[C320-list] Battery Hook up question

[John Frost]

David,

I am curious about your battery setup as I am about to replace house bank.
My boat is a 2007 also and I hoped for longer battery life, but my boat came
new with a defective charger that cooked them dry before delivery.

How did you wire yours in series? I assume you replaced 12v with 6v
batteries to do that? Why is that better than two 12v batteries in parallel?


I too have a separate starting battery and didn't know one of my house
batteries was bad until I tried test starting my engine with it as a backup
precaution. Gurrurrrur thunk.

Thanks

Happy Sailing!

John
2007 C320MKII
Hull 1118
Guntersville, AL


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of David Swanson
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 11:25 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] BAttery Hook up question

Marine batteries have significant current and you do not want to cross wire
or short any of the wiring as it would be very dangerous.  

As you note, some the systems seem rather complicated, especially when
crawling around under seats and behind cabinets.  I rewired my two house
batteries into series (one large bank) and added a dedicated starting
battery last summer.  Considering the complexities of the work with
fabricating cables, the consequences of getting it wrong, and your email
description, there are two ways I would solve this problem considering your
email:  

1.  Draw a diagram and be very logical and systematic in how you are
connecting your batteries.  Do you want them in parallel or series (i.e. two
smaller single battery banks, or one large battery bank?).  Be very
purposeful and careful.

or

2.  Hire a professional to safely fix it properly for you.

I have learned on my Catalina as well as other boats that taking some photos
of work before and after installation has been very helpful at times.
Especially with camera phones, it is simple and easy to do.  Just this
winter I used my iphone a lot to take photos (and even video) behind
cabinets and under floor boards as I was installing hot air ducting for
during my installation of a Wallas diesel heater as well as plumbing for a
anchor locker wash-down system.  I uploaded the photos and videos to my ipad
and then I could "see" what was behind these spaces.  Useful while working
on the boat and useful while planning boat work at home.  Amazing tool right
in my pocket.

Anyway, good luck with getting your batteries reconnected.  

Dave

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



On Jun 16, 2011, at 9:58 AM, Crosby Roper wrote:

> 
> This is pretty basic ( and a bit embarassing). I am replacing the
batteries on my boat and have connected them, but the battery # 2 is not
providing any power. I blithely disconnected the old batteries without
paying close attention to the set up on the second battery because
everything was tightly bundled together and I thought you'd have to be a
moron to get it wrong....
> 
> My question is this. On the forward battery the are two red cables  that
are bundled with a 3rd black cable that is longer. I have connected the two
red cables to the positive post and the black cable to the negatrive post
(along with two other black cables.) No power from the 2nd battery this way.
Is the black cable bundled with the two reds, actually meant to connect to
the positive post on the forward battery ( like the negative to positive in
series configuration in a flash light??? Am I risking dong serious dam,age
here and should I just call someone to sort it out rather that trying
switching things around?
> 
> Any advice would ber helpful.
> 
> Crosby Roper
> Tethys
> Hull 1054
> 
> 
> 		 	   		  

David Swanson
kswanson123 at comcast.net