[C320-list] Battery switch location - port vs. starboard, old vs. new models

[Warren Updike]

Doug, whether your plan is worth the cost and effort depends on how you use your boat or how you see using it in the future. If you will be doing more than week-end cruising, you will definitely want more battery capacity and faster charging. Not all the changes have to be made at once. Perhaps, you can do the things you want to be in-place, like panels, and complete your plan at some later date.
You may be able to get the later-model panels you want from Dennis Igarashi, digarashi at earthlink.net, 626-374-6422, as he was supplying them to Catalina.
We did nos. 1,3,4,5 and it made a significant difference. We could anchor for 2 nights without charging, and charging on the hook is much faster. A battery monitor is a must as is battery temp sensors for both shore charger and alternator charging. 
We also replaced the 1,2,off,both switch with a BlueSea Systems "e" series dual switch. This switch keeps the start circuit and house circuit separate; but, turns them On/Off at the same time. No issue with which, 1 or 2, to use. However, there are differing opinions as to the best switching option to use. 

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Treff [mailto:doug at treff.us] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 11:32 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Battery switch location - port vs. starboard, old vs. new models

Jeff Hare,

I started to chime in to the original thread about battery switches, but
didn't want to hijack it, so I'm creating a new one for my question. I
still think this is a valuable discussion, so I sent to the group vs.
emailing you privately.

All these discussions about battery switches, start batteries, etc...  
I have questions about how the newer 320's were wired. Mine is a 1996
model, hull number 350. 

I see in your "Electrical Stuff" album on the 320.org site that your
battery switch is mounted in a panel on the starboard side. Does that
mean that the breaker panel above the nav station does not have a
selector switch? I'd love to see what your breaker panel looks like. 
Mine is the old style panel with a 1-2-B switch, rocker switches, and
plunger type AC breakers (which I dislike). I currently do not have any
electrical panel on the port side, unlike your boat.

This coming off-season, I am embarking on a major upgrade of my
electrical system and I have lots of decisions to make. Due to previous
owners adding things and rewiring stuff, the front and rear of my
breaker panel is starting to look quite messy and the front is ugly too
with switches that are unused, incorrectly named, etc... I want to do a
good job but don't want to turn this into a money pit either. Some of it
I could fix with better labels and a soldering gun, so all is not
lost...  ;-)

It seems like putting all of those large gauge 12V cables in a starboard
side panel right next to the battery bank makes a lot of sense, which
is, I suspect, why Catalina moved to this design in later models. 

If locating the selector switch on the starboard side is a good idea,
then what becomes of the real estate in my breaker panel if the 1-2-B
switch there is made redundant? Looking at the replacement panels
available for the C320 on the CatalinaDirect site, they all have the
1-2-B switch in them. So if I went with a new panel, would I have to get
a custom one made? Seems like a very expensive option.

Things I am considering:
1. Add a start battery, wired directly to the starter, with a shutoff
switch for when working on the engine.

2. Add a panel on the starboard side like you have with battery selector
switch(es), inverter/charger control, Balmar SmartGauge, and start
battery on/off. This would keep all of the heavy gauge battery cables
shorter since the batteries are on that side. Would like to put the
Windlass breaker there too but I fear that would entail a major rewiring
effort to move that heavy gauge wire to the other side and pull out the
old stuff.

3. Combine the 2 house batteries into one bank. 

4. Move Alternator output to house bank. Adding an Echo charger to
charge the start battery.

4. Re-wire the breaker panel to neaten up things and better label
everything. I'm considering a new panel but have not made that decision
yet. If I relocate the 1-2-B switch to starboard, I would like to NOT
have one in the breaker panel any longer. This would give more real
estate for other uses. If I can't get a panel from CatalinaDirect, I
would have to go with a custom panel. Very spendy...  $$$

5. Add a high output alternator and regulator.

Suggestions would be great, as I am in the investigation / research
phase right now. All ideas considered. In the end, I may take a phased
approach over a few years to spread out the cost but I want to plan the
entire project at the beginning so I can make the appropriate wiring
changes as I go with an eye toward the future.

Am I crazy for even attempting some of this?

Thanks,

--
Doug Treff
September Song #350, 1996 model
doug at treff.us