[C320-list] Freedom 20 charger/invertor

Sun Sep 2 09:48:58 PDT 2018

On most of our boats the shore power charging cables run directly to the 
batteries (through in-line fuses) and bypass the battery selector 
switch. Seems like there have been extensive modifications to your 
battery setup and so you need to check whether this is true for your boat.

Regarding "normal" use of the selector switch, it depends on what kind 
of setup you have, and again yours may be non-standard.

On a stock boat the approach you use would result in battery 2 never 
being used for anything (although it would still be charged from the 
shore power charger) because the engine starter/alternator circuit and 
DC distribution panel both get their DC+ connection through the setting 
on the battery switch and you would need to turn the switch to 2 or both 
to connect that battery to a load (or to charge battery 2 from the 
engine alternator).

On my boat I replaced the usual battery switch with a dual circuit 
switch. This has a simple on/off setting. When "on" the starting battery 
is connected to the engine and the DC panel is connected to the house 
bank but these are not connected to each other. When "off," neither 
circuit is connected. The two batteries can be combined via an emergency 
position that I never use. (This is the same as using "both" on the 
stock setup.) The two banks are also linked by a smart battery combiner 
so that when there is a charging current on the starting battery it will 
also charge the house bank (i.e. when motoring), or the opposite when 
there is a charging current on the house bank but not the starting 
battery (e.g. from my solar  panel while sailing with the engine off). 
That's kind of an automatic "both" setting that pays attention to 
charging currents. The shore power charger in my setup is connected to 
both battery banks independently of the battery switch as on a stock 
boat, but because my boat hangs on a mooring it is rarely used.

On 9/1/2018 9:44 PM, Jeff Smith wrote:
> Scott and Dave,
>
>
> Thanks. Scott - That tells me I can confidently (after confirming specs) use either, though I will likely replace with a 30 amp to be safe. Dave - good idea to mount a piece of plywood to the existing mounts. I did not want to drill through the galley wall again, so that solves the problem. I can also pull a line through the galley down to the common bar in the port settee, as this is the same place I had to run my GPS power cable.
>
>
> Commander-in-Chief of the House (CINC-House for short, aka my wife), would like to wait to see if the $25 fuse fixes the problem. If not, though, I may check back in for assistance.
>
>
> Now, if someone can tell me how to use the battery selector, I would be eternally grateful. I leave mine on 1 and never touch it. I think that means the charge is directed to the house bank batteries, but I am not sure. I think if I leave it on both, then in my current predicament with an inoperable battery charger, the discharging house bank would draw down my starting battery. I have 4-6D batteries in the house bank, and one starting battery. Should I ever turn the switch to #2?
>
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>
> Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2018 10:43 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Freedom 20 charger/invertor
>
> Jeff, 40 amps on the DC output side (about 14 volts) is about 40*14=560
> watts. That much power is equivalent to about 5 amps on the AC input
> side at 110 volts. The comparison ignores the inefficiency in the
> charger as well as the difference between AC and DC current. But roughly
> speaking the amperage needed for your shore connection is likely to be
> far less than the charging output amperage. So you probably would not
> need to upgrade your shore power connection. To be sure, read the specs
> before you buy.
>
>
> On 9/1/2018 8:53 AM, Jeff Smith wrote:
>> Dave,
>>
>>
>> A few questions for you. I have the Newmar 30Amp ferro-resonant charger and there was a static discharge close by that blew the DC output fuse inside the charger. I am waiting on a new fuse (5 more weeks), but contemplated an upgrade to the Promariner 30Amp.
>>
>>
>>     1.  Why did you go 40-amp instead of the 30-amp? Do you have to step down from 50-amp service or do you still use 30-amp service?
>>     2.  Did you have to mount new studs for the Promariner? My Newmar is installed in the aft, starboard locker on the wall that is effectively behind the galley.
>>     3.  The Promariner mentioned a common bus bar. Is it hard to run the ground wire to the common bus bar? Did you install this wire? I can only find one thing that looks as if it meets this definition, and it is under my port settee.
>>
>>
>> Thanks for any help. I am trying to remain patient and wait on the fuse to come. I am not positive that was the problem with my charger, but after the static discharge, my AC side worked but I was not receiving an DC output. However, I have been told that the old chargers are much worse on batteries than the new chargers, so maybe I should just bite the bullet.
>>
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> on behalf of Dave Hupe <hoopdtwo at yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 7:17 PM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Freedom 20 charger/invertor
>>
>> Nat-
>> I replaced the old original charger (the type like Warren Updike references) on my 1994 boat with this 40-amp digital ProMariner ProNautic one (very good reviews) for $313 at Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/ProMariner-63140-ProNauticP-12-Volts-Battery/dp/B004NPOT4G#customerReviews
>> I also installed this remote charger monitor for $75 from Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/ProMariner-63100-ProNautic-Display-Battery/dp/B009PIR0EW/ref=pd_bxgy_200_2/140-1791473-6856910?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B009PIR0EW&pd_rd_r=6YATJSBP7NBVTKN7NQHK&pd_rd_w=pNhMI&pd_rd_wg=yDBvF&psc=1&refRID=6YATJSBP7NBVTKN7NQHK
>> I am very happy with and strongly recommend both.
>> Dave Hupe
>> 1994 Cat 320 "Mayan Sun" (#32)
>> Holland, MI
>>
>>
>>