Xantrex charger unreliable now - alternative?

[mike kilroy]

When my 1973 buzzbox constant voltage charger died around 2000, I replaced it with a Xantrex TrueCharge... Ran fine until I found the Xantrex TrueCharge2 new and improved model around 2014.

TrueCharge2 just died. TWO YEARS LIFE?????? No output. DC-DC converter TO-220 transistors just shorted out. No burn marks inside, just shorted transistors. No reason for this, no POCO surge, nothing. Just died. (MAY have died when I did my normal biweekly generator start?)

Checked online and find I am not alone!! Xantrex's TrueCharge2 appears to last a couple years then die!! I fine many many many reviews that the "new" Xantrex TrueCharger2 dies often in just 2 years!!! They used to have a GREAT product!!

Of course I put my old TrueCharge back in and it is saving my batteries in this cold winter weather... Luckily I found this about a week after it died, while house battery was down to 9v (I have some LED lites on always) and engine down to 12.2v. Both batteries are fine.

So I wonder if anyone has suggestions on IMPROVED replacement for Xantrex since they seem to have devolved into a not reliable charger?

 

[bdub1]

Progressive Dynamics 9245 - http://appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/990

No doubt about it.

1/2 the price, twice the reliability.

bdub
76 Palm Beach in Central Texas
www.bdub.net/GMCLinks.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm/

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Mike Kilroy
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 4:45 PM

When my 1973 buzzbox constant voltage charger died around 2000, I replaced
it with a Xantrex TrueCharge... Ran fine until I found the Xantrex
TrueCharge2 new and improved model around 2014.

TrueCharge2 just died. TWO YEARS LIFE?????? No output. DC-DC converter
TO-220 transistors just shorted out. No burn marks inside, just shorted
transistors. No reason for this, no POCO surge, nothing. Just died. (MAY
have died when I did my normal biweekly generator start?)

Checked online and find I am not alone!! Xantrex's TrueCharge2 appears to
last a couple years then die!! I fine many many many reviews that the "new"
Xantrex TrueCharger2 dies often in just 2 years!!! They used to have a
GREAT product!!

Of course I put my old TrueCharge back in and it is saving my batteries in
this cold winter weather... Luckily I found this about a week after it
died, while house battery was down to 9v (I have some LED lites on always)
and engine down to 12.2v. Both batteries are fine.

So I wonder if anyone has suggestions on IMPROVED replacement for Xantrex
since they seem to have devolved into a not reliable charger?

 

[Kelvin]

What Billy said. Mine has been going strong for most of 14 years...

Kelvin
'73 23' in Eugene, OR

> Progressive Dynamics 9245 - http://appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/990
>
> No doubt about it.
>
> 1/2 the price, twice the reliability.
>
> bdub
> 76 Palm Beach in Central Texas
> www.bdub.net/GMCLinks.html
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes/
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Mike Kilroy
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 4:45 PM
>
> When my 1973 buzzbox constant voltage charger died around 2000, I replaced
> it with a Xantrex TrueCharge... Ran fine until I found the Xantrex
> TrueCharge2 new and improved model around 2014.
>
> TrueCharge2 just died. TWO YEARS LIFE?????? No output. DC-DC converter
> TO-220 transistors just shorted out. No burn marks inside, just shorted
> transistors. No reason for this, no POCO surge, nothing. Just died. (MAY
> have died when I did my normal biweekly generator start?)
>
> Checked online and find I am not alone!! Xantrex's TrueCharge2 appears to
> last a couple years then die!! I fine many many many reviews that the "new"
> Xantrex TrueCharger2 dies often in just 2 years!!! They used to have a
> GREAT product!!
>
> Of course I put my old TrueCharge back in and it is saving my batteries in
> this cold winter weather... Luckily I found this about a week after it
> died, while house battery was down to 9v (I have some LED lites on always)
> and engine down to 12.2v. Both batteries are fine.
>
> So I wonder if anyone has suggestions on IMPROVED replacement for Xantrex
> since they seem to have devolved into a not reliable charger?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[mike kilroy]

I like the price, thoughts of longer longevity, 4rth mode for long term
storage to reducing water loss.

But I guess to use this one must also replace our old diode isolator
with a combiner so it charges BOTH batteries with its single output?

 

[Gene Fisher]

No, no, no,
Read here
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/combiner-to-diode-isolator/p24994-adding-a-combiner-to-a-stock-diode-isolator.html

> I like the price, thoughts of longer longevity, 4rth mode for long term
>
> storage to reducing water loss.
>
>
>
> But I guess to use this one must also replace our old diode isolator
>
> with a combiner so it charges BOTH batteries with its single output?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> GMCnet mailing list
>
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>

 

[mike kilroy]

OH. tnx. Thought it was some FETs that turn on and that it replaced the
diode isolator, not worked with it. Guess I should get one and stick it
on now so I am prepared in two years. I did make and install an APC
years ago from your info too - thanks again.

> No, no, no,
> Read here
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/combiner-to-diode-isolator/p24994-adding-a-combiner-to-a-stock-diode-isolator.html
>
>
>
>

>
>> I like the price, thoughts of longer longevity, 4rth mode for long term
>>
>> storage to reducing water loss.
>>
>>
>>
>> But I guess to use this one must also replace our old diode isolator
>>
>> with a combiner so it charges BOTH batteries with its single output?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

 

[mike kilroy]

Last question then I will stop bothering you! What size Yandina do most
of you use or suggest?

> No, no, no,
> Read here
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/combiner-to-diode-isolator/p24994-adding-a-combiner-to-a-stock-diode-isolator.html
>
>

 

[Ken H.]

Mike,

The Yandina C-100 is generally recommended. After having 2 of them
replaced under warranty over the years, I upgraded the 3rd one to C-135.
That was probably 5 years ago and I've had no further failures. As one of
the first adopters of Yandina and very early promoter of Progressive
Dynamics, I feel qualified to say that the C135 is worth the slight
additional cost.

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com

> Last question then I will stop bothering you! What size Yandina do most
> of you use or suggest?
>
>

>
>> No, no, no,
>> Read here
>> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/combiner-to-diode-isolator
>> /p24994-adding-a-combiner-to-a-stock-diode-isolator.html
>>
>>
>>
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
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>