solid power for life - Charles Industries, Ltd.

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PLUGGED IN
Numbers, nomenclature and news for the thoroughly plugged in.
IT KEEPS
GOING &
GOING
THE INVINCIBLE INCHARGER
Every parent knows to stock up on extra batteries
at Christmas time. The last thing you want
is for little Timmy’s excitement about his new
gadget to turn into a tantrum when the thing
won’t blink and bleep. Industrial engineers seem
to feel the same way about their gadgets. Deny
them an uninterrupted supply of DC power
where they need it, and the tantrum may be
more subdued, but the emotions will run just
as deep.
Like a prescient parent on Christmas morn,
Charles Industries offers those engineers the
new InCharger, a rugged industrial battery
charger that combines ground-breaking design
with high-tech features. Charles Industries has
provided reliable DC-power solutions to the
marine and industrial markets for decades, and
the new InCharger builds on that legacy with
enhanced ease of use and a rugged constitution.
Constructed from industrial grade anodized
aluminum, the InCharger is specifically
designed to perform in the most demanding
environments. The unit’s universal AC input
and configuration for gel, flooded lead acid,
AGM or NiCAD batteries with 12- or 24-VDC
selectable output makes the InCharger a onestop
purchasing decision for industrial customers.
That flexibility of output is delivered through
an elegant soft-touch interface that will make
any engineer smile, with a fully customizable
setup for all industrial settings.
“Our engineering team has developed the
most innovative battery charger system to
enter the marketplace,” says Lyle St. Romain,
managing director of the Charles Marine
& Industrial Group. “The InCharger has
revolutionized the use of battery chargers in
an industrial setting to surpass all customer
expectations.”
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Rugged and elegant, the InCharger stakes its claim on greatness.
IN THE ’HOOD
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood
with Charles Industries
in your backyard. Didn’t know
Charles was there? Look at your
NID. A Network Interface Device
is a device installed by your
phone company to connect your
indoor wiring to the telephone
network, and it’s usually mounted
near your electrical meter. Check
yours—Charles just might be
helping you reach out and touch
someone each time you pick up
the phone. Charles even goes
beyond your boat and your
backyard. To find out how Charles
Industries plays a role in air traffic
safety, turn to page 26.
DO YOU NEED A BOOST?
With the increasing demand for
onboard marine electronics, it can
be difficult to keep nautical tools
and toys powered up. That’s
where SmartBoost, Charles
Industries’ new universal AC
voltage booster, comes in.
Whenever dockside power falls
below 210 VAC, SmartBoost adds
a 15 percent AC voltage boost to any
existing 50-amp transformer. Designed to
increase incoming AC shore power voltage, it
ensures that the equipment you and your boat
depend on has enough juice to do its job.
This power-enhancer fits neatly into any
power management system. Designed as a
separate boost control unit, it works with
any 12Kva or 15Kva (50 amp) isolation
As much as he searched, Joe
Charles couldn’t find a
suitable place to store his
Florida-based yacht during
the summer. He wanted to
be confident it would be
protected from the
elements—especially if a
hurricane rolled in.
After failing to find the
ideal solution, he developed
one of his own. His River
Forest Yachting Center in
Stuart now provides a safe
haven for not only his own boat, but for
dozens of other discriminating owners
of large yachts. “We’re not a boatyard,”
says Joe, the president and CEO of
Charles Industries. “We’re a long-term
summer boat storage facility.”
The key difference is climate control.
The facility protects boats from the
ravages of sun, extreme weather,
humidity and mold. “It’s like giving your
boat another birthday,” Charles says.
Launched in 2004 at a 9-acre facility
in Stuart, Florida, with room for 150
boats, the concept caught on fast.
transformer, even those made by other
manufacturers.
Additionally, terminal blocks facilitate easy
customer connections. Once installed, this
product is simple and straightforward to use:
A fully automatic operation, manual 1:1
override and low-voltage Boost & Power LED
indicators keep the consumer informed and
in control. With an optional remote indicator
panel, users can also monitor its status from
any location, making the SmartBoost as
versatile as it is powerful.
The only transformer made especially for
the marine industry and to fit ABYC and
NMMA standards, it also has CE certification
for European use. No matter how large your
electronic collection grows, SmartBoost ensures
you’ll always be able to power up safely.
YACHT STORAGE GALORAGE
Charles is already expanding to the
other side of Lake Okeechobee, serving
the west coast of Florida with an
Ortona location that will be open next
spring. There’s also a site in Grand
Haven, Michigan.
A successful offshoot of the yachting
center is the Hurricane Club, which
guarantees its customers a safe spot
whenever a named storm approaches.
“Come hurricane time,” Joe says, “they
come flooding through the St. Lucie
Lock like crazy.” For more information,
call (772) 287-4131.
(Above, left) Charles Industries hangs out in your backyard in the form of a Network Interface Device.
PREMIERE ISSUE / amped
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