[C320-list] FW: Starting Battery Installation

Fri May 19 18:47:11 PDT 2006

Quentin,

I decided to use a WalMart Maxx 1N auto battery as my starting battery. It has plenty of cranking power and I preferred the side terminal connections. This battery was highly rated by Consumer Reports.

I mounted it forward of the 4D's on a shelf I glassed onto the hull (same thing Jeff Hare and others have done). Since one of my 4D's died anyway, I wired the Max onto position 2 on the battery selector and have my remaining 4D going to position 1. No new hardware required.

Usually, I'll leave the switch on position 1 and let the house battery try to start the engine. If my 4D is run down, I use the starting battery and let the alternator charge it for 5-10 min before I switch over to charge the house bank (the 4D). 

When I'm on shore power, the Xantrex charger is charging both.

I plan to replace the remaining 4D with 4 golf cart batteries (two units of 6V GC2's in series and then those 2 pairs in parallel, all connected to position 1. That will give me about 420 amp-hr of true deep cycle capacity. When that happens, I'll probably use the starting battery every time I start the engine.

I've got pics on the C320IA website.

Karl Mielenhausen

2000 C320 Hull#690 "Silver Lining"

New Bern, NC

http://members.cox.net/mielen/

From: Quentin Murphy [mailto: qmurphy at sympatico.ca]

To: C320-List at catalina320.com

Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 08:45:25 -0400

Subject: [C320-list] Starting Battery Installation

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 !!- _______________________________________ !!- C320-List at catalina320.com mailing list !!- Archives Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/archives !!- Change Subscription Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/change !!- Subscribe Here: http://www.catalina320.com/list/join

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