[C320-list] Another battery-related question

[Dean Vermeire]

Hi Robert,

The battery I took out was a big 4D truck battery.  It didn't leave room 
for a second battery.  It was basically the size of two normal car 
batteries stuck end-to-end.  It was obviously not what Catalina delivered.

Thanks,
Dean

On 9/6/2011 4:18 PM, Robert Seastream wrote:
> Jeff, I'm surprised Dean had but one 4D battery.  Perhaps a PO choice, 
> facing replacing both?  I thought all 320's came with two 4D's, else 
> why a battery switch.
>
> Bob Seastream, Intuition # 906
>
> On Sep 6, 2011, at 4:31 PM, Jeff Hare wrote:
>
>> This should work. If the 1-2-both switch is acting like an on/off 
>> then the new battery probably wasn't hooked up quite right.
>>
>> In proper hookup, both battery negatives should be connected directly 
>> together. One heavy red from one battery positive should go to the 
>> "1" post of the switch, the second heavy red should go to the "2" 
>> post on the switch. The "C"ommon post of the switch goes to the 
>> starter and the "house" power panel.
>>
>> The 4awg red cables are usually shore power charger and windlass power.
>>
>> Check carefully for the 3 foot section of black 2/0 gauge cable that 
>> is the key ground between both batteries. If the prev owner only had 
>> one battery, he may have also disconnected that jumper and left it in 
>> the compartment somewhere. You need that.
>>
>> -jeff
>> -jeff
>>
>> Dean Vermeire <dean at vermeire.us> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>> I'm familiar with the wiring that you've described. Makes perfect sense.
>>
>> In my case, there was only one battery to start with. Both positive
>> cables, as well as the two heavy ground cables and the smaller ground
>> cable were connected to the one 4D battery. There was no jumper.
>>
>> When I replaced the 4D battery with a group 27 battery, I found that I
>> had to connect all cables the way I had found them, which sounds
>> obvious. What surprised me was that I couldn't have one battery
>> connected to just one set of cables with the switch set to that battery
>> and have the engine start. Basically, the two battery switch really
>> only acts as an on / off switch when both sets of cables are connected
>> to only one battery.
>>
>> On 9/6/2011 10:14 AM, Jeff Hare wrote:
>>> We can only speculate here without some pictures of the wiring 
>>> you're referring to, but what may have happened was that you didn't 
>>> get all the grounds connected.
>>>
>>> The starter/engine ground connects via heavy cable to the aft most 
>>> battery, then a jumper continues to the forward battery. The forward 
>>> battery typically has the windlass ground attached also. Is it 
>>> possible you didn't get the heavy ground between the batteries 
>>> connected? All grounds need to be connected.
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>>
>>> Dean Vermeire<dean at vermeire.us> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Folks,
>>>
>>> You'd think that all possible questions have been asked by now, but I
>>> came up with another this weekend. When we got out to the boat for a
>>> nice long weekend and were ready to head out, the engine would not
>>> start. The batteries just didn't have enough juice for it.
>>>
>>> This is the first time I have had to get at the batteries on this boat,
>>> so please forgive the stupidity here! When I got at the batteries, I
>>> found that there was really only 1 there - a 4D truck battery (which
>>> others have recommended lately). That's fine. Nice to know. I ran
>>> over to the marina store (the only place open on Sunday) and bought a
>>> Group 27 Deep Cycle battery. I will probably put in a 4D again, since
>>> the battery tray fits a 4D perfectly.
>>>
>>> When I hooked up the new battery. I only connected one set of battery
>>> cables. I put the switch on "1". The radio, instruments, VHF, etc. all
>>> worked fine, but the engine did not turn over. Not even a click. I
>>> switched the cables on the battery and put the switch on "2". Same
>>> thing. Finally, I put the cables the way I had found them, with both
>>> sets of cables hooked to the one battery. I probably put the switch on
>>> "All", although I don't understand what difference it would make. The
>>> engine started right up.
>>>
>>> The boats I have had in the past had two batteries. I made it a habit
>>> of switching to just one battery once the engine was off, to make 
>>> sure I
>>> would have enough power to start up again later. Having both sets of
>>> cables on one battery seems to be contrary to that idea.
>>>
>>> So, why didn't the engine have power when I had just one set of cables
>>> on the battery and have the switch set to that battery number?
>>>
>>> Humbly,
>>> Dean Vermeire
>>> Moonstruck II (#847)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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