[C320-list] Batteries

[Welch, Myron D]

Jeff,

Thanks for the battery information. I just need a point of clarification regarding your last paragraph — connecting the charger to the battery bank.

I had the original two battery set up with a Xantrex Trucharger 20  amp. There were two wires from the charger, one to each battery. When I added a starting battery, I paralleled the two 4Ds and added a Blue Seas ACR to charge the start battery. I then attached only one wire from the Xantrex charger number one post to the number one battery. We are usually plugged into shore power and all has been working well.

Are you saying I should also attach a wire from the battery charger number two post to the house bank? If so, should it be attached to battery one along with the wire from the charger number one post or should it go to battery number two?  

As always, thanks for your input.

Myron Welch
Wind Instrument, 1995 #238
Iowa City, Iowa
Edward C. Grace Memorial Harbor
Elk Rapids, Michigan


> On Jul 17, 2018, at 5:41 PM, Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
> 
> Just a note here:  If you have AGM house batteries and a Lead Acid
> automotive type starting battery, that's not really a great mix.  Danny's
> right that it would likely cause a short life for your starting battery if
> you leave the external regulator set to AGM.  If you set it to Flooded
> battery mode, you'll undercharge your AGMs which is more expensive over the
> long haul. Better to just bite the bullet, buy the biggest AGM Starting
> battery you want to afford and not look back.
> 
> I like connecting either an EchoCharge or a Blue Sea ACR between the house
> bank and starting battery.  That will top off the starting battery from the
> house bank whenever there's a charge source present on the house bank.  AGMs
> like to charge around 14v and flooded like slightly less at somewhere around
> 13.8v.  
> 
> BTW:  If you're installing a separate starting battery, never use a Deep
> Cycle or Dual Purpose Deep Cycle/Starting battery for that battery.  Go
> straight automotive (preferably AGM) for that.  The reason is that starting
> batteries are meant for short cycle, high current applications where you
> don't intend to deeply discharge them.  So they have thin plates and can
> supply a lot more starting current which is what you need for starting a
> diesel.  Small Deep cycle and Dual Purpose batteries are terrible at
> supplying high levels of current needed by the starter so you'll see they
> crank the engine a lot slower and won't give you a lot of cranking time
> before they need recharging (even though they may have many hours of stored
> energy left in them).
> 
> Also, I like to leave Both legs of the shore power charger connected to the
> house bank and allow the Echo Charge/ACR to trickle over to the starting
> battery to keep it topped off.  That allows your shore power charger to
> deliver the most current possible to your house bank when recharging from
> shore.  This, of course, depends on your shore power charger, but for
> example a 60amp shore power charger with 2 output legs would split the
> output and have a max current of 30a per leg.  So to get 60A into your house
> bank when they're low, you'd need both legs connected to your house bank.  
> 
> -Jeff Hare
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Danny
> Jensen
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 4:06 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Batteries
> 
> I have the same charger and it has a setting for agm. You could change the
> setting but then you may overcharge your lead acid starting battery. I think
> you could be safe and just leave the charger on lead acid if you have a lead
> acid starting battery. I would set my external voltage regulator to agm to
> rapid charge my agm batteries.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jul 11, 2018, at 5:59 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>> 
>> Xantrex Truecharger  2 40AMPXAN8041240023 Bank 12V Charger New 
>> Version804-1240-02 Thanks,
>> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C
> (919)-618-7185
>> 
>>     From: Danny Jensen <danny at jensenshouse.com>
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 7:38 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Batteries
>> 
>> What charger do you have?
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jul 11, 2018, at 5:26 AM, Scott Westwood <scottwestwood at bellsouth.net>
> wrote:
>>> 
>>> OK.  Another loaded question:
>>> I am trying to dig into the decision to replace the existing battery(ies)
> or switch to AGM.  One of my Liquid Batteries is toast and needs to be
> replaced.
>>> AGM batteries are more than twice the price and it will "likely" mean
> replacing my existing charger.  I need to verify that but I am assuming, for
> now, that I will need to replace the charger I just installed 3 years ago.
>>> I understand the value of non-liquid AGMs and not having to keep
> re-filling distilled water, heeling not an issue, etc....
>>> If I go ahead and go to AGM and replace my charger, then I might as well
> go ahead and get an upgraded monitoring system.  Right now I have the old
> analog rocker switch and I would go/add a digital one that would show the
> current load.  I always like the thought of knowing how much current you are
> drawing "right now".  I added a remote panel monitor for the charger when I
> replaced it so I have some sort of monitor but would be nice to know current
> draw.
>>> A co-sailor is suggesting I move to the West Marine 4D  at $790 each...
> while I can replace the existing liquid LA for $280 each and keep my
> charger.
>>> Does anybody have any experience with longevity of the AGMs?  If they
> live twice as long it might be worth it to do it all now.  If not then I
> don't see the value.  I can replace these LA batteries every 5+ years and
> save boat units.
>>> May even think about adding a start battery??
>>> Any thoughts out there?  Has anybody re-done all this and have
> models/pics/experices etc....  Projects on the website?
>>> I said it was a loaded question(s). 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C
> (919)-618-7185
>> 
>> 
>