[C320-list] Fridge Usage

Wed Dec 7 05:28:46 PST 2011

Thank you Dave!

On Dec 7, 2011, at 12:53 AM, David Swanson wrote:

> Joe,
>
> Sorry for the long email.  Hopefully, this is helpful to you.
>
> I purchased the Xantrex LinkPro Dual Battery Monitor, not the  
> LinkLite that monitors only one battery.  I also installed with the  
> Xantrex Battery Temperature sensing wire.  I bought the temperature  
> sensing wire and 25 feet of twisted pair wire from  
> www.defenderus.com (it was the cheapest there).  I don't remember  
> where I bought the unit, but it was under $200 and a good deal I  
> recall.  I looked at the Victron as well as a couple of other  
> monitors like the Blue Sea VSM multi monitor.  I really liked the  
> Victron, especially the way it uses a phone wire to connect to the  
> shunt in lieu of the small twisted pair data wires for the LinkPro.
>
> The LinkPro uni I installed monitors 2 batteries, but, only one of  
> the monitoring features is just voltage (kind of deceptive  
> advertising...).  So, connected my two house batteries in parallel  
> and connected them to battery switch 1, and connected the negative  
> wire through the shunt to measure all of the main house bank  
> discharge and charge current.  I connected the battery 2 switch to  
> my new start battery and connected the LinkPro 2nd battery voltage  
> monitoring wire to my new start battery.  My temp sensor wire  
> monitors my combined house batteries.  I use a Xantrex Echo Charger  
> from my house bank to my start battery.
>
> Overall, I like the setup.  It is reliable and accurate.  Very  
> helpful when determining battery usage of lights, refrigerations,  
> VHF, TV, radio and related electrical consumption.  Pretty cool  
> really, and also easy to install.  This is my second Xantrex  
> battery monitor.  I has installed a Xantrex Dual Battery Monitor in  
> a H30 sailboat that we had years ago and it also was easy to  
> install and performed flawlessly.
>
> Dave
>
> David Swanson
> S/V Emily Ann
> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
> Mukilteo, WA
>
> On Dec 6, 2011, at 11:06 AM, Joseph Aberdale wrote:
>
>> Dave,
>>
>> Could you please tell me which model Xantrex Link Pro Monitor you  
>> installed?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Joe
>> #908
>>
>>
>> On Dec 6, 2011, at 2:42 AM, David Swanson wrote:
>>
>>> Colin,
>>>
>>> I installed a Xantrex LinkPro Battery Monitor when In installed a  
>>> start battery and an Echo Charger in my C320 about a year and a  
>>> half ago.  It was straight forward to install and pretty simple  
>>> to do.  Just last weekend, I posted some photos of my  
>>> installation on our C320IA website along with some other photos  
>>> of a diesel heater installation, davits installation, and  
>>> transporting our boat by truck.  Check them out under my name on  
>>> the C320IA Owners Gallery.  The LinkPro is a great tool to have  
>>> to monitor power usage and charging while anchored out.  I  
>>> wouldn't leave home without it!
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>> David Swanson
>>> S/V Emily Ann
>>> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
>>> Mukilteo, WA
>>>
>>>
>>> On Dec 5, 2011, at 1:52 PM, Colin Evans wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Warren,
>>>> Useful information.  I think the batteries need checking. We are  
>>>> just coming
>>>> into summer here, but not particularly hot yet.  The batteries  
>>>> are fully
>>>> chrged when we leave the marina,showing over 13v,with the green  
>>>> lights on
>>>> indicating fully charged,  and responded quickly when the engine  
>>>> was run for
>>>> about an hour as we have a new Belmar smart reg on the alternator.
>>>> Our usage is nothing special except for the fridge.  At this  
>>>> time of the
>>>> year we spend most time on deck with a small solar light, maybe  
>>>> the stereo
>>>> on and cabin light late for a short time plus the usual things  
>>>> like water
>>>> pump.  We seldom have more than two lights on.
>>>> Is a battery monitor something that can be done by a non-  
>>>> proffessional or
>>>> should I mortgage the house and get a marine electrician to do it?
>>>> *************************
>>>> Regards
>>>> Colin Evans
>>>> Watermark #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  
>>>> Warren Updike
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 8:41 AM
>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
>>>>
>>>> Colin, your duty cycle is about 30% (5/15,) which sounds about  
>>>> right for
>>>> late in the season after the heat of summer.  I surveyed mine as  
>>>> about 40%
>>>> in warmer weather.  I have a battery monitor and it shows a draw  
>>>> of about
>>>> 5-1/2A when running.  So 24 hrs X 5.5A X 0.4DC = 52A  With fully  
>>>> charged
>>>> house bank of 300A, you should have about 150A to use.  That's  
>>>> at least 2
>>>> days on the hook depending on your other loads.  However, if  
>>>> your batteries
>>>> have been chronically undercharged and are a few years old they  
>>>> will not
>>>> take or hold a full charge and will run down quickly.  It's not  
>>>> at all
>>>> unusual to have this situation.  Battery management is a whole  
>>>> separate
>>>> topic.
>>>> My recommendations: 1) any boat with a fridge should have a  
>>>> battery monitor;
>>>> 2) before spending any significant amounts, do a full power  
>>>> requirement
>>>> survey for your boat.  You'll find a spreadsheet and  
>>>> instructions for doing
>>>> this on our web site; 3) test your batteries with either a temp.  
>>>> compensated
>>>> hygrometer or load tester, this will give you a better picture  
>>>> of the status
>>>> of your batteries.
>>>> There is a wealth of information on the internet on managing  
>>>> batteries, and
>>>> Nigel Calder's books are almost a requirement for anyone doing  
>>>> their own
>>>> maintenance.
>>>> Most of what I know about boats I learned the hard way.
>>>> Warren & Pattie Updike
>>>> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Colin Evans [mailto:twosailors at bigpond.com]
>>>> Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 8:41 PM
>>>> To: 'Catalina Discussion '
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Fridge Usage
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Our fridge cycles on for four or five minute then off for about  
>>>> fifteen
>>>> minutes, does this seem correct.  I have the thermostat set on 2  
>>>> and we run
>>>> out of enough power to run the fridge in less than 24 hours,  
>>>> which doesn`t
>>>> seem right as we have recently put a start battery on , so now  
>>>> the house
>>>> power is 300 amps.  The batteries are less than two years old so  
>>>> I don`t
>>>> think they are at fault, and are alway fully charged when we  
>>>> leave the
>>>> marina.
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions.
>>>>
>>>> *************************
>>>> Regards
>>>> Colin Evans
>>>> Watermark #774
>>>> Lake Macquarie, Australia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>