[C320-list] Charger/Battery Wiring

[Irv Grunes]

Bert,
The only time that your batteries are in parrallel is when the switch is on
BOTH.
It is not recommended that you leave them on both except when motoring.
Should anything happen to either of the batteries, when on BOTH, the other
will suffer the same fate.Forinstance if you were to leave the frige on, it
would drag both batteries down.
Most battery chargers are arranged to charge 2 to 3 batteries individually
when the switch is on either 1 or 2 so it is not necessary to leave the
switch on BOTH when on the charger.
Irv Grunes
Isle of Wight #851

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com]On Behalf Of
badams3491 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 1:50 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.com
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
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and security
tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web,
free AOL Mail and more.