if you leave the charger on for a longer period you will see the "Float" indicator cycling.