What battery charger would you go with? Promariner or Mastervolt

[JStadnik68]

I need a new 3 outlet battery charger, and I'm considering either a promariner or mastervolt.

I've heard mostly good things about mastervolt, but they are pricey... and while I've seen quite a few solid reviews on promariner from other boaters, I've heard about them flatlining battery banks, as well as crummy customer service

The promariners are much cheaper... perhaps you get what you pay for?


Not trying to save a buck here... but I do know folks can overcharge for parts just because they're "marine"...

Looking forward to any insights / advice I can get here. Thanks!

[Moderator]

I moved this to the boating section , Both brands are good

[RWS]

oftentimes one gets LESS than they paid for.

My Xantrex was installed in 2001

died last year and was replaced with a BLUE SEAS SYSTEMS with remote dash readout

COULDNT BE HAPPIER

RWS

[P-Dogg]

I have a promariner 12-40p.

No problems in 5 years, thus no customer service experience. You might consider a dual-purpose charger-inverter. But do your homework first re: battery capacity needed to support inverter.

I went separate inverter 'cuz i replaced charger first, then wanted inverter. But my inverter only does coffee pot (so i dont have to wake the anchorage starting the generator at first light), and fridge, mostly for while underway. It takes just a few minutes to replace starting energy, then alternator is at idle. Thus i use my alternator to cool, ahem WWG, my beers while enroute to the anchorage, and draw off not very big batteries to make 1 pot of coffee in the morning.

[El L Sea]

We love our Mastervolt, and the remote monitor we installed in the panel.

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[Big D]

I've installed both brands but way more Pronautic P series (Promariner) than Mastervolt units. Both are dependable and both have failure rates. I've been involved with 3 Pronautic P failures if I remember correctly. One was definitely the result of a lightening strike, and another one was what I suspect the end result of bad utility line transients at a marina. The third failure I suspect was just the unit itself as I couldn't find any other explanation. I've probably installed over 50 of them so that's a pretty favourable failure rate in my books considering only one wasn't due to outside influences that I know of. Unfortunately I haven't installed enough Mastervolt units to draw a fair comparison/conclusion.