[C320-list] Starting Battery Installation

[Quentin Murphy]

I'm going to heed the advice of many on this group and install a Starting
Battery, as my original 4Ds are showing their age.  I will then replace the
4Ds with Deep Cycle type.  I'm staying with flooded batteries
throughout...cost.  But I have a few questions.

Will a Group 27 battery fit forward of the two 4Ds or should I go with a
Group 24 (automotive size)?  I understand a Group 24 is plenty to start my
Yanmar engine.  How have others supported this extra battery?  Have they
used plywood alone or plywood covered with fibreglass?

I going to use a separate Perko ON/OFF switch for the starting bank and
leave the original OFF/ONE/TWO/BOTH battery switch for the House Bank.  In
addition I was going to install a key-switch to use as an emergency combiner
in case the starting battery will not start the engine.  My original battery
switch and two battery circuit breakers are mounted on the starboard side
teak panel with an engraved plastic laminate dress-panel.  It looks like
this dress-panel is screwed into the Perko switch with four screws.  Where
have others located the additional two switches?  I was thinking of having a
new larger laminate dress-panel made with new lettering to house all these
switches.   There's plenty of room on the teak panel to go higher.

Then there are the chargers.  I have a Charles 20-Amp which can handle a
third bank, so I suppose I just run one #10 red wire with an in-line fuse
for that.  Does anyone know the length required as it seems to take an
interesting route?  For the Alternator, I was going to use an Echo Charger
which I understand will allow me to tie into the alternator, but keep the
banks separate and not overcharge either bank.  Where does the existing wire
come from the alternator to the battery bank, so I can determine where to
locate this Echo Charger?

Any suggestions from those who have gone through this would be greatly
appreciated.

Quentin Murphy
Celtic Knot #667