[C320-list] Xantrex shore charger

Kirk McCullough kirk.mccullough at telus.net
Sat Feb 16 13:34:51 PST 2008 

Thanks

I did say I "could" run the house bank all the way down, but in reality I 
never have done that, respecting the fact that they last longer if they 
aren't abused.

Having 3 batteries really does give one a lot of flexibility, as you say, 
you don't even use the starting battery, but you could if you needed to. 
Fantastic!

Kirk
#124
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <crashley at gte.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 5:53 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger


> 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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>>>>> 2/10/2008
>>>>> 12:21 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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