[C320-list] FW: Battery charger/inverter

[Delia Mace]

Doesn't the ALL position on the main battery switch put the two batteries in
parallel?

Sorry for the slow response - been cruis'n.

Owen Mace
Baloo #727
Adelaide Australia

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Robert Seastream
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 6:27 AM
To: C320-List
Subject: Re: [C320-list] FW: Battery charger/inverter

One easy way to parallel batteries follows:

First make sure the main switch is OFF.
Then, simply remove the cables from one of the batteries (say, battery  
two);  and tape those cable ends, for safety.
Next, run new cables (make or buy them) between the batteries; positive  
to positive, and negative to negative.
The result is you'll have both batteries on position one of the main  
switch; position two now does nothing.

Later, if you wish you can attach the cables you disconnected from  
battery two to a starting battery, if they'll reach wherever you locate  
the starting battery.
If they don't reach, you'll have to replace them with longer cables.

On my boat (2002) both batteries are under the main cabin starboard  
bunk.  It looks like I could squeeze a starting battery in front of the  
forward (I think it's battery two) battery, if I chose to employ the  
above practice although I've not done so yet.  I'm on a mooring, so I'm  
sensitive to battery consumption.  My current practice is to leave the  
main switch on ALL, with an 18 watt solar panel attached to the forward  
battery for maintenance charging during the week and carry a 'start  
pack' onboard should I drain the bank below starting requirements while  
I'm on her.

Bob Seastream
'Intuition', Hull 906


On Mar 5, 2007, at 2:27 PM, <bruceheyman at cox.net> wrote:

> Darell,
> How do you have the batteries paralleled?  Through a switch?
> Bruce
> Somerset 671 SoCal
> ---- Darrell <dgray at n-sea.org> wrote:
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>> My 4D's have been paralleled as a house bank for a couple years now  
>> and I
>> have a good 3 stage charger. When I check the fluid level in the  
>> batteries
>> about every 2 months, I find three cells on one battery lower than  
>> the rest
>> ( never dangerously low) Both batteries were replaced at the same  
>> time. The
>> battery that is a little lower is the one wired to the charger. Could  
>> that
>> be the reason it looses more fluid?
>>
>> Darrell
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jeffrey Hare" <Catalina at thehares.com>
>> To: <kmielen at iwon.com>; "'C320-List'" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 11:07 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] FW: Battery charger/inverter
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>>  I'm entering my 6th season on my 4Ds.  They're still ok, but I  
>>> haven't
>>> decided what I'll replace them with next year.  It helps their life
>>> substantially having them in parallel however.
>>>
>>> Consider 6v golf batteries only if you're going to be nearly  
>>> religious
>>> about
>>> equalizing them every year, and keeping all the extra connections  
>>> clean.
>>> If
>>> you don't, you'll be hard pressed to match the power output of a  
>>> pair of
>>> conventional parallelled 4Ds given that you'll have nearly double the
>>> electrical connection losses.  :)   It does help reduce the  
>>> equalization
>>> requirements if you keep them on shore power charger and fully  
>>> charged for
>>> long periods of time.
>>>
>>> -J
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Karl Mielenhausen _/) [mailto:kmielen at iwon.com]
>>> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 11:43 AM
>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>> Subject: [C320-list] FW: Battery charger/inverter
>>>
>>>
>>> Paul,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Bert was right on with his recommendation for a 40 amp charger...  
>>> you want
>>> 10% of your battery bank capacity in Amp-Hrs.
>>>
>>> Here is something else to think about...Before you replace your  
>>> marine,
>>> lead/acid 4Ds (which a really a hybrid starting/deep cycle battery,  
>>> at
>>> approx 205 AH), consider switching to golf car batteries (220 AH).  
>>> Others
>>> have suggested going to AGM's but I found that a tad pricy.
>>>
>>> Here is a link to some reference material...
>>>
>>> http://www.yachtsurvey.com/boat_battery_basics.htm
>>>
>>> A true (lead/acid) deep cycle battery can tolerate being discharged  
>>> 80%
>>> whereas the hybrid (lead/acid) batteries should only be discharged  
>>> 50%.
>>> You
>>> must be doing something right, however, having gotten 6 years of  
>>> life on
>>> your last pair!!
>>>
>>> Also, four golf car batteries are also easier to handle than the 2  
>>> 4D's.
>>> Of
>>> course, you may want to add a starting battery. This will give you  
>>> the
>>> added
>>> confidence to run the house bank way down and still be able to start  
>>> the
>>> engine.
>>>
>>> There are several of these conversions photographed on the C320IA
>>> website...
>>>
>>> http://www.catalina320.com/gallery/view_album.php? 
>>> set_albumName=StartingBatt
>>> Shelf
>>>
>>> http://www.catalina320.com/gallery/view_album.php? 
>>> set_albumName=album86
>>>
>>> http://www.catalina320.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=6- 
>>> Volt-Batte
>>> ries-and-Solar-Panel
>>>
>>> http://www.catalina320.com/gallery/view_album.php? 
>>> set_albumName=album31
>>>
>>> Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Karl Mielenhausen
>>>
>>> 2000 C320 Hull#690 "Silver Lining"
>>>
>>> New Bern, NC
>>>
>>> http://pages.suddenlink.net/kmielen/
>>>
>>> From: PDCatalina320 at aol.com [mailto: PDCatalina320 at aol.com]
>>>
>>> To: c320-list at catalina320.com
>>>
>>> Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 01:58:55 EST
>>>
>>> Subject: [C320-list] Battery charger/inverter
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am about to replace my 2 4D's since they are now 6 years old. I  
>>> hear it
>>> is also a good time to replace the 25 amp flyback charger.  A
>>> inverter/charger like the xantrex Freedom 10 sounds nice but will my  
>>> 4 awg
>>> wires  to the batteries take the  50 amps charging that the freedom  
>>> puts
>>> out?  I don't want to pull larger wires. Or is it better to just get  
>>> the
>>> xantrex truecharge 20  and do the inverter seperate.  Any info will   
>>> help.
>>> Thanks                                Paul,    850
>>> Sobrante<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL  
>>> now
>>> offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from  
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>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>