[C320-list] Link 20 Battery Monitor Installation

[Chris Burti]

Warren,
I think this would make a good article for the Mainsheet as there have been
numerous inquiries over the years. If you haven't published it elsewhere and
are willing, please send it to me.

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 7:38 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Having done this upgrade, I'll take a crack at your questions. I used the
> Xantrex XBM device so I'll assume the instructions are the same.
>
> Question 1) The shunt is installed in the battery ground side of the
> circuit. On my #62, these were all 1/0 cables. It is very important that
> there are no connections to the battery negative post after the shunt
> otherwise, that load will not be seen by the monitor. All loads must attach
> via the up-stream side of the shunt.  A rule of thumb is to have as few
> cables on the battery terminals as possible. That is why I installed
> separate buss bars for pos and neg so the only cables on the battery are
> the
> ones from the busses and the ones paralleling the two house banks.
>
> Question 2) I presume by " the 'DC System Negative' connection," you mean
> the DC connection for the monitor and not the shunt. The load imposed by
> the
> Link 20 is negligible so it doesn't matter where you make the negative
> connection. The shortest run of wire is probably the best. On my
> installation, I used the multi-wire cable I bought from Xantrex and ran the
> negative connections for the monitor device via this cable and connected to
> the neg buss bar at the battery. But, if this is not what you have, the
> easiest neg connection you can make is the best.
>
> I have documented my project with a Word document that has a number of
> pictures. It may help you to see how I wired the monitor connections at the
> battery. If you want a copy of this, let me know and I'll send it to you
> off-list.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
> Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Ott [mailto:wmo48 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:07 PM
> To: Catalina 320 Association
> Subject: [C320-list] Link 20 Battery Monitor Installation
>
>  Hello all,
> I am installing a Xantrex Link 20 battery monitor and the installation
> looks
> pretty straight forward.  I bought the twisted pair cable to connect the
> sensor wiring but the ground wiring plan is vague.  The directions defer to
> battery load sizing.  I have 2 - 4D - 12 volt (wet) batteries.
> I need help with 2 issues:
> 1) What size wire should I use for the shunt to battery ground connections
> ?
> 2) Where is the easiest place to pick up the 'DC System Negative'
> connection, the negative buzz bar at the DC panel ?  The engine block ?
> Regards,
> Mike
> 'Amanda Lu'
> #508
>
>
>


-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC