WEST MARINE
Portable Battery Chargers
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Portable Battery Chargers
"Smart" battery charging in a lightweight, portable design
These chargers provide precise “permanent mount” charger features in a lightweight, fully portable design. Most of the portable chargers we’ve tested have been poorly regulated, not automatic, and potentially damaging to quality batteries. We started with an excellent high-frequency power supply design, and added “smarts” so you can alter the charge voltages depending on the chemistry of your batteries and their temperature. This provides nine voltage combinations to ensure the fastest, most complete charge without damaging gel cell or AGM batteries.
Lightweight aluminum and plastic cases allow cable storage in the back. Rugged nickel-plated copper clip leads won't spark when initially attached to a battery to reduce the possibility of an explosion. 6A charger has automatic temperature compensation and is set for flooded batteries. 15A and 30A models feature manual temperature compensation and an LED readout that clearly shows the charge parameters you’ve chosen, and monitors charge voltage and current while charging. 30A charger includes manually-activated equalization cycle.
- Number of Outputs: One
- Recommended Battery Bank Size/Configuration: 12V battery systems in the following ranges: 6A=30AH-70AH, 15A=30AH-150AH, 30A=30AH-300AH
- Automatic Functions: Three-stage fully automatic, fully regulated high-frequency charging
- User Selectable Functions: Fully automatic
- Status Indicators: LED full charge, Temperature, Chemistry, Rev. polarity, fault codes
- Input Wiring: 6’ AC power cord
- Output Wiring: DC battery clips
- Safety Features: Spark-resistant, reverse hookup, short circuit and overcharge protection. Not intended for on-board charging due to UL restrictions
- Waterproof: No
- Mounting Hardware Included/Required: None
- Approvals: UL, CUL, FCC Class B
- Warranty: Five years
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 14 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
57%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to install (5)
- Reliable (4)
Cons
- Poorly designed (4)
- Not weather resistant (3)
Best Uses
- Small boats (4)
- Indoor (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Advanced (9), Casual/ recreational (3)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 14 customers
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Small Boats
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
This unit worked as designed for about a year. After that, one feature at a time begin to fail. For the price it should last quite awhile longer than this example. The unit is used to top of the boat battery to begin the season, and the occasional dead car battery. I'll try a different brand next time.
Pros
Cons
- Poorly Designed
Best Uses
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
One did not come on took it back and the other one only lasted 1 day they have problems not working
Pros
- Easy To Install
- Light and portable
- Multiple charging rates
Cons
- Poorly written manual
Best Uses
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
I use this charger for 12-V marine batteries for my trolling motor. Overall this charger is OK. One drawback -- the manual is poorly written, confusing, and in some cases describes functions that the charger does not actually perform. At least not my charger. Any good manual should be idiot-foolproof -- the instructions should be so clear that any idiot can follow them. This charger's manual fails that test badly. Overall this is an OK charger, the price is right and it's small and easily portable. 3 Stars.
Pros
- Easy To Install
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Small Boats
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
This is a nice little compact unit. I use several deep cycle batteries in a lighting setup and need quick turn around. The 30 amp charge rate is great for this and you can monitor the digital readout of the charge rate as the charge cycle progresses. Though I have not yet used the engine start mode, it is nice knowing that I have the capability if needed. I really like the internal storage box for the leads and A/C power cord. The only con so far is the carrying handle should be on top and not the side.
Pros
- Reliable
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoor
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
I have had this charger for 4 years now and it works like a champ. I use it to charge a deep cycle marine battery that powers a trolling motor I have on the back of a 16' row boat. It gets used a lot and I have been very happy with it.
Pros
Cons
- Poorly Designed
Best Uses
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
Top l1ne of display went out in 6 weeks still useable 2 months later fan fell apart. China junk does not last
Pros
- Charges fast even AGM's
- Durable
Cons
- Cant leave on over 48 hrs
Best Uses
- Quick charges and slow to
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
With a older out dated battery charger that came with the boat i needed something to charge the new west marine 8D AGM battery's i bought.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Install
- Reliable
Cons
- Not Weather Resistant
Best Uses
- Indoor
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
I've been impressed with this charger since the first time I used it. I have the 15 amp model,and have had it for at least 3 years. I've used it on both car and boat batteries, flooded and agm. I've brought a few batteries back from the dead. It took playing with the charge rate, and a bit of patience, but I can honestly say I got an extra 9 months out of a car battery that should have been toast. I would have given it 5 stars if it were weather proof, as is, it has been very durable, and although I use it to maintain my boat batteries, it proves its "stuff" when I'm charging a very dead battery outside in the rain or snow when it is protected by ony a lowered hood. I particularily like that it is smart and as near as I can tell idiot proof.
Pros
- Great features
Cons
- Failed overheated at 30a
Best Uses
- Low amp settings
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
I need 30 amp capability. After 2 charge cycles the unit starting overheating after 15 minutes. Even after adding a fan to assist cooling, overheating persisted. I returned to dealer and they informed me that there have been multiple returns. I like every feature about the charger except that it won't work at the 30 amp setting.
Pros
- Cables store in unit
- Smart w equalizing
Cons
- Not Weather Resistant
Best Uses
Comments about West Marine Portable Battery Chargers:
Smart charger that gives batteries the 3 phases of charging they need. I have charged several different batteries so far and it has worked fine. It also has an equalizing setting that was an important feature to me. I have some batteries that are charged by solar panels most of the time, but need to be put on a charger like this occasionally to give them an equalizing charge.
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Portable Battery Chargers
Product Specs
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Merchant response: We're unaware of a problem with this charger on the 30A setting. We'll take a look at the returns history and determine if this is chronic or infrequent. Thank you for your comments.