Genius Battery Chargers

Anyone have any experience with these? Good experience ? Bad experience? I don’t trust Amazon reviews at all.

My 4 bank Minnkota has a dead bank (again!) and I’m looking for a cheap option to get by until the Minnkota drops another bank. Won’t be buying another Minnkota, that’s for sure.

I am looking at the Genius G3500 and using it to charge my starting battery between uses. I’m just going to connect the battery terminals and connect the quick connect to the charger when I get home. Rather than buying a dedicated onboard charger.

NOCO Genius G3500 6V/12V 3.5A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LWVEKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AWxhBbSZ21Q07

I have that exact one that I use for the starting battery and a 2 bank onboard one for the trolling motor batteries. I leave them running year round and have had them for almost 3 years now. I haven’t had any problems with either.

I have a water proof battery tender for that exact set up and purpose. I did’t search for the math, but the .8 amp vs 3.5 isn’t going to charge a whole lot faster for the cost diff. 95% of the time my cranker is full when I plug it in so it’s all about maintenance. *I don’t have fancy electric down riggers like some!

Johnie Birkel wrote:

I don’t have fancy electric down riggers like some!

Actually, I do. Although I expect to have 15-30 minute runs back to port so I’d hope I get a decent replenish from it.

I watch the volts on my Lowrance to make sure I don’t drop below critical.

Im really not concerned about speed either. I’m fine if it takes 12-24 hours to top off my battery.

I am concerned though about being able to do a full charge if needed. Do you know if the tender will do a full charge?

I did call battery tender a few years ago and they said it will do a full charge. Might be worth a double check, they had good CS. I see plenty of voltage drop with my electronics, but running for 15- 30 mins with a 50 amp alt seems to do the trick every time I plug it in.

i bought the “BLACK+DECKER BC6BDW” to do this. it is cheap and seems to work and it says it is waterproof.

@biggill

I’ve seen your past posts regarding crappy Minnkota 4 bank chargers. Also seen many of us saying good things about 3 bank or smaller. Ever consider two chargers like a 1 bank and a 3 bank? Are you burned out with Minnkota after these bad experiences?

Seems a pattern that Minnkota makes good 1-3 bank units and terrible 4 bank. Anyone noticing this?

I have had 2 3 bank Minnkota chargers go bad on me. Best thing about them was they were both replaced under warranty. I don’t think I would go with Minnkota next time I have to buy one.

patk wrote:

Seems a pattern that Minnkota makes good 1-3 bank units and terrible 4 bank. Anyone noticing this?

I read on another forum that the 3 bank precision also has the same issue. Maybe not to the same volume, but many chimed in saying theirs was also affected.

This is one of the reasons I purchase single bank units. If one goes out you just replace the one unit, not everything. Also it’s easier to place smaller individual units in tight spaces.

munchy wrote:

This is one of the reasons I purchase single bank units. If one goes out you just replace the one unit, not everything. Also it’s easier to place smaller individual units in tight spaces.

That’s not a dumb idea. Except I’d have to plug in 4 chargers when I get home.

No reason you can’t have them all feed by one plug. Or get 2 of the genius 2 bank.

After 7 years my 3 bank 10 amp Minnkota dropped a bank.

It owes me nothing.

I hope they are a good charger !
I put a new genius two bank on my boat last weekend, four amps each bank.
I spent the winter working for tracker marine, ninety nine percent of the chargers we installed were the genius brand.

I will say one thing,for their size they sure are a heavy rascal !
hope that means there is a lot of copper windings in the transformers.

I’ve been using the Genius chargers since 2012. Had a 3 bank on my last boat, got that after the Pro charger fried 2 batteries. On my 1875 Pro Guide I decided to go with a bank for the starting battery and 2 bank for the trolling motors. This eliminated any freed back to the locators. Nothing but good for hints to say about the Genius chargers. I leave mine plugged in all the time, never had a battery burn out from them. Don’t cut the leads to extend the cables it will void the warranty.

Crappy Fisherman wrote:

Don’t cut the leads to extend the cables it will void the warranty.

Yeah, that’s the beauty of the genius chargers. They have their own connector that disconnects from the charging side. Genius!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

After 7 years my 3 bank 10 amp Minnkota dropped a bank.
It owes me nothing.

After 3 years 2) 4 bank chargers dropped a bank.

It means I need to do better homework next time I buy a charger. And I’m done with Minnkota after my 4 bank drops another bank. On second thought, I should really consider swapping that one out too so I don’t fry another battery.