[C320-list] Battery Hook up question

[John Frost]

I see now. I thought you were using batteries in series for some reason.
Your set up is almost the same as mine, echo charger and all. I have been
very happy with it. Only difference is my starting battery runs directly to
the starter, with a switch that allows me to switch from the starting
battery to the house set in an emergency. 

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 Utility Email
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 2:51 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Battery Hook up question

John,

What I did was to add a new G24 maintenance free dedicated starting battery
forward of the 2 large stock batteries under the starboard salon seat.  I
connected the starting battery to battery switch position 2 and wired my
existing 2 large house batteries in parallel to battery switch position 1. 

I installed a xantrex echo charger between the house bank to keep the new
starting battery topped off. I also installed a battery minded desulphator
device on the new combined house bank. I also installed a new xantrex link
pro battery monitor.  

There are a number of ways to configure a house and starting battery bank.
I researched this quite a bit and I like Stu jackson's basic approach and
philosophy on the C34 forums, so I just followed basic instructions on this
approach from the C34 Owners website Wiki.  The basic approach is to use the
house bank for everything and only use the starting battery as a back up to
start the engine if the house bank discharges to much. With boat battery
banks, I believe that less complexity is more reliability. That what the C34
owners site is touting. 

My house bank seems like it is getting tired as it seems like fully charged
the voltage is a bit low, so hence the desulphator. I am going see how the
set up does this summer when anchored out, etc.

I did not go with wiring 6v golf cart batteries in parallel, as making up
cables to do this and getting the right sized batteries to fit seemed like a
pain.  So when I replace my mains, I am just going to replace them in like
sized 4D's.  I do understand that 6V golf cart batteries are lower cost,
have deep cycle capability, and you can almost abuse them without damage. My
father in law had them in his motor yacht. Overall, it seemed like
installing 4 golf cart batteries in the space of the 2 4D's seemed like too
much work for the slight increase in amp-hours. 

I can send you photos of my set up if you like. Let me know.  

Good luck with your battery replacement - hurry up because summer is here!

Dave

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

On Jun 18, 2011, at 11:39 AM, "John Frost" <john at frostnet.net> wrote:

> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
>