[C320-list] Chargers Xantrex Install

[Robert E. Sloat]

Jon-Thanks for the tip.  I haven't taken off the original crimped fastenings 
on the battery cables to see if I can peel back outer strands to get the 
cables to fit the Xantrex connections.  I will now do this and either remove 
the peeled back strands or shrink tube them so there is no exposed cable for 
potential metal contact with anything that might get tossed around in the 
port cockpit locker on a hard sail.

Catalina certainly is conservative on use of the larger 4 AWG cables 
connecting the charger to the batteries.  Xantrex recommends 6 AWG for up to 
a 20 foot run of cable for the Xantrex 20.

Also, thanks for the offer of pictures.  I don't think they are necessary as 
this seems like a relatively simple project in boat terms.

Bob Sloat
Savannah Hull 894

---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jon Vez" <jonvez at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Chargers Xantrex Install


> Bob,
>
> You can attach the wiring directly to the Xantrex, however you have to 
> peel
> back enough strands from the larger cable until it fits into the charger. 
> I
> received Jeff Hare's okay on this approach (which was good enough for me). 
> I
> used insulated cable clamps to ensure the wires would stay secure and this
> has worked great for 4 seasons...Let me know if you would like more info 
> on
> the install. I can try and take a picture over the next few days if you
> like..
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Vez
> Solstice #582
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Robert E.
> Sloat
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 9:44 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Chargers Xantrex Install
>
> Irv-My post crossed yours.  We have close hull numbers.  I am installing 
> the
>
> Xantrex after it is received which will probably be next week.  I assume 
> you
>
> also have the Flyback 20-3, so after I install mine I can let you know if
> you can attach the existing wiring directly to the charger.
>
> Bob Sloat
> Hull 894
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Irving Grunes" <igrunes at gmail.com>
> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Chargers...still!
>
>
>> Hi,
>> Thinking of changing our charger to the Xantrex 20..
>> Can you please identify the "bus bar system" by mfg, part number, source
>> and
>> estimated price that you used to get the wire size reduction.
>> Irv Grunes
>> $851
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 7:24 PM, Kirk McCullough
>> <kirk.mccullough at telus.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I recently installed the Xantrex 20 with good results. As Jon mentions I
>>> mounted it on a board then used the same footprint for the old charger 
>>> to
>>> mount the board and charger in place. On Boomerang the charger was in 
>>> the
>>> cockpit locker on the bulkhead with the galley.
>>>
>>> I installed a bus bar to handle the change down to smaller 8 ga wire the
>>> Xantrex takes. I left the  larger wires in place running to each battery
>>> bank.
>>>
>>> I also installed the now  recommended breakers on each bank. Xantrex
>>> specifies the size of the breakers, I don't recall size off hand, but I
>>> mounted them between the charger outputs and the buss bar.
>>>
>>> It took most of a day but it's a great charger. I also installed a Link
>>> 10
>>> battery monitor to keep tabs on my 2X 4D house bank.
>>>
>>> Kirk
>>> #124
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Jon Vez
>>> Sent: 22 April 2008 17:00
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Chargers...still!
>>>
>>> Brian,
>>>
>>> I have the 20 amp Xantrex. Many on the list have gone with the 40. I 
>>> find
>>> the 20 to be just fine as I am in a slip with shore power. The
>>> installation
>>> is not quite a drop in replacement. The footprint is different and you
>>> will
>>> have to install a board to accommodate it. The connecters are also
>>> different
>>> and you will have to either put a bus bar in to go from the bigger wire
>>> coming from the boat to the smaller (I believe 8 gauge but could be 6)
>>> needed to go into the charger.
>>>
>>> If you're interested, I would be happy to send you my Promariner for the
>>> cost of shipping. Mine was working fine when I took it out of the boat,
>>> but
>>> when I went with the new AGM's I did not want to chance it going bad so 
>>> I
>>> swapped out the charger at that time. This may be an inexpensive short
>>> term
>>> option--if interested you're welcome to it...
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Jon Vez
>>> Solstice #582
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Amirault
>>> Family - S&B
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:54 PM
>>> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
>>> Subject: [C320-list] Chargers...still!
>>>
>>> An administrative matter out of the way first. Bruce, thank you for the
>>> details of the "Allan Treatment". I am not leaking at the moment, but
>>> this
>>> appears to be a sound preventative procedure and I have always preferred
>>> prevention to cure. It will be done this spring and going forward. You
>>> too
>>> can come looking for libation when in town without fear of rejection.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Bear came with the original charger and with modified wiring as the PO
>>> had
>>> installed a separate starting battery under the port settee. On delivery
>>> the
>>> batteries were not completely connected and I did this function as 
>>> seemed
>>> appropriate while on the hard pre-launch. At that time I connected the
>>> shore
>>> power cable and with the charger switched on, the panel meter 
>>> immediately
>>> went to hard-right full charge. This struck me as not normal so I turned
>>> off
>>> the charger and disconnected it from the battery terminal. I charged the
>>> batteries using a smart charger connected to the boat's AC supply.
>>> Through
>>> this process I discovered that the two house 4Ds were not holding charge
>>> and
>>> I replaced them with four 6V AGMs.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is now a year later and I will shortly have the local boat 
>>> electrician
>>> look at the system to determine whether I have a mere connection issue
>>> with
>>> the charger or if the charger is toast.  I have been charging batteries
>>> from
>>> the alternator the past year, and the batteries really got very little
>>> use
>>> as we never had an opportunity at overnighting  in the way we did with
>>> our
>>> previous boat. For the next five years I will be docked at a sail club
>>> which
>>> has shore power available only at the short-stay service dock.  The boat
>>> will motor out and back to the races Thursday nights and spend 
>>> one-to-two
>>> night overnights every week or two in the brief Canadian summer with a
>>> one
>>> week trip thrown in I intend to continue to use the original alternator
>>> for
>>> the next three years or unto death; whichever comes first.  I intend to
>>> supplement the alternator with a small portable generator which will be
>>> connected to the shore power plug at the boat's stern and power the
>>> boat's
>>> internal charger through this.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The question for you all is, in the event that a new charger is in 
>>> order,
>>> and as xantrex seems to get the majority of the positive responses here,
>>> what size/model charger is required given the constraints above? Is
>>> charger
>>> replacement a straight swap, or are there other considerations or items
>>> to
>>> be purchased. The upgrades budget this year was exhausted with a new 
>>> head
>>> sail and Kiwi prop.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards;
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Brian Amirault
>>>
>>> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
>>>
>>>
>