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Posts: 479
Location: Eden Prairie & Pine Island | Looks like I need to get a new on board charger...two trollers and one cranking, 3 bank, at least 10 amps per bank I guess...what brands/models do you guys think are the best? Can I leave the old wiring in place and just hook the leads up to the new charger otherwise re-wiring would be a pain? Anyone have experience with the MinnKota's? Thanks in advance for your suggestions, etc. |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I worked for one of the biggest Ranger dealers in the country this past summer and I can't tell you how many Ranger boats came in that had Guest chargers that were in to get either a new charger put in or to get warranty work done on it. But I will say this, those who chose to put a different brand in, which we suggested, got the Minn Kota charger. I do not believe I recall seeing any of those in for work, and let me tell yeah, we put a lot of them in boats this summer. I would recommend a Minn Kota. |
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Posts: 814
| I would also have to say go with Minn Kota.....I have ran a Minn Kota in all 4 boats I have owned and I Never have had a problem with any of them...and in 2 of the boats I had they were over 6 years old with out any problems! In Terms of wiring I would inspect the wires and check there condition, are they old,cracked, discolored, corroded, all these things can lead to alot of headaches down the road...tracing a short or finding power loss can be a real pain. |
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| Pro Mariner. period. |
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | I second the Pro Mariner. I have had the Pro Tournament 30-3 for the last 9 years. Never had a problem with it. Now it looks to be the Pro Tournament 300. They also make a 4-bank charger.
Chuck |
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Posts: 395
Location: NW WI | I've had Charging Systems Int'l chargers (Dual Pro, etc) and have been very happy with them. Great customer service too!
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Posts: 5874
| I never had a problem with Guest chargers. This year, I put Pro Mariners on my new boat. The 2 bank 20 Amp in front for the trolling batteries took a dump the day before a tourney. Cost me about 8 hrs prefish time, and another $75 in fuel to run back home to replace it. And I'm not happy with the single Pro Mariner that I have for the starting battery. Never seems to fully charge over night, and that is on a brand new Trojan battery. Two days, and the light will be out. Pretty sure Pro Mariners will NOT be on my next boat(s).
Also, most Rangers I've seen, have the Ranger brand labeled Dual Pro chargers in them . From the Factory. Unless this has change in the past year, I think they still use them if you get them installed at the factory.
In my opinion, Guest, Minn Kota, and Dual Pro are the best, and most reliable. Guest customer service is second to none.
Edited by Shep 10/5/2007 9:29 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | my ranger had a minn-kota installed ... crapped out this year going into it's 4th season ... i replaced with a pro-mariner after asking the same questions you are asking ... haven't looked back, havent ever before experienced the "don't even think about your batteries" attitude that i have now. regardless buy enough banks to touch your cranking battery too.
i'm happy with my pro-mariner choice .. |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Unless something changed recently the OEM chargers installed by Ranger are made by Charging Systems International (CSI), who market them under the brand Dual-Pro. I have a 4 year old one in my Ranger without problems.
They offer refurb models direct to the public on their web site at great prices.
https://store.dualpro.com/ |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'm sure that could be ... but i would think most of the rangers are rigged at dealers and then whatever the dealer has the best deal on goes onto the boat unless you specify brands .... right? |
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Posts: 2089
| Dual Pro ! Factory on my old Lunds and standard on Rangers. Guest? I saw a fire in my brothers boat the night before a tourney.Don't know all the specifics but not good.Once again, leavin' the dance with who brought me. Steve |
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Posts: 720
| Hi Gman,
Minn Kota on my new boat and its performed very well.
Dave |
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Posts: 238
| Pro-mariner here,never had a single issue with tons of use on two units! |
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Posts: 57
Location: Madison | I've got a 3 bank made by Cabela's. Works great!
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=pod...
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I have had two Dual Pro's in my last two boats and they work really well. Never had any problems with them though they do seem to get really hot compared to the Minnkota's. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | After a couple years of troubled Pro Mariner chargers, I went with Dual Pro and have not looked back. That said, I had a dual pro on the rig I just bought(6 years old). Right after i got it, I lost a bank. I got a greatly discounted and larger(15 amp per vs. 10) charger within days from Dual Pro, and have been happy since. Great stuff! My dad runs the Minn Kotas and likes his quite a bit too. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | at this point on this thread all major brands have been both promoted and shot down ... and the information is coming in from sources who have real experiences.
it begs the question of "use" ... is there a better or worse way to "use" these products or how to install them to get the most life out of them?
it sure doesn't seem there is any clear cut selection that makes you better or worse off at least based on this albeit limited information. |
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Posts: 1096
Location: Hayward, WI | One thing to consider with chargers is getting them the proper voltage. In alot of the failed chargers that I see it is found that the customer is running them at the dock with at least a 100' cord. This really seemed to affect the Dual Pros, the Minnkotas seemed to be less affected by this. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | kjgmh, that is interesting. Both of the ProMariners that went 'bad' on me happened in the first week of use, but on a 100's cord, either at a dock or home. I accidentially left that cord at Mille Lacs last weekend, and think i'll start using a shorter cord on my Dual Pros from here out. Thanks... |
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Posts: 92
| Voltage drop can be a real problem, not surprised it can happen with chargers. I've had good luck with my minn kota on board. |
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Posts: 5874
| If you are going to use a long extension cord, I recommend using a 14/3 cord. 16 ga. won't cut it for long distance, 50 to 100 feet.
Another point is when mounting. I recommend mounting with some space between the charger and the boat. On a fiberglass boat, mount on a separate aluminum plate and use spacers between the plate and the boat. On an aluminum boat, yu are ok to mount directly to an aluminum panel., Never, ever mount directly to a carpeted surface. You will over heat, and damage your charger.
Edited by Shep 10/11/2007 8:02 AM
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | I will go Duel Pro also. I had a small problem with my Duel Pro and they sent me a brand new one. Duel Pro Rocks !
Edited by basscaster 10/16/2007 9:41 PM
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| Thanks Shep for that advice on 'not-to-carpet-mount. I am looking for one too. Choice is a MK 210 vs Cabelas, one designed by ProMariner. MK is a 5/5, whereas Cabelas will send the amps to the battery that needs it most. Unless I am on vacation, I rarely need the batteries for the next am. Cabelas is flatter, good for a vertical surface where the MK 'might' be more of a box unit, floor mount. I am going by a photo of a 440 in the catalog. What about overheating?? Is it just one brand or is it a bad installation job? I will be using it for a deep cycle and a starting battery. Any ideas on which? Anyone using either that I have mentioned? Thanks in advance. |
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Posts: 109
| I think much of the trouble guys have with chargers are of there own doing. I have seen inside many boats and it is unreal at how some are rigged...including poor and incorrect wiring can and will lead to people blaming the charger on failures. I have always run GUEST Chargers and have NEVER had any trouble. I know of 3 guys that have Guest Charges and they also love them. That being said... I also know a several that use the Minn Kota Chargers and they have performed well for them as well. I know some guys using a couple of "other" brands that are not so happy... but I don't think it right for me to mention names.
Edited by MoMuskieguy 10/19/2007 1:14 PM
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Posts: 1184
Location: Iowa Great Lakes | My current boat had a Guest, when it finaly failed I got a Minn Kota 210, worked great, won a Pro Mariner 3 bank so now that in there. All worked great other than the Guest dying after who knows how old ( came with the boat) I can't say I like 1 over the other. All did what they were supposed to and my chargers get used. |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | I've had no problems with my guest 10/10/4
been running this charger for three years. had one before it for 5 years before a lightning strike took it out. can't fault guest for that one.
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Posts: 134
| Does anyone have the adress or web site for Guest chargers ? I need to send one in for warranty work.
Joe W |
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Posts: 203
Location: Germantown, WI | The first on-board charger I installed in my boat was a Pro Mariner. It was one of the cheaper models and it failed after less than one season of use. I replaced it with a Minn Kota and ended up spending about twice as much, but I have never had a problem. The Minn Kota actually has more indicating features too. I would not hesitate to recommend one of the Minn Kota chargers.
Tom Ramsey |
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Posts: 726
Location: Eau Claire, WI | For esoxman50
http://www.marinco.com/scpt/brandDrill.php?currentMarketName=Guest%... |
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Posts: 134
| Thank You JONO
Joe W |
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