[C320-list] Battery Bank Upgrade - Which starting battery??

[Brad Kuether]

 I know the current upgrade calls for a group 27 battery as the starter. 
Has anyone considered putting two golf cart batteries in that space instead 
of one group 27?  The space saving L x W might be a savings, not sure about 
the height.  They might be too tall?

-Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
"Independence"
2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
Middle River, MD



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karl Mielenhausen _/)" <C320 at suddenlink.net>
To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Battery Bank Upgrade - Which starting battery??


>I believe a starting battery in the neighborhood of 400-500 CCA should be 
>more than adequate, especially since we do not tend to start our engines 
>when the temp is below freezing.
> I've seen 3 cranking amps per cu in of displacement as a guide. That would 
> be 180 CCA for the 3GM.
> From what I've seen, most starters will draw around 150-200A but not for 
> very long. The 5108 at 300A should be fine. It will actually pass 600A for 
> 0.2 seconds according to Blue Sea testing.
> I am planning on installing a 5191 holder and 5187 fuse @ 200A right on my 
> starting battery.
> I installed a Walmart Maxx 1N auto battery some time ago, because it had 
> side terminals which aided my wiring hookup. 900 CCA. Group 34/78. A 
> Consumer Reports Best Buy at the time.
> To be honest, I don't use it that often, as the house bank (440AH of golf 
> car batteries) starts the engine just fine.
> It's there just in case I really draw the house bank down too far.
> I see no compelling reason to pay twice the money for a "boat" battery for 
> use as a starter and get fewer CCA.
>
> On Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:02:01 -0400, Alan Goodman 
> <goodmanalanlee at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I am in the midst of upgrading my battery bank following the 
>> instructions in the forum archives.  FYI, based upon cost / benefit 
>> ($200 each) I installed 2 Interstate SRM-4D lead acid batteries for the 
>> house bank providing a combined capacity of 410 Ah.  (I know, they are 
>> not a pure deep cycle battery, but readily available without paying huge 
>> shipping charges)
>> I am ready to purchase the dedicated start battery.  I am looking at a 
>> Group 24 (11x 6 7/8 x 9 1/2 inch) lead acid rated at 800 CCA and 1000 
>> MCA.  Looking at my Perkins shop manual, the required starting current 
>> is 540A.  Does this seem reasonable, or am I reading the spec sheet 
>> incorrectly?  Also, assuming 540A is correct, I have been looking for a 
>> fuse to install at the battery "+" (Blue Sea MEGA SEA fuse block p/n 
>> 5001), but it seems that 300A is the maximum fuse (per Defender 
>> Catalog).  I think that this fuse rating would be inadequate, any other 
>> suggestions?     Alan;  Hull #67;  Holland MI; launching last week of 
>> April or first week of May, weather and ice dependent !!
>>
>
>
>