[C320-list] Xantrex shore charger

Fri Feb 15 05:53:28 PST 2008

Kirk,

My system is a lot like yours except I have the Link 20 and can separately 
monitor the large parallel 4D house and the group 27 starter. One comment, 
you should never let a battery discharge all the way down if you can avoid 
it. The literature says even cycles below 50% are bad for them. Also, I use 
my house (battery #1) for starting and the "starting" battery is really just 
a backup in case something goes terribly wrong with battery #1.

CRA
Rosebud #882

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirk McCullough" <kirk.mccullough at telus.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger

> Hi Allen
>
> Thanks again great input.
>
> I have the both 4D batteries in parallel to give one big house bank, then 
> I have a starting battery which I only use to start  the engine. So I 
> still have a total of just 2 banks - so no need for a L30 if they make 
> one. This gives me about 350 amp/hours for the house, we can stay on the 
> hook for days without recharging, but we do run the engine for 20 minutes 
> a day anyway just for hot water.
>
> I have not had a L10 or L20 to this point but since I always have the 
> starting battery fully charged I haven't concerned myself too much on the 
> status of the house batteries, I could run them down all the way, knowing 
> the dedicated starting battery is always topped up.
>
> But now I purchased the L10 because I feel only the house bank needs 
> monitoring and now I will know how well the new Xantrex is working. The 
> starting battery gets charged by the Xantrex or the engine and only is 
> used to start so its always topped up. If I want to, I can start the 
> engine with the house batteries too of course, but I try to remember to 
> flip over to #2 (start batt) when starting.
>
> In your set up I can see where the status of each battery is important 
> since you use them both the same way and the L20 must be a great tool for 
> you. I expect the L10 will be for me.
>
> Kirk
> #124
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Allan S. Field" <allan.field at comcast.net>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 10:21 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>
>
>> Kirk - I can't answer most of your questions as I had a professional
>> install.  But here is how I use the Link.  First off, I got the Link 20 -
>> this means that each house battery is monitored independently.  In 6 
>> years,
>> I have not seen the need for a separate starting battery as the Link-20
>> always tells me at a glance the condition of my 2 house batteries.
>>
>> As I said in a previous post, we run the fridge 24/7 from March thru
>> November.  While at the dock, I keep the battery switch on #1 during the 
>> odd
>> number months and switch over to #2 during the even number months.  When 
>> out
>> for several days at a time, I switch back and forth each day.  When out
>> overnight, I rarely am unable to start the engine on the battery that has
>> been drawing the past 24 hours but just in case, I always have the other 
>> to
>> rely on.  But I never keep have the switch on ALL unless needed for
>> starting.  Again, the Link-20 allows me to see at a glance how each 
>> battery
>> is doing.  If not too late, I would encourage you to look at the Link-20 
>> vs.
>> the 10.  But if I understand your post correctly, you may have a starting
>> battery plus the 2 house batteries?  If so, do they make a Link-30?  Or
>> should you be looking at a Heart Interface?
>>
>> Hopes this helps.
>>
>> Allan S. Field
>> Sea Shadow - #808
>> Columbia, MD
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Kirk
>> McCullough
>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 1:01 PM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>
>> Again thanks to Herb, Jon, Bill, Karl, Allan, Jeff and all.
>>
>>    -More Questions
>>
>> I am starting the installation and have purchased breakers which I will
>> install
>> between the charger and each battery bank to solve that problem. They 
>> were
>> recommended over fuses by the electrical installer at our yard.
>>
>> The Xantrex also has a chassis ground. How/where did you all connect to
>> this ground. Is the DC ground going into the Neg connection on the 
>> charger
>> not the same as the chassis ground point. Can I simply jumper over to the
>> chassis ground connection from the Neg terminal or do I need to run a
>> separate wire back to the ground behind the electrical panel?
>>
>> I also purchased the Link 10 and want to install it. I saw the drawing on
>> the website, and see that all loads need to be connected after the shunt.
>> These loads inlcude the charger, the windlass, the DC panel etc. Can I
>> connect those cables
>> directly to the shunt terminal or do I need a separate ground connector
>> installed somewhere near the battery. I intend to use the Link 10 for the
>> house bank only (2 X 4D), but if I switch to the starting battery will 
>> the
>> Link
>> 10 then monitor the starting battery? I have the house on position #1 and
>> the
>> starting Batt on position #2.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jon Vez" <jonvez at comcast.net>
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 5:37 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>
>>
>>> Kirk,
>>>
>>> The fuses are actually a bit hard to find for the size of the cabling. I
>>> ended up getting them from Crutchfield--they are sold for automotive
>>> purposes, but they are gold coated and corrosion is not an issue....
>>>
>>> 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 Kirk
>>> McCullough
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 9:43 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>>
>>> Thanks Bill I do remember the story of the fire, and yes my hull #124 
>>> does
>>> not currently have them, so as part of my new Xantrex installation I 
>>> will
>>> add the fuses. I bought the TC 40+ and the manual asks for a DC cct
>>> breaker
>>> or DC fuse and disconnect rated at 50 amps at each bank.
>>>
>>> I now need to look around for this hardware, should be easy to find I
>>> expect.
>>>
>>> Thanks again to all who have given me some great input.
>>>
>>> Kirk
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Bill
>>> Culbertson
>>> Sent: 10 February 2008 13:18
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>>
>>> Kirk,
>>>
>>> re: DC fuse at each battery.  I believe that your older (#124) boat does
>>> not
>>> have them unless you or someone added them.
>>> At some point (I don't know when) Catalina added them to the production
>>> model.  My boat #859 has them and
>>> they're documented in the electrical drawings for the boat.  The fuses 
>>> are
>>> inline in the charger -> battery cable
>>> about 4"-6" before the connection to the battery.  Catalina may have
>>> started
>>> fusing the battery charger lines after the fire on
>>> Kit Carson's boat.  Kit contributes to this maillist, is a member of the
>>> 320
>>> association and has attended most or all of
>>> the annual regattas.
>>>
>>> -bill
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>> From: Kirk McCullough <kirk.mccullough at telus.net>
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:59:49 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>>
>>> Thanks to all for the quick responses. I'm off to the boat show
>>> (Vancouver)
>>> today to make the purchase. Not sure which way I will go,  but now I 
>>> know
>>> that either will do the job, and I just need to analyze my own needs. We
>>> do
>>> stay on the hook for several days at a time, but then we balance that 
>>> out
>>> with a a couple of days dockside. For days when Boomerang is at her
>>> homeport, I have
>>> never run the fridge when not on board because of the Pro-Mariner
>>> concerns.
>>> So a big improvement will be cold drinks whenever I go to the boat. And
>>> the
>>> constant humming will be history!
>>>
>>> The part about existing wiring size working for the 10+ but not 20+ may
>>> influence me.
>>>
>>> I found a Xantrex manual on line and for both the 20+ and 40+ chargers
>>> they
>>> call for a fuse on the DC side for each battery bank. I don't believe I
>>> have
>>>
>>> fuses on each bank with the Pro-Mariner. Has everyone installed these as
>>> part of the project?
>>>
>>> I like Herb's idea to mount it on a back panel, this would retain the
>>> existing 4 mounting holes on the bulkhead.
>>>
>>> I have the 2 x 4D paralleled for the house bank on position #1 and a 
>>> group
>>> 27 starter on position #2.
>>>
>>> I am seriously looking at the link 20 also. I understand this is much
>>> better
>>>
>>> than the remote monitor they offer. Has anyone added the temperature
>>> sensor?
>>>
>>> Kirk
>>> #124
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Jon Vez" <jonvez at comcast.net>
>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:10 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>>
>>>
>>>> Kirk,
>>>>
>>>> I used the Xantrex 20 for a 400ah house and a group 27 starter (don't
>>>> recall
>>>> how many amp hours that one is). When I did this project I replaced my
>>>> batteries (died and early death from the ProMariner) and added the
>>>> starter.
>>>> Very easy job (Herb's description is very good). The only difference 
>>>> for
>>>> me
>>>> is I did not use a bus bar. Instead I peeled off just enough wiring to
>>>> fit
>>>> the 4awg into the monel fittings (with Mr. Hare's advice)...has worked
>>>> great
>>>> for 4 seasons...
>>>>
>>>> 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 Kirk
>>>> McCullough
>>>> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 1:29 AM
>>>> To: C320-List
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
>>>>
>>>> I know this has been discussed already, but I would like to know what
>>>> size
>>>> charger is needed or best suited. I am considering the Xantrex iether 
>>>> 20
>>>> amp
>>>> or 40 amp.
>>>>
>>>> Any installation tips would also be much appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Kirk
>>>>
>>>> Boomerang #124
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> 12:21 PM
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
> 