[C320-list] Windlass wiring

[Scott Westwood]

Graeme,
I too thought long and hard about doing this in steps.  For me (personal preference) was wanting to know "exactly" what I am drawing on these new batteries and that meant a monitor with a shunt. I wanted to be able to turn on the Fridge (for example) and know exactly what it draws so I can calculate how long I can be on the hook with "anything" turned on, for how long, before risking my batteries.  That "personal" monitoring requirement drove most of my decisions. 

For me the choice was Solar and the IPN Pro-Remote by Bluesky Energy.  This, however, meant that I had to combine the 2 batteries into a single bank or buy 2 monitors. (each Monitor w/Shunt could only monitor single "source/bank")   If I combined them into single bank then all my eggs were in 1 basket.  That meant adding the Start Battery as a backup or risking unable to start engine after on the hook for days.
This escalated into re-wiring the battery bank (Adding some Busses), and the windlass (couple more busses maybe near windlass switch in order to NOT have to run new wires to windlass), and relocating my newly installed wash down pump (Relocating "maybe" to starboard locker in v-berth), and mount shelf for start battery, and, and....

Kind of funny but:1. Monitor batteries - Which meant:    2. Combining Batteries to single bank -  Which meant:   3. Rewire Batts and Adding Buss Bars -  Which meant:4. Installing Start Battery (more buss bars??) - Which meant:    5. Relocating Wash down pump -  SO FAR.......

Short version is, if I wanted to have the monitoring system I wanted, I really should probably just go for it all.  Personal choice. Again, FWIW----the Alternator was the easiest part.  I went with the Amptech S100SE Saddle mount SC 100/85A ER ALT SADDLE  (Thank you Jeff Hare).  I ordered a 100amp and it fit right into place.  Only needed a longer hinge bolt and slight adjustment to the sleeve with inserting some washers to align the pulley.  Amptech web site is not great but if you call them they built one for 100amp that was not listed on their website.  Very helpful over the phone.  DO NOT just rely on their website.  Almost half the price of Balmar.  I am almost done and will be choking it to 80 amps with the Balmar MC-614 Regulator to limit load on engine.  Installing all Temp sensors for Alternator and Batt.  May get to install regulator remote lamps but on bottom of list.  NOTE: My Hitachi 55amp Alternator went bad so had to replace it anyway.  It was actually smoking when I turned on the Battery switch.  Cool...errr.. I mean hot...  Sorry, coffee kicking in....


My next task this weekend is to mount solar panels on new dinghy davits and figure out how to install start battery "shelf".   Once I start the solar then I am committed to re-wiring the battery bank.   I want to get solar on these new batteries ASAP.  I would list all the remaining tasks but this is long enough already.....




Thanks,




Scott Westwood scottwestwood at bellsouth.net H (919)-362-8538    C (919)-618-7185
 

    On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 8:01:13 PM EST, Troy Dunn <troutwarrior at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 Scott-

I'm essentially heading down the same path you are but in small increments
and minus the solar panels.    I've been researching this project to death
and I’m looking forward to actually moving forward with the upgrades.
First up is the alternator, regulator and SG 200 smart monitor.  Once I
get that figured out and working properly I’ll install new batteries.  A
few folks pointed out that upgrading the batteries before upgrading the
alternator would be quite silly.  I concur.  Later I will complete the
battery shelf I started last year (yup...that long) and then combine the
big batteries and install an ACR and start battery.  I haven't yet decided
on whether to go the distance with moving the alternator cable and turning
the start battery into a dedicated start vs. leaving things wired through
the combiner and simply keeping the start battery in reserve.  I figure
those decisions can be made down the road or not at all as time permits.
I have limited time to get the boat ready this spring and there are other
normal boat prep projects that will need to get done, I suspect I will
still be working on the project into the summer.

Graeme-

Your boat is wired exactly like the schematic says my boat is wired.
Somewhere along the line they moved away from that panel and wiring and it
doesn’t appear that it was ever documented.

Troy