[C320-list] Frig AC vs DC

[Paul Rickman]

Jim,

Thanks. That is encouraging. Maybe I just got a bad set of marine batteries. Or I just didn't use
them enough hehehe. Maybe I won't worry so much. 

Paul
Affinity 657
Bay Bridge Marina
Chesapeake Bay, Md


 



________________________________
From: Jim Sweet <jamesweet at frontiernet.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Mon, May 17, 2010 4:35:57 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Frig AC vs DC

Paul,

We have the original batteries in our 2002 320 and leave the charger and fridge on 24/7 when at the dock.  Batteries still appear to be fine.  I was concerned when we first got the boat (having killed my share of batteries on our Pearson 332) but our "neighbor" had a 320 and told me that he left the reefer on all the time and his batteries were still going strong after 7 years.  Gritting my teeth, I tried it 7 years ago and haven't had an issue to date even though the junk charger that came with the boat burned out (replace with another "freebie" with higher capacity from the mfg).  Maybe having the highest elec. rates in the US gives us better juice?  Just kidding.

Jim Sweet
TGIF (Thank God it Floats) 901
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Rickman" <ilove2sail at verizon.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Frig AC vs DC


> Pat, thanks. This is exactly what I was interested in.
> 
> My batteries went dead after two years and I've purchased two new Excide 4D com-p units.
> This must be related to keeping the frig on 24/7, I do like a cold beer and I like being able to
> leave a few items in the frig. So I'd like to figure out a way to keep from killing the batteries
> every two years.
> 
> I have the Xantrex TrueCharge charger and as I understand it, it has two modes -- float and bulk.
> I have it set for bulk so a trickle or float charge is not present. The charger only produces a charge
> when it is needed. It makes this decision by monitoring the batteries once every 15 minutes.
> That said, the instruction manual says the charger works best without a load being put on the
> batteries.
> 
> Thanks again.
> 
> Paul
> Affinity 657
> Bay Bridge Marina
> Chesapeake Bay, Md
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com>
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Sent: Mon, May 17, 2010 3:03:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Frig AC vs DC
> 
> There is a thread on the Cat 34 site that discusses this concept in
> a battery charging evaluation.
> http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?PHPSESSID=048f677bfbd0a939c49309f07a530d98&topic=4352.0
> 
> Pat, 801
> On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 10:26 AM, Paul Rickman <ilove2sail at verizon.net>wrote:
> 
>> All my manuals are on the boat, 40 miles away.
>> 
>> Does anyone know if the Frig can be converted to run from down converted
>> AC? Seems to me
>> we should be able to do that some how. I'd like to stop using the batteries
>> at the dock just to
>> keep the frig going.
>> 
>> Thanks
>> 
>> Paul
>> Affinity 657
>> Bay Bridge Marina
>> Chesapeake Bay, Md
>> 
>