SCAD BatteryMINDer ?

Something new in my mailbox this week from shop.SailNet.com:

(Any of you DC wizards know if this is a good product? Or, just another attempt to make something saleable from the oil pressed from helpless sea snakes?)

Loren
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"SCAD - BatteryMINDer® Solar Charger Controller 12 Volt 15 Amp - Charger-Maintainer-Conditioner (Desulphator) - DSUL02

The BatteryMINDer® is a 3-mode charger/maintainer/conditioner that extends performance and life of all types/sizes of 12 Volt batteries and battery banks. These include maintenance-free, marine, deep cycle, sealed, gel, and all popular brands of AGM dry-type, valve-regulated batteries, such as Interstate, Exide, Optima, Odyssey, Trojan, etc.

The BatteryMINDer® automatically dissolves harmful power-robbing sulphation using safe, patented high-frequency pulse technology1. Guaranteed to increase your battery’s life and performance, or you get 100% of your money back within 1-year.

The SCC180 Solar Controller can be used with any make, model, or size solar panels rated up to 180 watts total output. Note: Panel not included.

1 Sulphation is the #1 cause of early battery failure and loss of performance as determined by the Battery
Council International, Dec. 1998.

The SCC180 Solar Controller can be used with any make, model, or size solar panels rated up to 180 watts output. Note: Panel not included.

Features
Allows you to charge and maintain multiple batteries at a time. Quantity of batteries depends on the aize of solar panel(s).
Safely charges-maintains-conditions all size and type starter, deep cycle, maintenance-type, maintenance-free, sealed, gelled, AGM or dry-type batteries.
Automatically removes (dissolves) harmful sulphation using safe, U.S. patented electronic pulse technology.
The unit automatically desulphates both in the charging and the maintenance modes.
Guaranteed to never overcharge any battery, regardless of how long connected.
No need to add water to maintenance-type batteries during long, non-use storage.
Isolation transformer and smart chip technology ensure safe, long-term performance.
Shuts off completely when sunlight is reduced with no drain on the batteries.
Splash proof, conformal-coated circuitry ensures trouble-free life even in high-moisture marine environments.
Allows battery to be stored safely at 0°F to +120°F.
Designed and engineered in the USA.
Built in strict accordance with ISO 9001 Quality Certification.
Full year 100% money-back guarantee takes the risk out of trying this great product.
Five (5) year warranty covers everything except physical abuse
The unit comes with a Battery Condition Indicator that has a push button for testing the condition of the battery.
General Specifications
Input 16-24 volts DC solar power
Output 12 volts @ 15 Amps
Charge Voltage 14.2 Vdc
Float Voltage 13.2 Vdc
Desulphation Pulse Depends on the solar panel @ 3.26 MHz
Float Current 5 mA – 5 Amp (Depends on the solar panel)2
Size/Weight 3-3/4” L x 2-1/2” W x 1-1/2” H / 1.6 lbs "

I know in the RVing world that many people are pretty "big" on the small BatteryMinder (which is only a trickle charger (1 A or so) with the maintainer/conditioner feature.

I bought a small one to put on my 2nd RV battery I keep in the garage during the "off season".

Does it work? How can I tell?

I'm a little goosey about having something like this attached to installed batteries in an RV/boat with electronic gizmos. The maintainer/conditioner feature raises the charge voltage fairly high. I don't know if this might hurt an attached device. E.g., my RV always has the propane fume detector running, unless I turn off the battery switch.

I didn't notice the first time that this was a solar panel controller also.

Here's what I use on my RV that I'm very happy with. It actually will put out more amps than the solar panel (w/o violating any laws of physics ). It also has a manual "conditioner" feature, that I've never used because of what I mentioned above.

http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/sb2000e.htm

BatteryMINDer was good the first winter. This last winter it "fried" two house batteries and a starter battery. None of the batteries were cooked. But none of them would hold a charge above 4-5 volts. None of the cells were bad either. Had them tested by a guy I personally know at a local battery shop.

Let's just say I won't be using there product any more. AND regarding charging, I won't be leave anything "unattended" for more than a few days.