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WEST MARINE
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
Product Specs
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 18 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
56%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to install (9)
- Reliable (5)
- Durable (3)
Cons
- Poorly designed (5)
- Not weather resistant (4)
Best Uses
- Small boats (7)
- Indoor (6)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Advanced (11), Casual/ recreational (4), Professional (3)
Reviewed by 18 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Easy To Install
Cons
- Poorly Designed
Best Uses
- Indoor
- Small Boats
Comments about Portable Battery Chargers:
I use two of these chargers set for AGM to maintain batteries used in medical equipment. When they work I only need to check them on a weekly basis. After two to three months of use however, they begin to reset themselves to charge GEL battries. Resetting the unit back to AGM only lasts a few minutes. I have had this happen three times. The dealer takes the units back and gives me a new one each time but it's a pain to go through the process.
Pros
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy To Install
- Reliable
Cons
- Not Weather Resistant
Best Uses
- Indoor
- Large Boats
- Small Boats
Comments about Portable Battery Chargers:
Been using this charger (30amp) for the last few seasons. Been a great charger.
Have used other portable chargers, this seems to handle the task quite well and fast.
Was unsure about the fairly low price and product claims, but figured it was a West product, and never had a problem returning products to West.
Pleasantly surprised
Pros
- Easy To Install
Cons
- Can't trouble shoot it
Best Uses
- Indoor
- Outdoor
- Small Boats
- When it works
Comments about Portable Battery Chargers:
I'm on my 2nd charger. The 1st one died and West Marine replaced it free. Now the 2nd one is not charging properly. It's only used on dead or weak 12 V batteries on my boats or cars. I'm not an electrical engineer but why shouldn't it last forever if it's not misused or abused. It's a battery charger, 120V in 12V out. Somebody in China is cutting a small corner with an inferior component, rendering the unit useless. Based on the reviews I'm seeing somebody is not listening. I've been a Boat US member since it's inception.
Pros
- Easy To Install
- easy to use
Cons
- Almost caused a fire
- Short life span
Best Uses
- Never
Comments about Portable Battery Chargers:
I use a trolling motor about once a month when I get a chance to fish. So I need a somewhat reliable deep cycle battery charger. This is not the one. Just tonight I attached it to the battery first as directions state, then plugged it into the wall. POP, POP! Scared the mess out of me, at least the circuit breaker tripped, charger is dead after approx 4-6 charges. Don't waste your time and money like I did. Read reviews and choose something better.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Small Boats
Comments about 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 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 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 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 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 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
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Merchant response: Please consider contacting our Technical Support Department at cattech@westmarine so we can try to resolve your problem.