[C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
Jon Vez
jonvez at comcast.net
Mon Feb 18 05:37:50 PST 2008
Kirk,
You may want to start the engine with your starter once in a while (I use
mine exclusively for starting) to ensure that it is healthy enough to start
the engine. A Voltmeter will give you a false sense of security because it
isn't measuring the health of the battery under full load. With the huge
surge of the starter, you may find yourself without the extra juice you
thought you had at the wrong time. If you are a member of BoatUS, they had a
good article on this in their November 07 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: Saturday, February 16, 2008 4:35 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger
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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
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>>>>> 2/10/2008
>>>>> 12:21 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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