Sterling Pro Charge overheat?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Hi. Just bought a 355 and getting to learn the boat step by step. Really happy with many things so far. With a portable 120W solar panel and some engine generator I have not really gotten to use the battery charger. When I did the four days ago it acted weird. Did not get it to bring up the voltage as much as expected but only stayed at dock for a few hours. In shore again today I decided to figure some more out and started digging. First of all it seems to do only absorption reaching about 13,6-7V and giving about 20-22 A. But after only a few mins it shuts of goes black and stops charging. My guess is overheating and it’s warm but not hot. After 10-20 min it restarts and Groundhog Day starts all over. I have no manual for the charger and can’t find any online. It’s a ProCharge20 12V/30A. Any ideas? I can’t even figure out how to operate it - don’t find any buttons on it. And oh - there is a black small cable coming in the same bunch on cables to the charger that is not connected. Measuring it is electrically connected to minus on the batteries. There are no empty connectors on the charger? Could it be ground? I’m lost, very happy for any help. 
Andreas

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
ajoviken Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 24 July 2022 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote ajoviken Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Sterling Pro Charge overheat? Posted: 24 July 2022 at 18:49
	Hi. Just bought a 355 and getting to learn the boat step by step. Really happy with many things so far. With a portable 120W solar panel and some engine generator I have not really gotten to use the battery charger. When I did the four days ago it acted weird. Did not get it to bring up the voltage as much as expected but only stayed at dock for a few hours. In shore again today I decided to figure some more out and started digging. First of all it seems to do only absorption reaching about 13,6-7V and giving about 20-22 A. But after only a few mins it shuts of goes black and stops charging. My guess is overheating and it’s warm but not hot. After 10-20 min it restarts and Groundhog Day starts all over. I have no manual for the charger and can’t find any online. It’s a ProCharge20 12V/30A. Any ideas? I can’t even figure out how to operate it - don’t find any buttons on it. And oh - there is a black small cable coming in the same bunch on cables to the charger that is not connected. Measuring it is electrically connected to minus on the batteries. There are no empty connectors on the charger? Could it be ground? I’m lost, very happy for any help. Andreas

H8jer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 14 September 2010 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1142	Post Options Post Reply Quote H8jer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 July 2022 at 18:58
	Hi You can find a manual at Sterling. https://sterling-power.com/pages/instruction-manuals My Sterling ProCharge 50 Amps does sometimes also hibernate but at least there is always light in the AC Power Led-light. Do you loose all 240v to the boat or is it only the Charger? Btw. When the Charger is working hard, a fan is running, but it does not run when the charge current is low.
	Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin

ajoviken Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 24 July 2022 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote ajoviken Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24 July 2022 at 22:42
	Thanks for answer. I did find these manuals but they are very brief to say the least. For the one most resembling mine The mentioned switches I can’t even find, perhaps I need to open something. I have the charger still connected and all other 220v current works as expected. It seems it still goes on and off, and I guess I will very slowly fill my batteries up. I heard a pretty load Click once when it shut off, sounded like a disconnect of sorts. Question is how I can resolve although I am likely to buy a small portable next week.

H8jer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 14 September 2010 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1142	Post Options Post Reply Quote H8jer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25 July 2022 at 07:31
	Hi again The manual for your ProCharge20 (old Pro Charge C) model does indeed hold very little information. When comparing to the manual for my Pro Charge Ultra it really shows the difference. Pardon but it looks like your charger is a old budget product, that lacks the lights for feedback in case of faults. One important information from the manual is that it Resets/Cycles when the voltage is below 11.5volts How many battery banks are connected to the Charger? I guess Consumer and Starter and Thruster If so could you with a cheap multi-meter (voltmeter) measure the voltage across the battery-banks? My guess is that your charger brings up the voltage on one bank to 13.8v then it wants to charge the second bank, but here the error begins. Perhaps the other bank is almost Short-circuited or It might be having a much higher voltage than expected if the Solar is also charging this bank. Another issue could be if there is some battery-splitter/diode involved. To see if the Charger is faulty I would disconnect the other battery banks from the charger and also disconnect the Solar-charger. Then try and see if it completes a full charge/absorption-cycle and is able to stay contentiously at float state. Beware there might be a fire-hazard if you have a faulty battery bank.
	Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin

ajoviken Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 24 July 2022 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote ajoviken Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2022 at 10:09
	Hi Thanks much for further answers. I will out in my investment list to replace charger. The charger has two banks connected - Consumer and Charger. I don’t think starter is part of this system actually but will need to look deeper to be sure. In any case the wiring supports two bank charging set up. I let the system be for a few days in harbour, also needed to tend to other issues, and over time it charged up both banks. My hypothesis is now overheat due to broken fan (can’t hear any fan running, but not sure maybe they are fan less) and that batteries that can absorb as much as 20+ A will overheat charger and trigger overheat protection. As batteries are very slowly getting filled they will be less taxing for the battery and after 1-2days it stayed on 13,7V float. I never reached 14V with me observing it. I charge much more throug generator and foldable solar (need to change also the perm solar) so energy has not really been an issue even for 4-5 out of harbour. And the energy levels are making me think both batteries are good, but will test when back home (took my new boat directly out on a 4w sail along the Swedish west coast). In the process of this I found the battery bank separator is bridged so I think ultimately only have one bank atm. I will try to further investigate. Assume battery separator is broken and therefore both banks connected. Ah the mysteries of learning to understand a new boat. At least is less difficult the third time.

S&J Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 30 August 2014 Location: Perth WA / Med Status: Offline Points: 982	Post Options Post Reply Quote S&J Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2022 at 12:12
	You should have a smallish (80Ah) battery in the engine compartment plus one or two target domestic batteries (160Ah each) under the port settee. As far as I know these should not be connected directly. Not sure if the charger is connected to the engine battery or if that is just charged from the alternator. If you have a bow thruster this will have a separate battery charged via a B2B charger.
	H458 #159 Primal Mediterranean cruising

Brufan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 16 December 2010 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 604	Post Options Post Reply Quote Brufan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 August 2022 at 10:40
	My Sterling Charger lost its fan very soon after delivery. Although it's quite this way it also overheat fast especially when temp excess 25°C Just let the bench opened and it fixes the issue (did it for the last 8 years). I plan to upgrade battery charger and fit it in a very bad place but will put fans to push & pull air around it
	Bruno hanse 355 - 57 S/Y Spicy Ginger White hull, 2 cabins, Volvo D1-30, Selden rig, removable mainsheet track system, Simrad (now B&G)-Jefa autopilot.

ajoviken Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 24 July 2022 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote ajoviken Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 August 2022 at 10:47
	Thanks both for advice. I well test with bench open to see if prolongs the time to shut off. If so that should settle it. @S&J too much stuff in the boat atm to do the deeper due dilligence but agree, there battery banks should be disconnected. Have not seen a B2B charger but on the other hand I have no idea of how such look 😀. I do have a thruster but as far as I understand this was not there from factory.

Kox Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 18 May 2020 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 141	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kox Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 August 2022 at 11:08
	I wrote Sterling about the original charger on my ‘07 315 a few months ago. They replied within a day. Good thorough answers.
	Hanse 315, Ella, Hull# 640

ajoviken Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 24 July 2022 Status: Offline Points: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote ajoviken Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 August 2022 at 09:15
	Good advice Thanks



Welcome to myHanse.com the forum for Hanse Yachts owners throughout the world.