[C320-list] Starting Battery

[David Swanson]

I did basically the same thing last summer.  

1.  I wired my existing house bank in parallel and wired that into switch position 1.
2.  I installed a G24 maintenance free starting battery forward of the house bank in the curved area of the salon seats.  I glassed in a horizontal epoxy coated plywood platform with a West Marine Battery Tray to hold the new G24 battery.  
3.  I connected the new start battery to the existing battery switch position 2.  Much of the stock battery cabling allowed me to do this without too much additional large capacity cabling.
4.  I installed a Xantrex Echo Charger connected between the house bank and the start battery.  This charge (voltage) following device basically keeps the G24 starting battery topped off from the house bank.  This also has the added benefit of allowing me to monitor all Ah discharged and charged in both my house and starting battery bank.
5.  I installed a Xantrex LinkPro battery monitor to monitor the house bank and the start battery.  This is a fuel gauge for the battery system with a shunt between the battery buss and house battery bank 1.

Now I can confidently draw down the house bank if I need to.  What I have found is that even if I draw down the house bank by, say, about 100 Ah, I can still use this house bank to start my engine if needed.  I have heard people claim that this can ruin a deep cycle house bank, but I found a great discussion on this approach on the C34AI Wiki that I agree with and have used successfully.  I also installed a battery desulphating device on my house bank.  The jury is still out on that $50 device.

David Swanson
S/V Emily Ann
2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
Mukilteo, WA 


  
On Aug 23, 2011, at 3:14 PM, Colin Evans wrote:

> Don,
> I`ve just put a starting battery as per C320 website BUT I fitted it forward
> of the existing two batteries, under the curved seat area at the table near
> the door to the forward cabin.  I got a 80A/hour 650 CCA.  The cables to the
> original # 2 were long enough to reach without pulling through to the port
> locker and then I just bought ready made up cables to connect the two
> originals together. Three batteries all on one side should help the port
> list, but the new one is so close to centre I don`t think it makes any
> difference.  $150 for the battery and about $80 for everything else.
> We have a slight disadvantage here in Australia as we have a thru hull valve
> for the head outlet, just forward of #2 battery so it got in the way a bit,
> but by taking out the original #2 battery and its tray I was able to get the
> new battery in. 
> I can take some photos if you like.  The job was easier than expected, now
> I`m waiting for the Electrician to fit the smart regulator.
> 
> ************************************
> Regards
> Colin Evans
> #774 Lake Macquarie, Australia
> __/)
> ~~~~~
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Donald Lawson
> Sent: Wednesday, 24 August 2011 8:00 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Starting Battery
> 
> I plan to purchase a spare starting battery, as added insurance for an
> upcoming offshore trip. I intend to install it permanently this winter as
> described in the C320 website.  I used a group 24 on my old 2GM20 to start.
> Is this acceptable or should I use a group 27? Anything bigger is overkill
> nor do I expect to purchase it from West Marine. Any recommendations?
> Don L. #1005=
> 

David Swanson
kswanson123 at comcast.net