Victron Vs Xantrex Battery Charger

[nveater]

It's time to change the battery charger on my Mainship Pilot- I have 2 group27 flooded cell in parallel for my start bank and 2 group 31s flooded in parallel for my house bank. I don't run crazy amount of electronics and we always stay at a marina when we overnight. I was looking at the 3 output Victron IP22 30 amp and the Xantrex 30 amp. The IP22 seems like a great deal and Victron seems to have a good reputation. What am I missing and are their other chargers that I should be looking at ?
Thanks

 

[MVCalypso]

I've not owned Victron equipment so I don't have a first hand opinion re their stuff. I have had several Xantrex chargers (both under their name and as West marine branded units). My customer service experiences with Xantrex were unsatisfying & I expect I'll never again buy anything from them again. YMMV.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I have done okay with my Xantrex Freedom SW3000 customer service-wise, but I pine after a Victron upgrade because technology has surpassed Xantrex and my model is a dead end. Different issue, I suppose.

 

[Iggy]

I have had very good experience with Xantrex customer. I hope the newer units are Bluetooth!

With Victron, you need to buy from a dealer that can support a help desk. In other word, if you buy from amazon, your own your own. Calling Victron is next to impossible.

Both brands for me work great and in 4 years no problems.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

I have had very good experience with Xantrex customer. I hope the newer units are Bluetooth!

I think the new Freedom X systems do have a Bluetooth interface. My short term plan to improve communication with my inverter/charger is to install a Victron SmartShunt. If Xantrex joins the Information Age and offers good communication and integration in their next generation inverter/charger, I wouldn't hesitate to stay with them.

 

[Hippocampus]

Look at mastervolt as well.

 

[DDW]

I own a number of Xantrex and Victron chargers. I will not buy another Xantrex. I used to favor Mastervolt, but since their buyout by the Chinese and even somewhat before, Victron passed them by.

It is true that you will not get someone from Victron on the phone, they have a users forum which is hit or miss. For this reason if you think you will need support I'd buy it from PKYS.com, same price as anyone and they will answer question with pretty good knowledge.

You used to be able to get Xantrex on the line, however the knowledge of the people was poor for anything that wasn't already written in the manual.

 

[Barking Sands]

The Victron IP22 charger is the best deal on the market IMO at $180. It is very easy to configure via bluetooth and it just works. I have 2 of them. It has all the charger configurations you might want plus is has power supply mode. And you can stack them in parallel and I believe you can set up a VE Network with a smart shunt for a more advanced control and monitoring so all items on the network share details. Its the best small charger I have owned.

 

[tiltrider1]

Do you want a quality product or cheap junk?

I bought a Xantrex 40 amp charger as a back up unit, it didn’t last long. I replaced it with a Victron 40 amp charger. Haven’t had any issues with the victron unit.

 

[SteveK]

@nveater
You have two battery banks, why are you getting a 3 output charger instead of 2 output?
It will charge from 50% to 100% overnight
I could not determine if this charger is total 30A or 30A per circuit.

 

[twistedtree]

I used to favor Mastervolt, but since their buyout by the Chinese and even somewhat before, Victron passed them by.

I'm not a MasterVolt fan - not at all - but they were purchased by Power Products, a mid-west US company also owning Marinco and a bunch of other companies. And through acquisitions are now part of Brunswick, another mid-west US company, along with Marinco, BEP, CZone, Simrad, Lowrance, Blue Sea, Mercury, Flite, B&G, Ancor, Attwood, C-Map, Seachoice, Smartcraft, Quicksilver, Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Lowe, Lund, Prince Craft, ReLion, Whale, and ProMariner. But all part of a US public company.

 

[nveater]

@nveater
You have two battery banks, why are you getting a 3 output charger instead of 2 output?
It will charge from 50% to 100% overnight
I could not determine if this charger is total 30A or 30A per circuit.

Good question- in looking at 2 bank batteries they seem (on the whole) to be of lower charger amperage per circuit. In speaking with a battery charger company, they indicated that you can certainly charge two battery banks in a 3 or 4 bank charger and that the total amperage of the charger will just be split in 2 rather than 3 or 4. Also, I wanted flexibility if I ever changed my battery set up. It is my understanding that it is a total 30 amps not 30 amps per circuit.

 

[Barking Sands]

Good question- in looking at 2 bank batteries they seem (on the whole) to be of lower charger amperage per circuit. In speaking with a battery charger company, they indicated that you can certainly charge two battery banks in a 3 or 4 bank charger and that the total amperage of the charger will just be split in 2 rather than 3 or 4. Also, I wanted flexibility if I ever changed my battery set up. It is my understanding that it is a total 30 amps not 30 amps per circuit.

I think so. The way I understand it......In the manual for the IP22 it states that the full 30 amps can be directed to any 1 bank out of the three, or any portion or ratio to the three, but not exceed 30 amps in total. It also states there is no provision to set separate profiles for each bank. So if you have absorption and float set....it will be for all banks. In other words the chemistries must be the same or at least use the same profiles. So typically this charger could be used to individually charge 12 volt batteries in series (up to 36 volts pack) in the 12 volt range. Or it could be used for batteries isolated for different purposes, such as a start battery and a thruster battery that are on their own circuit as long as they both need the same charge profiles. It looks like its just 3 FET isolated outputs so there is no back feed when one circuit/bank has a draw or voltage differential.

 

[DDW]

I'm not a MasterVolt fan - not at all - but they were purchased by Power Products, a mid-west US company also owning Marinco and a bunch of other companies. And through acquisitions are now part of Brunswick, another mid-west US company, along with Marinco, BEP, CZone, Simrad, Lowrance, Blue Sea, Mercury, Flite, B&G, Ancor, Attwood, C-Map, Seachoice, Smartcraft, Quicksilver, Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Lowe, Lund, Prince Craft, ReLion, Whale, and ProMariner. But all part of a US public company.

Wasn't aware of that ownership change - internet mythology had them bought by a Chinese company - but I see you are correct, they are owned as of 2023 by Actuant. When they started they were a Dutch company in fierce competition with Victron and were - for a time - winning. IMO that changed about 5-8 years ago and Victron has left them in the dust.

I still wouldn't buy one today.

 

[READY]

Maybe a late response but my vote is Victron IP22. I have several. Very solid product and warranty. Easily integrated if you go down that path. Bluetooth on the charger & a Victron shunt is absolutely a game changer.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

And through acquisitions are now part of Brunswick, another mid-west US company, along with Marinco, BEP, CZone, Simrad, Lowrance, Blue Sea, Mercury, Flite, B&G, Ancor, Attwood, C-Map, Seachoice, Smartcraft, Quicksilver, Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Lowe, Lund, Prince Craft, ReLion, Whale, and ProMariner.

Well that is demoralizing. All of those important and historical companies are now under one virtual roof? Unless you are on the inside financially, the venture capital world is not a good future.

 

[nveater]

Thanks everyone for the responses and discussion- I will be going with the Victron Product- there seems to be a distributor in Annapolis which is my area- they suggested the IP43 model vs the IP22 so I will study that a bit more

 

[tiltrider1]

The IP43 does more than the IP22 therefore it costs more. The question is do you need the additional capability? I my self would go with the IP43 just because it comes in higher amperage models. However if I was looking for a stand alone charger for my generator battery the IP22 would be perfect.

That said, I bought a Victron Centaur as a back up charger. At first it looked like over kill but with my switch from FLA batteries to LFP the back up charger got promoted to full time FLA maintenance. I find over buying is always better than under buying.

 

[CMS]

Victron. You can’t buy a better charger for the money…

 

[Sleepy Crab]

I have a Xantrex 40 amp charger on my boat that I installed when the previous15year old Xantrex failed. About 10 years later, it still works excellently. I once saw a guy walking around the Newport boat show with a burnt Xantrex charger affixed to his backpack. It had a sign that read something like "Don't buy these, they're junk!" So when I took a boat electrical class I asked the instructor about them. He said that's what he recommends in all the battery systems he installs. Who really knows?

 

[cafesport]

We use a 24volt IP43 to equalize and fully charge house and start banks when on anchor. Batts are series wired agm’s and are g31, 4d and 8d sized (.1C charging capacity on the 8ds). Only complaint is the bluetooth range is a bit limited.
I think you should be fine with the 600 watt max output the way you are using your boat as your alternator should be doing most of the bulk cycle charging.

 

[ranger58sb]

Thanks everyone for the responses and discussion- I will be going with the Victron Product- there seems to be a distributor in Annapolis which is my area- they suggested the IP43 model vs the IP22 so I will study that a bit more

Didn't realize you're nearby. We got our two Victron units, one an inverter/charger and the other a small charger for the genset battery, from Diversified Marine Services... and they installed both as well. Good results., although of course the labor cost wasn't a surprise.

-Chris

 

[Nepidae]

We started with a Xantrex SW3012 and used it for about 6yrs. Got some type of back feed and when I called my dealer he told me he couldn't get parts, so we replaced the Xantrex with a Victron Multplus 3000/12.

We got the benefit of many years of development with a new unit with many additions in the Victron.

I personally believe that they are well matched, but you need to decide what is important to you.

I like the Bluetooth with the Victron so I can check the status of our batteries 6-L16 for house and also the output of the solar panels while I'm away from the gauges. They also provide good histories as well. Now adays Xantrex may do the same.

The important thing is don't buy for just today. You mention a small battery bank but what if down the water you decide to try anchoring and like it. That would also include getting a charger/inverter, even if you don't use it right away but you never know when a cup of coffee while you are cruising would taste great.

Any specific questions drop me a PM.

 

[Freedomvango]

Big fan of victron. We have been using and selling them for a LONGGGG time. all my vans and boat have it.

 

[nveater]

We started with a Xantrex SW3012 and used it for about 6yrs. Got some type of back feed and when I called my dealer he told me he couldn't get parts, so we replaced the Xantrex with a Victron Multplus 3000/12.

We got the benefit of many years of development with a new unit with many additions in the Victron.

I personally believe that they are well matched, but you need to decide what is important to you.

I like the Bluetooth with the Victron so I can check the status of our batteries 6-L16 for house and also the output of the solar panels while I'm away from the gauges. They also provide good histories as well. Now adays Xantrex may do the same.

The important thing is don't buy for just today. You mention a small battery bank but what if down the water you decide to try anchoring and like it. That would also include getting a charger/inverter, even if you don't use it right away but you never know when a cup of coffee while you are cruising would taste great.

Any specific questions drop me a PM.

Thanks for your input and thoughts- interestingly the po had installed an inverter and there are several outlets I can plug into , but since I didn’t have one on my last boat I’m not familiar with them and have never used one. I guess I need to explore that