Sterling power Aquanautic 8a User manual

English

Deutsch

RoHS

compliant

www.sterling-power.com

www.sterling-power-usa.com

technology

Digital

STERLI G

POWER

Waterproof Battery Charger

12V | 24V | 36V models 8A, 12A and 20A

2 3

Introduction Thank you from all of us at Sterling Power Products and congratulations on your recent purchase of the

Aquanautic On-board Marine Battery Charger.

For many years, Sterling Power Products has been a leading designer and manufacturer of marine battery chargers. We

have expanded our offering to include our latest line of Aquanautic chargers. Designed for the sport fisherman and

recreational boater, the Aquanautic series offers many features not seen in competitive chargers.

Please save and read this manual carefully and fully understand the safety instructions before installing your new Sterling

Aquanautic battery charger.

General Safety Instructions

Before connecting your batteries or AC power, read all instructions and cautionary markings on the battery charger and

batteries.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of injury, charge only lead-acid type rechargeable batteries (open lead-acid, sealed lead-acid,

gel cell and AGM). Other types of batteries may burst, causing personal injury. The Aquanautic is factory set for lead-acid

batteries.

Use of attachments not recommended or sold by Sterling Power Products may result in a risk of fire, electrical shock or

personal injury.

Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, direct hit of force, has been dropped or otherwise damaged in

any way.

Do not disassemble the charger. Call the factory directly when service or repair is required. Incorrect assembly may result in

risk of electrical shock or fire.

To reduce the risk of electrical shock, remove AC power from the charger prior to any maintenance or cleaning.

WARNING: RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES

Working in the vicinity of a lead-acid battery is dangerous. Batteries generate explosive gases during normal battery

operation.

Personal Safety Precautions

To reduce the risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer, and of

any equipment you intend to use in the vicinity of a battery. Review all cautionary markings and labels.

Someone should be within the range of your voice or close enough to come to your aid when working near a lead-acid

battery.

Have plenty of water and soap nearby in case battery acid comes in contact with skin, clothes or eyes.

Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working with a battery.

If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters the eye(s), flood eye(s) with

running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately.

Never smoke or allow a spark or a flame in the vicinity of a battery or engine.

Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto a battery. It may spark or short-circuit the battery or other

electrical parts that may cause explosion.

Remove all personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and jewelery when working near a battery. A

battery can produce a short circuit high enough to weld a ring or any metal, causing serious burns.

Use the unit for charging lead-acid batteries only. . Do not use the battery charger to charge dry cell batteries that are

commonly used with home appliances. These batteries may burst and cause injury to persons and property.

Never charge a frozen battery.

Safety Precautions Prior to Charging Batteries

If necessary to remove a battery from a boat to charge, always remove the grounded terminal from battery first. Make sure

all accessories in the boat are off, as to not cause an arc.

Be sure the area around the charger and the batteries is well ventilated while the batteries are being charged. Gases can

be forcefully blown away using a piece of cardboard or other non-metallic material as a fan.

Clean battery terminals with full eye protection to prevent corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.

Add distilled water in each cell until electrolyte reaches levels specified by the battery manufacturer. This helps purge

excessive gases from cells. Do not overfill. For batteries without caps, carefully follow the manufacturer's recharging

instructions.

Study all manufacturers' specific precautions, such as removing or not removing cell caps while charging, in addition to

rates of charge.

Extension cords should be industrial grade / heavy duty and grounded. Check extension cord before use for damage, bent

prongs and cuts. Replace if damaged.

Never charge a frozen battery.

Always make your extension cord connection on the charger side first. After connecting the extension cord to the charger

proceed to plug the extension cord to a nearby AC RCD-protected (ground fault circuit protected) outlet.

Always remove the extension cord from the AC outlet first when charging is completed, followed by unplugging the charger.

General Overview

The charger is a fully automatic, electronic multi-stage on-board marine battery charger. It is pre-wired for easy installation

and is 100% waterproof for fresh and salt water applications.

The Aquanautic incorporates extruded aluminium housing with plastic end caps. This design offers improved durability and

heat transfer while comparing it to full plastic case competitive products. The Aquanautic offers multi-stage charging which

includes a “float” maintenance mode that is safe for long and short term storage. Aquanautic can be left on indefinitely

without harming or overcharging your batteries.

The Distributed-On-Demand TM multi-stage charging technology will automatically sense and distribute 100% of the

available charging amp output, i.e. 8, 12 or 20 amps (model specific) to any one bank or combination of all banks. Each

battery bank output is fully isolated.

Easy to view LED indicators will provide you with AC power on and charging status. The LED indicators can be seen from

the front and the side of the charger when installed.

The charger is available in different models and can be used in 12, 24 and 36 volt configurations (model specific) without

rewiring or switching. Just attach the DC output cable terminals as illustrated in the installation section of this manual.

With your Charger plugged in properly, it will automatically and fully charge your batteries while it conditions and extends

the life of your batteries. When you are not at the boat you can leave your charger plugged in to reduce sulphate build-up

allowing your batteries to be fully charged and maintained until your next boat trip.

Table Of Contents

Safety Instructions... pages 2-3

Overview... pages 3

Installation Guidelines... pages 4-7

Charging Your Batteries... page 8

Maintenance... page 9

Trouble Shooting... pages 10

Customer Service & Warranty... page 11

2 3

Introduction Thank you from all of us at Sterling Power Products and congratulations on your recent purchase of the

Aquanautic On-board Marine Battery Charger.

For many years, Sterling Power Products has been a leading designer and manufacturer of marine battery chargers. We

have expanded our offering to include our latest line of Aquanautic chargers. Designed for the sport fisherman and

recreational boater, the Aquanautic series offers many features not seen in competitive chargers.

Please save and read this manual carefully and fully understand the safety instructions before installing your new Sterling

Aquanautic battery charger.

General Safety Instructions

Before connecting your batteries or AC power, read all instructions and cautionary markings on the battery charger and

batteries.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of injury, charge only lead-acid type rechargeable batteries (open lead-acid, sealed lead-acid,

gel cell and AGM). Other types of batteries may burst, causing personal injury. The Aquanautic is factory set for lead-acid

batteries.

Use of attachments not recommended or sold by Sterling Power Products may result in a risk of fire, electrical shock or

personal injury.

Do not operate the charger if it has received a sharp blow, direct hit of force, has been dropped or otherwise damaged in

any way.

Do not disassemble the charger. Call the factory directly when service or repair is required. Incorrect assembly may result in

risk of electrical shock or fire.

To reduce the risk of electrical shock, remove AC power from the charger prior to any maintenance or cleaning.

WARNING: RISK OF EXPLOSIVE GASES

Working in the vicinity of a lead-acid battery is dangerous. Batteries generate explosive gases during normal battery

operation.

Personal Safety Precautions

To reduce the risk of battery explosion, follow these instructions and those published by the battery manufacturer, and of

any equipment you intend to use in the vicinity of a battery. Review all cautionary markings and labels.

Someone should be within the range of your voice or close enough to come to your aid when working near a lead-acid

battery.

Have plenty of water and soap nearby in case battery acid comes in contact with skin, clothes or eyes.

Wear complete eye protection and clothing protection. Avoid touching eyes while working with a battery.

If battery acid contacts skin or clothing, wash immediately with soap and water. If acid enters the eye(s), flood eye(s) with

running cold water for at least 10 minutes and get medical attention immediately.

Never smoke or allow a spark or a flame in the vicinity of a battery or engine.

Be extra cautious to reduce the risk of dropping a metal tool onto a battery. It may spark or short-circuit the battery or other

electrical parts that may cause explosion.

Remove all personal metal items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and jewelery when working near a battery. A

battery can produce a short circuit high enough to weld a ring or any metal, causing serious burns.

Use the unit for charging lead-acid batteries only. . Do not use the battery charger to charge dry cell batteries that are

commonly used with home appliances. These batteries may burst and cause injury to persons and property.

Never charge a frozen battery.

Safety Precautions Prior to Charging Batteries

If necessary to remove a battery from a boat to charge, always remove the grounded terminal from battery first. Make sure

all accessories in the boat are off, as to not cause an arc.

Be sure the area around the charger and the batteries is well ventilated while the batteries are being charged. Gases can

be forcefully blown away using a piece of cardboard or other non-metallic material as a fan.

Clean battery terminals with full eye protection to prevent corrosion from coming in contact with eyes.

Add distilled water in each cell until electrolyte reaches levels specified by the battery manufacturer. This helps purge

excessive gases from cells. Do not overfill. For batteries without caps, carefully follow the manufacturer's recharging

instructions.

Study all manufacturers' specific precautions, such as removing or not removing cell caps while charging, in addition to

rates of charge.

Extension cords should be industrial grade / heavy duty and grounded. Check extension cord before use for damage, bent

prongs and cuts. Replace if damaged.

Never charge a frozen battery.

Always make your extension cord connection on the charger side first. After connecting the extension cord to the charger

proceed to plug the extension cord to a nearby AC RCD-protected (ground fault circuit protected) outlet.

Always remove the extension cord from the AC outlet first when charging is completed, followed by unplugging the charger.

General Overview

The charger is a fully automatic, electronic multi-stage on-board marine battery charger. It is pre-wired for easy installation

and is 100% waterproof for fresh and salt water applications.

The Aquanautic incorporates extruded aluminium housing with plastic end caps. This design offers improved durability and

heat transfer while comparing it to full plastic case competitive products. The Aquanautic offers multi-stage charging which

includes a “float” maintenance mode that is safe for long and short term storage. Aquanautic can be left on indefinitely

without harming or overcharging your batteries.

The Distributed-On-Demand TM multi-stage charging technology will automatically sense and distribute 100% of the

available charging amp output, i.e. 8, 12 or 20 amps (model specific) to any one bank or combination of all banks. Each

battery bank output is fully isolated.

Easy to view LED indicators will provide you with AC power on and charging status. The LED indicators can be seen from

the front and the side of the charger when installed.

The charger is available in different models and can be used in 12, 24 and 36 volt configurations (model specific) without

rewiring or switching. Just attach the DC output cable terminals as illustrated in the installation section of this manual.

With your Charger plugged in properly, it will automatically and fully charge your batteries while it conditions and extends

the life of your batteries. When you are not at the boat you can leave your charger plugged in to reduce sulphate build-up

allowing your batteries to be fully charged and maintained until your next boat trip.

Table Of Contents

Safety Instructions... pages 2-3

Overview... pages 3

Installation Guidelines... pages 4-7

Charging Your Batteries... page 8

Maintenance... page 9

Trouble Shooting... pages 10

Customer Service & Warranty... page 11

Installation

All battery chargers are designed to be permanently mounted on-board and can be mounted with the extruded fins placed

vertically or horizontally. Always mount your charger in a compartment area that can be properly ventilated during use.

Do not mix battery types on-board. All batteries should be of the same age and in good operating condition.

Do not make any electrical connections to the Aquanautic or to the batteries until the following steps are completed:

11 Easy-to-follow Installation Steps:

1. Select a mounting location that allows for free air ventilation with a minimum of 8 inches of clear, unobstructed space

around and in front of the charger. Open all battery and engine compartments and ventilate for at least 15 minutes before

starting the installation of the charger.

2. Confirm the selected mounting location allows for a minimum of 8 inches of free space around the front and the sides of

the charger. Do not install the charger on carpeted, upholstered, vinyl or varnished surfaces. Be sure to place the charger in

an accessible area where all indicators are viewable. Confirm all battery cables can reach each of the batteries.

3. Using the charger as a template use a small awl or screwdriver to mark the position of each mounting hole.

4. Using a 1/8” drill bit, drill pilot holes in the four marked locations as described in step 3. Apply a silicon sealer in each of

the mounting locations to waterproof the screw holes.

5. Position the charger over the mounting holes and secure with a power screwdriver by installing 4 marine grade or

stainless steel screws (mounting screws not included).

6. Prepare each battery in advance by cleaning each terminal post with a wire brush until a shiny surface is obtained.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

As you prepare to attach the positive (red) and negative (yellow or black wires) to the batteries there will be a brief low

power spark that is generated as you make the connection. This is due to the high frequency capacitors taking a charger.

Make sure the black (or yellow) wires are connected as illustrated to the negative side of the battery and the red wires are

connected to the positive side of the battery.

7. Run your cables free from sharp objects and hold each of them in place with cable ties. Coil excess cable, do not cut or

shorten the length of the cables as there are in-line fuses located 4 inches from the end of each positive (red) cable. These

fuses are in place to protect the charger and output cables in the event of a short or reverse polarity.

8. Connect the DC output cables as illustrated. Make sure the negative (black or yellow) wires are connected as illustrated

to the negative side of the battery and the positive (red) wires are connected to the positive side of the battery.

9. Make sure all DC connections are tight and correct.

10. Locate the AC power cord in an open-air area of your boat at least 21 inches from the charger, batteries and fuel fill

lines.

11. Connect a heavy duty extension cord to the charger first. After connecting the extension cord to the charger proceed to

plug the extension cord to a nearby RCD-protected (ground fault circuit interrupt) outlet. Always remove the extension cord

from the AC outlet first when charging is completed, followed by unplugging the charger.

You are now connected and charging your batteries. View the LED indicators. Assuming your batteries are discharged you

should observe both the green “Power On” LED and the red “Charging” LED on, indicating charging mode is in process.

1/8" pilot hole

with silicon sealer

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Confirm the surface you will be mounting the

charger to is adequate in strength and

thickness to hold the unit in place with the

mounting screws you have selected. +_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

12 v 12 v

24 v

24 v+

AC Input

Output No. 1

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

single battery bank model

wired to charge

1 battery bank

12 v

Engine Start Battery

or Domestic Battery 2

Domestic

Battery 1

+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green) 2 battery bank model

wired to charge 2 separate

battery banks as 2 x 12 v

isolated, or

can be joined together

to charge one battery

12 v 12 v

2 battery bank model

wired to charge 1

battery banks 24 v

made up by 2 x 12 v

connected in series

Wiring Diagrams

If only two batteries are used with a 3-bank charger, then connect the unused output cable to either one of

the two batteries, as instructed in item 8 above.

Always connect each charger output to a single 12V battery even if the batteries are wired in series for 24V

or 36V.

link

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

Installation

All battery chargers are designed to be permanently mounted on-board and can be mounted with the extruded fins placed

vertically or horizontally. Always mount your charger in a compartment area that can be properly ventilated during use.

Do not mix battery types on-board. All batteries should be of the same age and in good operating condition.

Do not make any electrical connections to the Aquanautic or to the batteries until the following steps are completed:

11 Easy-to-follow Installation Steps:

1. Select a mounting location that allows for free air ventilation with a minimum of 8 inches of clear, unobstructed space

around and in front of the charger. Open all battery and engine compartments and ventilate for at least 15 minutes before

starting the installation of the charger.

2. Confirm the selected mounting location allows for a minimum of 8 inches of free space around the front and the sides of

the charger. Do not install the charger on carpeted, upholstered, vinyl or varnished surfaces. Be sure to place the charger in

an accessible area where all indicators are viewable. Confirm all battery cables can reach each of the batteries.

3. Using the charger as a template use a small awl or screwdriver to mark the position of each mounting hole.

4. Using a 1/8” drill bit, drill pilot holes in the four marked locations as described in step 3. Apply a silicon sealer in each of

the mounting locations to waterproof the screw holes.

5. Position the charger over the mounting holes and secure with a power screwdriver by installing 4 marine grade or

stainless steel screws (mounting screws not included).

6. Prepare each battery in advance by cleaning each terminal post with a wire brush until a shiny surface is obtained.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

As you prepare to attach the positive (red) and negative (yellow or black wires) to the batteries there will be a brief low

power spark that is generated as you make the connection. This is due to the high frequency capacitors taking a charger.

Make sure the black (or yellow) wires are connected as illustrated to the negative side of the battery and the red wires are

connected to the positive side of the battery.

7. Run your cables free from sharp objects and hold each of them in place with cable ties. Coil excess cable, do not cut or

shorten the length of the cables as there are in-line fuses located 4 inches from the end of each positive (red) cable. These

fuses are in place to protect the charger and output cables in the event of a short or reverse polarity.

8. Connect the DC output cables as illustrated. Make sure the negative (black or yellow) wires are connected as illustrated

to the negative side of the battery and the positive (red) wires are connected to the positive side of the battery.

9. Make sure all DC connections are tight and correct.

10. Locate the AC power cord in an open-air area of your boat at least 21 inches from the charger, batteries and fuel fill

lines.

11. Connect a heavy duty extension cord to the charger first. After connecting the extension cord to the charger proceed to

plug the extension cord to a nearby RCD-protected (ground fault circuit interrupt) outlet. Always remove the extension cord

from the AC outlet first when charging is completed, followed by unplugging the charger.

You are now connected and charging your batteries. View the LED indicators. Assuming your batteries are discharged you

should observe both the green “Power On” LED and the red “Charging” LED on, indicating charging mode is in process.

1/8" pilot hole

with silicon sealer

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Confirm the surface you will be mounting the

charger to is adequate in strength and

thickness to hold the unit in place with the

mounting screws you have selected. +_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

12 v 12 v

24 v

24 v+

AC Input

Output No. 1

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

single battery bank model

wired to charge

1 battery bank

12 v

Engine Start Battery

or Domestic Battery 2

Domestic

Battery 1

+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green) 2 battery bank model

wired to charge 2 separate

battery banks as 2 x 12 v

isolated, or

can be joined together

to charge one battery

12 v 12 v

2 battery bank model

wired to charge 1

battery banks 24 v

made up by 2 x 12 v

connected in series

Wiring Diagrams

If only two batteries are used with a 3-bank charger, then connect the unused output cable to either one of

the two batteries, as instructed in item 8 above.

Always connect each charger output to a single 12V battery even if the batteries are wired in series for 24V

or 36V.

link

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

Charging Batteries

The Sterling Aquanautic series is designed to charge, condition and maintain your batteries. Please follow

these steps each time you use your charger.

1. Open all battery compartments and ventilate for at least 15 minutes before applying AC power to your

charger. While charging your batteries make sure to keep your battery compartment open, allowing for free air

ventilation.

2. Make sure all DC battery connections are tight and clean. Follow the battery manufacturer's

recommendation for battery cell caps. Loosen caps if applicable.

3. Connect a heavy duty extension cord to the Aquanautic charger first. After connecting the extension cord to

the charger proceed to plug the extension cord to a nearby RCD-protected AC power outlet.

4. Observe the on-board LED indicators for a solid green and red indication. This will tell you the batteries are

in the charging process.

5. Charge your batteries until only the green LED indicator remains on. This indicates that the charging

process is completed and your batteries are fully charged and are now being maintained in a gentle float /

storage mode (Recommended while your boat is not in use.). The unit can be left on in this mode indefinitely

and will never overcharge your batteries.

6. When ready to use your boat, unplug the extension cord from the AC power outlet first, followed by

unplugging the charger.

3 battery bank model

wired to charge 3 separate

battery banks as 3 x 12 v

isolated, or

can be joined together

to charge one battery

12 v 12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

Domestic

Battery 1

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Domestic

Battery 2 Engine Start Battery

or Domestic Battery 3

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

3 battery bank model

wired to charge

1 x 36 v battery

bank

12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

36 v

36 v+

12 v

3 battery bank model

wired to charge

1 x 24 v battery

and

1 x 12 v battery bank

12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

24 v

24 v+ 12 v

12 v

link link

link

Battery type selector

Battery Type Selector

On side of end cap

Black: Open lead acid

Charge 14.8V Float 13.5V

Gray: Gel / AGM /Sealed

Charge14.4V Float 13.5V

Red: Calcium

Charge 15.1V Float 13.5V

Simply unscrew the small plastic plug at the side of

the case and insert one of the other plugs you require

to obtain the correct voltage.

Remember it is the voltages that are more important

than our battery types. After installation test the voltage

from the unit is the desired voltage. Ensure you

remove at least 1 wire from the battery temperature

sensor as the product voltage may be higher ( if in

cold climate ) or lower ( if in warm climate ) than the

preconceived voltage. The requirements of the

battery company will override our recommendations as

it is them who are supporting the battery warranty.

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

Charging Batteries

The Sterling Aquanautic series is designed to charge, condition and maintain your batteries. Please follow

these steps each time you use your charger.

1. Open all battery compartments and ventilate for at least 15 minutes before applying AC power to your

charger. While charging your batteries make sure to keep your battery compartment open, allowing for free air

ventilation.

2. Make sure all DC battery connections are tight and clean. Follow the battery manufacturer's

recommendation for battery cell caps. Loosen caps if applicable.

3. Connect a heavy duty extension cord to the Aquanautic charger first. After connecting the extension cord to

the charger proceed to plug the extension cord to a nearby RCD-protected AC power outlet.

4. Observe the on-board LED indicators for a solid green and red indication. This will tell you the batteries are

in the charging process.

5. Charge your batteries until only the green LED indicator remains on. This indicates that the charging

process is completed and your batteries are fully charged and are now being maintained in a gentle float /

storage mode (Recommended while your boat is not in use.). The unit can be left on in this mode indefinitely

and will never overcharge your batteries.

6. When ready to use your boat, unplug the extension cord from the AC power outlet first, followed by

unplugging the charger.

3 battery bank model

wired to charge 3 separate

battery banks as 3 x 12 v

isolated, or

can be joined together

to charge one battery

12 v 12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

Domestic

Battery 1

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Domestic

Battery 2 Engine Start Battery

or Domestic Battery 3

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

3 battery bank model

wired to charge

1 x 36 v battery

bank

12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

36 v

36 v+

12 v

3 battery bank model

wired to charge

1 x 24 v battery

and

1 x 12 v battery bank

12 v 12 v

C h a r g i n g Yo u r B a t t e r i e s

+_+_+_

AC Input

Output No. 1

Output No. 2

Output No. 3

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

black or yellow

red

Live (brown or black)

Neutral (blue or white)

Earth (yellow-green)

24 v

24 v+ 12 v

12 v

link link

link

Battery type selector

Battery Type Selector

On side of end cap

Black: Open lead acid

Charge 14.8V Float 13.5V

Gray: Gel / AGM /Sealed

Charge14.4V Float 13.5V

Red: Calcium

Charge 15.1V Float 13.5V

Simply unscrew the small plastic plug at the side of

the case and insert one of the other plugs you require

to obtain the correct voltage.

Remember it is the voltages that are more important

than our battery types. After installation test the voltage

from the unit is the desired voltage. Ensure you

remove at least 1 wire from the battery temperature

sensor as the product voltage may be higher ( if in

cold climate ) or lower ( if in warm climate ) than the

preconceived voltage. The requirements of the

battery company will override our recommendations as

it is them who are supporting the battery warranty.

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

10 amp fuse required

on a/c side

Owner's Periodic Maintenance Guide

Item: Battery Connections

Process:

When:

Clean and tighten all battery connections. Follow battery manufacturer’s instructions

for cleaning a battery. Clean all battery terminals with a wire brush where required

and tighten all battery connections.

Monthly

Item: Battery Electrolyte

Process:

When:

Per battery manufacturer’s instructions monitor and maintain proper levels of

distilled water in each battery.

Monthly

Item: DC Output Wiring

Process:

When:

Visually inspect all wiring for cuts and abrasions.contact Sterling Power Products if

charger needs to be serviced with new wiring.

Monthly

Item: AC Power Cord and Mounting Hardware Inspection

Process:

When:

Visually inspect the AC power cord. Confirm ground blade is present and plug

blades are in good condition and not bent out of place.

Check all mounting hardware to ensure there is no loose hardware. Tighten where

required.

Monthly

AC Power and Charging LED Status Indicators

The Aquanautic includes two LED indicators as shown below.

Blue “AC Power” LED indicator:

Green charge complete and charger on float.

Red “Charging” LED indicator, high charge rate on

Battery type selected LED, green = sealed lead acid, red = calcium, amber = open lead acid .

14.6V

13.3V

Charging Conditioning Maintenance / Float Mode

Average Voltage

Volts

Multi-Stage Charging Overview

When the charger is turned on, the blue power indicator will turn on followed by the red charging LED

indicator.

The multi-stage charger will provide the following:

Unit Charging

During this mode the Aquanautic will use its available charging amps (as controlled by temperature) until the

battery voltage is raised to 14.4 - 15.1 depending on the voltage selected.

Aquanautic Conditioning

The unit will hold batteries at the high voltage to complete charging while conditioning batteries by de-

sulphating each battery connected. Upon completion the Aquanautic will go into float mode (green ready LED)

Float / Maintenance Mode

During this mode the green ready led will be on indicating that the charging process is over and that the

charger is now maintaining your batteries on-board. Only the green LED will remain on, indicating “Power On /

Float-Maintenance Mode”.

This is a precision 13.5 volts (lead-acid factory setting) finishing voltage that maintains each battery, perfect

for short or long storage periods and never overcharging your batteries (step down voltage regulation mode).

Power

Charge

Ready

Battery

Type

Green

Sealed/Gel

Red

Calcium

Amber

Open lead

Owner's Periodic Maintenance Guide

Item: Battery Connections

Process:

When:

Clean and tighten all battery connections. Follow battery manufacturer’s instructions

for cleaning a battery. Clean all battery terminals with a wire brush where required

and tighten all battery connections.

Monthly

Item: Battery Electrolyte

Process:

When:

Per battery manufacturer’s instructions monitor and maintain proper levels of

distilled water in each battery.

Monthly

Item: DC Output Wiring

Process:

When:

Visually inspect all wiring for cuts and abrasions.contact Sterling Power Products if

charger needs to be serviced with new wiring.

Monthly

Item: AC Power Cord and Mounting Hardware Inspection

Process:

When:

Visually inspect the AC power cord. Confirm ground blade is present and plug

blades are in good condition and not bent out of place.

Check all mounting hardware to ensure there is no loose hardware. Tighten where

required.

Monthly

AC Power and Charging LED Status Indicators

The Aquanautic includes two LED indicators as shown below.

Blue “AC Power” LED indicator:

Green charge complete and charger on float.

Red “Charging” LED indicator, high charge rate on

Battery type selected LED, green = sealed lead acid, red = calcium, amber = open lead acid .

14.6V

13.3V

Charging Conditioning Maintenance / Float Mode

Average Voltage

Volts

Multi-Stage Charging Overview

When the charger is turned on, the blue power indicator will turn on followed by the red charging LED

indicator.

The multi-stage charger will provide the following:

Unit Charging

During this mode the Aquanautic will use its available charging amps (as controlled by temperature) until the

battery voltage is raised to 14.4 - 15.1 depending on the voltage selected.

Aquanautic Conditioning

The unit will hold batteries at the high voltage to complete charging while conditioning batteries by de-

sulphating each battery connected. Upon completion the Aquanautic will go into float mode (green ready LED)

Float / Maintenance Mode

During this mode the green ready led will be on indicating that the charging process is over and that the

charger is now maintaining your batteries on-board. Only the green LED will remain on, indicating “Power On /

Float-Maintenance Mode”.

This is a precision 13.5 volts (lead-acid factory setting) finishing voltage that maintains each battery, perfect

for short or long storage periods and never overcharging your batteries (step down voltage regulation mode).

Power

Charge

Ready

Battery

Type

Green

Sealed/Gel

Red

Calcium

Amber

Open lead

Important Notice: FCC Class A Part 15 Notification

Your battery charger has been designed and tested to comply with FCC Class A part 15. These regulations

are to provide adequate protection against harmful interference while operated in a commercial application. If

in a residential setting you are encountering interference with TV and radio reception, simply remove AC from

the Aquanautic to confirm if your battery charger is causing interference. As an end user you can explore the

following measures to minimise interference.

1) Choose a different AC circuit to power your Aquanautic charger.

2) Make sure all electrical appliances are properly grounded.

3) Re-position receiving aerial.

4) Make sure that all AC, DC and aerial cables are well apart from each other. Use shielded cables or special,

separate shielding devices.

5) Relocate charger so that it is at the furthest point from home receiving equipment (TV, radio etc.).

Trouble Shooting Guide

No Blue LED Indicator

Check for loss of power at the AC outlet. Confirm RCD has not tripped. Check with a meter or an AC test

light that AC is present at the end of your extension cord.

Confirm all charger cables are installed with the correct polarity connections at each battery and that all

connections are clean and tight.

With the AC power removed and the engine switched off; check the charge level of each battery with a

DC meter or with the Sterling DC Voltage Probe & Diagnostics Tool. If there is no charge level indication

for a battery, check each battery with a hydrometer to determine if it has one or more bad cells.

(Batteries should always be replaced in sets and always the same type.)

If everything above checks out okay and you still don't get any output from the charger, contact Sterling

Power Products for product service.

Battery is Not Charging, Red and Green Indicator is “on”

Confirm all charger cables are installed with the correct polarity connections at each battery, and that all

connections are clean and tight. Reverse polarity connections will blow output fuse, resulting in no

output voltage.

With the charger on, read DC voltage at each battery. If any of the readings are less than 13 volts,

proceed with the following:

A. Disconnect AC power at the AC outlet.

B. Remove charger cables from each battery.

C. Reconnect AC power and read DC voltage across each output cable. If output voltage is

approximately 13 volts, then the charger is okay and each battery should be tested with a hydrometer

with the charger and the engine off to determine if one or more batteries have bad cells. (Batteries

should always be replaced in sets and always the same type.)

D. If there is no output when trying to read DC voltage, check each output fuse and replace as needed.

If the DC voltage at each charger output is less than 13.0 volts, contact Sterling Power Products for

product service.

Customer Service & Warranty

We are committed to customer satisfaction and value your business. If at any time during the warranty period

you experience a problem with your Sterling charger, simply check our phone number on www.sterling-

power.com.

Limited Two-Year Factory Warranty

Each Aquanatic model is guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship to the original consumer in

normal use for 2 years from the date of purchase. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will at its discretion repair or

replace free of charge any defects in material or workmanship. The following conditions apply:

Warranty is void if unauthorised repairs attempted.

The customer is responsible for returning the product to Sterling Power Products Ltd. Inbound shipping costs

must be prepaid.

This warranty does not cover blemishes due to normal wear and tear or damages caused by accidents,

abuse, alterations or misuse.

Repairs not covered by this warranty can be done at the customer's request and expense.

Purchase or other acceptance of the product shall be on the condition and agreement that Sterling Power

Products Ltd. shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages of any kind. (Some countries do not

allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not

apply to you.) This warranty is made in lieu of all other obligations or liabilities on the part of Sterling Power

Products Ltd. Sterling Power Products Ltd. neither assumes nor authorizes any person for any obligation or

liability in connection with the sale of this product.

To make a claim under warranty, contact Sterling Power Products Ltd., www.sterling-power.com (for latest

contact details). The customer has to provide a proof of purchase. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will make its

best effort to repair or replace the product, if found defective, within 30 days after return of the product to the

company. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will ship the repaired or replaced product back to the customer in the

UK; all warranty is at the factory.

STERLING POWER PRODUCTS LTD

Website: www.sterling-power.com

www.sterling-power-usa.com

E-mail: help@sterling-power.com

Changes and errors excepted. 11

Specification

input voltage 100-240V

power factor 0.88

Unit power consumption 160W (8A Aquanautic)

Unit power consumption 240W (12A Aquanautic)

Unit power consumption 400W (20A Aquanautic)

AC fuse required 5 amps to cover 110V and 230V operation (8A / 12A)

AC fuse required 8 amps to cover 110V and 230V operation (20 A)

Important Notice: FCC Class A Part 15 Notification

Your battery charger has been designed and tested to comply with FCC Class A part 15. These regulations

are to provide adequate protection against harmful interference while operated in a commercial application. If

in a residential setting you are encountering interference with TV and radio reception, simply remove AC from

the Aquanautic to confirm if your battery charger is causing interference. As an end user you can explore the

following measures to minimise interference.

1) Choose a different AC circuit to power your Aquanautic charger.

2) Make sure all electrical appliances are properly grounded.

3) Re-position receiving aerial.

4) Make sure that all AC, DC and aerial cables are well apart from each other. Use shielded cables or special,

separate shielding devices.

5) Relocate charger so that it is at the furthest point from home receiving equipment (TV, radio etc.).

Trouble Shooting Guide

No Blue LED Indicator

Check for loss of power at the AC outlet. Confirm RCD has not tripped. Check with a meter or an AC test

light that AC is present at the end of your extension cord.

Confirm all charger cables are installed with the correct polarity connections at each battery and that all

connections are clean and tight.

With the AC power removed and the engine switched off; check the charge level of each battery with a

DC meter or with the Sterling DC Voltage Probe & Diagnostics Tool. If there is no charge level indication

for a battery, check each battery with a hydrometer to determine if it has one or more bad cells.

(Batteries should always be replaced in sets and always the same type.)

If everything above checks out okay and you still don't get any output from the charger, contact Sterling

Power Products for product service.

Battery is Not Charging, Red and Green Indicator is “on”

Confirm all charger cables are installed with the correct polarity connections at each battery, and that all

connections are clean and tight. Reverse polarity connections will blow output fuse, resulting in no

output voltage.

With the charger on, read DC voltage at each battery. If any of the readings are less than 13 volts,

proceed with the following:

A. Disconnect AC power at the AC outlet.

B. Remove charger cables from each battery.

C. Reconnect AC power and read DC voltage across each output cable. If output voltage is

approximately 13 volts, then the charger is okay and each battery should be tested with a hydrometer

with the charger and the engine off to determine if one or more batteries have bad cells. (Batteries

should always be replaced in sets and always the same type.)

D. If there is no output when trying to read DC voltage, check each output fuse and replace as needed.

If the DC voltage at each charger output is less than 13.0 volts, contact Sterling Power Products for

product service.

Customer Service & Warranty

We are committed to customer satisfaction and value your business. If at any time during the warranty period

you experience a problem with your Sterling charger, simply check our phone number on www.sterling-

power.com.

Limited Two-Year Factory Warranty

Each Aquanatic model is guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship to the original consumer in

normal use for 2 years from the date of purchase. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will at its discretion repair or

replace free of charge any defects in material or workmanship. The following conditions apply:

Warranty is void if unauthorised repairs attempted.

The customer is responsible for returning the product to Sterling Power Products Ltd. Inbound shipping costs

must be prepaid.

This warranty does not cover blemishes due to normal wear and tear or damages caused by accidents,

abuse, alterations or misuse.

Repairs not covered by this warranty can be done at the customer's request and expense.

Purchase or other acceptance of the product shall be on the condition and agreement that Sterling Power

Products Ltd. shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages of any kind. (Some countries do not

allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not

apply to you.) This warranty is made in lieu of all other obligations or liabilities on the part of Sterling Power

Products Ltd. Sterling Power Products Ltd. neither assumes nor authorizes any person for any obligation or

liability in connection with the sale of this product.

To make a claim under warranty, contact Sterling Power Products Ltd., www.sterling-power.com (for latest

contact details). The customer has to provide a proof of purchase. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will make its

best effort to repair or replace the product, if found defective, within 30 days after return of the product to the

company. Sterling Power Products Ltd. will ship the repaired or replaced product back to the customer in the

UK; all warranty is at the factory.

STERLING POWER PRODUCTS LTD

Website: www.sterling-power.com

www.sterling-power-usa.com

E-mail: help@sterling-power.com

Changes and errors excepted. 11

Specification

input voltage 100-240V

power factor 0.88

Unit power consumption 160W (8A Aquanautic)

Unit power consumption 240W (12A Aquanautic)

Unit power consumption 400W (20A Aquanautic)

AC fuse required 5 amps to cover 110V and 230V operation (8A / 12A)

AC fuse required 8 amps to cover 110V and 230V operation (20 A)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Sicherheitshinweise... S. 15-16

Aquanautic Überblick... S. 17

Batterien aufladen... S. 22

Wartung und Pflege... S. 23-24

Fehlerbeseitigung... S. 25

Kundendienst und Garantie... S. 26

Installationshinweise... S. 18-21

Einführung

Das Mitarbeiter-Team von Sterling Power Products bedankt sich für Ihr Vertrauen und gratuliert Ihnen zum

Kauf des Sterling Aquanautic Batterie-Lade- und Netzgerätes.

Seit vielen Jahren ist Sterling Power Products ein führender Hersteller professioneller Lade- und

Energietechnik. Die hier beschriebene Baureihe wasserdichter Ladegeräte der Aquanautic-Serie wurde

speziell für den harten Einsatz unter nassen Bedingungen entwickelt und bietet mit ihren überlegenen

Produktmerkmalen eine Vielzahl von Einsatzmöglichkeiten.

Bitte lesen Sie diese Anleitung, insbesondere die Sicherheitshinweise, aufmerksam durch, bevor Sie mit der

Installation Ihres Sterling Aquanautic Ladegerätes beginnen.

Persönliche Sicherheitsvorkehrungen

Wenn Sie in der Nähe einer Blei-Säure-Batterie arbeiten, sollte stets eine zweite Person in Rufweite sein, die

im Bedarfsfall Hilfe leisten kann.

Für den Fall dass Batteriesäure in Kontakt mit Haut, Augen oder Kleidung kommt, sollte stets reichlich Wasser

und Seife in der Nähe bereitstehen.

Tragen Sie stets Augenschutz und schützende Kleidung. Vermeiden Sie unbedingt, Ihre Augen zu berühren,

während Sie mit einer Batterie hantieren.

Falls Haut oder Kleidung mit Batteriesäure in Kontakt kommen, waschen Sie diese sofort mit Wasser und

Seife aus. Falls Batteriesäure in die Augen gerät, spülen Sie diese mindestens 10 Minuten unter fließendem,

kalten Wasser aus und suchen unmittelbar danach einen Arzt auf.

In der Nähe von Batterien oder Verbrennungsmotoren darf weder geraucht werden, noch mit offenem Feuer

hantiert werden. Jede Funkenbildung ist zu vermeiden.

Achten Sie insbesondere darauf, dass keine metallischen Teile oder Werkzeuge mit den Batterien in Kontakt

kommen. Dies kann einen Kurzschluss verursachen, welcher unter ungünstigen Umständen eine Explosion

auslösen könnte.

Bevor Sie mit der Arbeit an oder in der Nähe einer Batterie beginnen, entfernen Sie alle persönlichen

Allgemeine Sicherheitshinweise

Bevor Sie Ihr Ladegerät mit den Batterien und/oder einer externen Wechselspannung verbinden, lesen Sie

bitte diese Anleitung und die Sicherheitshinweise vollständig und aufmerksam durch.

ACHTUNG: Mit diesem Ladegerät dürfen nur wiederaufladbare Batterien mit Blei-Säure-Technik

aufgeladen werden (Blei-Säure offen, Blei-Säure versiegelt, Gel und AGM). Beim Laden anderer

Batterietypen besteht Explosionsgefahr! Aquanautic Ladegeräte sind werkseitig voreingestellt für Blei-

Säure-Batterien.

Bei Benutzung von Zubehörteilen, welche nicht von Sterling Power Products verkauft oder empfohlen werden,

besteht die Gefahr von Bränden, Stromschlägen oder Verletzungen.

Benutzen Sie das Ladegerät auf keinen Fall, wenn es großen äußerlichen Kräften durch Schläge, Stöße oder

Hinfallen ausgesetzt oder auf andere Weise beschädigt wurde.

Öffnen Sie niemals das Gehäuse des Gerätes. Im Falle einer notwendigen Reparatur wenden Sie sich bitte

direkt an Sterling Power Products. Unsachgemäßes Auseinander- und Zusammenbauen des Gerätes kann

die Entstehung von Bränden oder Stromschlägen zur Folge haben.

Vor jeder Wartung oder Reinigung muss das Gerät von jeglichen externen Wechselstromquellen getrennt

werden.

WARNUNG: ENTSTEHUNG EXPLOSIVER GASE

Der Aufenthalt in der Nähe von Blei-Säure-Batterien kann gefährlich sein. Auch

während des normalen Betriebes können explosive Gase entstehen.

Um das Risiko einer Batterieexplosion zu minimieren, folgen Sie diesen Sicherheitshinweisen sowie den für

Ihre Batterien und für jedes Gerät, welches in der Nähe Ihrer Batterien betrieben werden soll, geltenden

Sicherheitsrichtlinien und den darauf angebrachten Warnhinweisen.