Battery Charger

[DBA Forum (B) - Pete Clark]

I had my 20 year old Victron battery charger replaced 2 years ago with a Cristec CPS3 24V-60A. Recently it had to go back to the manufacturer, it allegedly having been knocked out by a storm while connected to shore power on our mooring (H2o Ancienne Ecluse). It was returned and refitted a few weeks ago and has only been in use for a couple of days since, as we were away from the boat most of the time. I disconnected the boat from shore power while away, leaving the charge to the rooftop solar panels.
When we returned last Friday, the charge was showing as 28.7v. I topped up the batteries, connected to shore power, and switched the charger on, and as was to be expected, at this stage it showed On and Boost/Absorption. The problem is that it never reached Float.
In the wee small hours this morning I could hear it still charging, so got up to check: it still had not reached Float and there was a strong smell of sulphur. It was not possible to switch the charger off at its own switch, so I disconnected the shore power.
Does anyone have any ideas as to cause / remedies?
(Following my own advice under the separate Generator thread, I have notified the boatyard of the situation).
Pete Clark
Nooit Gedacht

PS: I may not have I-net connection for the next couple of days (problems there, too!), so my apologies if I don't respond immediately.

[DBA Forum (B) - Geert-Jan Smolders]

Is it set to the correct type of battery?

[DBA Forum (B) - Pete Clark]

Er, I assume / hope so: it was fitted by a professional electrician at Atelier Fluvial. I am still awaiting their response. The domestic batteries are 12 x 2v cells, rather old, it has to be said...
(I'm just benefitting from a brief window of I-net access out in the countryside so only intermittent access at best).
Pete Clark
Nooit Gedacht

[DBA Forum (B) - Geert-Jan Smolders]

The manual: [url=http://www.cristec.fr/images/stories/documents/cps3-3m-deb.pdf ]http://www.cristec.fr/images/stories/documents/cps3-3m-deb.pdf [/url]
for types produced before july 2011,
says that the selection wheel RC1 should be set to 0 for open batteries. 1 = the factory setting, the safest one with the lowest voltages.
Any other setting than 0, 1, and 2 will cause higher float voltages.
(except 6; winter mode)

Might be worth checking.

[DBA Forum (B) - Pete Clark]

Hi Geert-Jan
Thanks very much for that, I'll check. However, it only just occurred to me to run a very simple check, i.e. to disconnect the domestic batteries but leaving the bowthruster batteries connected - and lo and behold, the charger quickly changed to Float. So I guess I'm in the market for a new set of 24v domestic batteries. I will check your suggestion nevertheless.
Pete Clark
Nooit Gedacht

[DBA Forum (B) - Paul Hayes]

Hi Pete

Could you Personal Message me please.

Paul - Lazy Heron

[DBA Forum (B) - Pete Clark]

Hi Paul. will do when I can. I have no I-net connection here (Petit Saone. above Auxonne). Am using mobile but cannot access Personal Messaging.
Pete