[C320-list] Charger/Battery Wiring

[Jeff Church]

Bert,

Your batteries are wired as normal for a factory installation. When you 
switch the selector to Both, they are in parallel, otherwise they are 
isolated so that you can control which battery to charge or discharge. 
Unless you are going to install a starter battery, I don't see why you would 
want to permanently wire your house batteries in parallel. The switch 
accomplishes that for you, as needed.

JeffC


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <badams3491 at aol.com>
To: <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Charger/Battery Wiring


> Bruce,
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Maybe I did not make myself clear.  All I want to do is replace the 
> charger, wired the same as it is now.  My two 4 D batteries are fine.  I 
> don't have or need a starter battery.  I'm just not sure that my current 
> wiring is correct and/or that the system is wired in parallel.  Agree that 
> Calder's book is great, but is does not answer the questions in my 
> original post.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bert
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BruceHeyman at cox.net
> To: c320-list at catalina320.com
> Sent: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Charger/Battery Wiring
>
>
> Bert,
> Based on your description you have two banks of batteries, 1 and 2.  When
> you have your Off, 1, 2, both switch in the both position it is making 
> your
> two batteries into one bank.
>
> Generally when you are running your motor you want to switch them to both 
> so
> that they both get charged.  When you are sailing or on the hook you want 
> to
> switch to 1 or 2.  That way if you accidentally run the battery down too 
> far
> you will have the other one in reserve to allow you to start the engine.
>
> There are ways to have it charge both batteries regardless of the switch
> position.  Also many 320's have been owner upgraded by adding a starting
> battery and then convert the two 12v batteries into a single bank (like 
> what
> you read in Calder where both positives and negatives are connected).
>
> On Somerset we have the two house batteries tied together into a single 
> bank
> and then a 12 volt starting battery that is in a separate circuit but
> charged from the main bank via an echo charger.
>
> You are right that putting the two batteries in parallel (two positives
> connected and two negatives connected) you maintain 12 volts but double 
> the
> amp hour capacity.  Another option is to go with two "golf cart" 6 volt
> batteries but connect them in series.  Circuit to negative 1, positive 1 
> to
> negative 2 and positive 2 to circuit.
>
> There are lots of options and quite a few choices available.  The book you
> are reading is IMHO the bible when it comes to boat energy and energy
> management.
> Bruce
> Somerset 671 SoCal
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of BAdams3491 at aol.com
> Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 6:38 PM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Charger/Battery Wiring
>
> My charger died and I am in the process of figuring out how to wire the 
> new
>
> one when it arrives.  According to Nigel Calder's book, our batteries,
> wired
> in parallel, should have the negative posts wired to each other and the
> positive posts wired to each other...thus keeping 12 volts, but doubling 
> the
> amps.
> On my boat, the negatives are wired that way, but the positives are  not
> connected.
>
> I sail on a lake, and spend lots of nights on the boat, but always with
> shore power.  When I'm away from the boat shore power is also always  on.
> The
> battery selector is always selected to:  "Both On."
>
> Since each battery has a positive wire to the four way battery  selector
> switch, does that negate the requirement to have the two batteries  wired
> together
> by the positive terminals to be in parallel?   Or,  maybe my battery is 
> not
> correctly wired to be in  parallel?
>
> Any suggestions would be welcomed.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bert
> At Ease
> #442
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