[C320-list] Xantrex shore charger

Jon Vez jonvez at comcast.net
Mon Feb 18 06:59:59 PST 2008 

It will also extend the life of your 'expensive' bank (the 2 4D's) as they
won't have to absorb that deep cranking the starter places on the battery--

Regards,

Jon Vez

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
crashley at gte.net
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 9:05 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger

Kirk,

That's a very good idea. I suppose I could get into the habit of actually 
using it as the "starting battery" and that would take care of it.

CRA
Rosebud #882


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jon Vez" <jonvez at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:37 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Xantrex shore charger


> 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.
>>>>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.2/1270 - Release Date:
>>>>>> 2/10/2008
>>>>>> 12:21 PM
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>
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>>>>> 3:20 PM
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>

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