[C320-list] Trojan battery installation

[P.F. Ross]

Jack,

It is true that there is no room for the terminal mounted fuse on top of
the Trojans, at least in my setup.  However, I put my main 300A fuse just
before the always on charging bus that feeds everything.  IIRC, this fuse
is supposed to be within 7" of the battery and in my case it is just a
smidgen more.  I plan on putting a conduit of some kind on this unprotected
run in my final configuration.  In any case, the existing setup is much
better than OEM which had no overcurrent protection whatsoever between
house batts and On-Off-Both switches.

Also interesting about battery orientation.  Seems like I remember seeing
that some time ago and did not dawn on me when I installed my T-105s.  Oh
well, not going to change them port-starboard anytime soon.

Frank Ross

On Sun, Jan 5, 2020 at 12:45 PM Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
wrote:

> Hi Doug and Troy:
>
> According to Mainesail, the online electrical guru for boats, the
> preferred orientation is port-starboard for flooded batteries, the way I’m
> planning. Here is a link to the article:
>
>
> https://marinehowto.com/installation-orientation-of-flooded-batteries-on-boats/
>
> On the other hand, I’ve had bow-stern orientation for batteries on several
> sailboats, and I’ve never noticed a problem. However, it’s probably best to
> do it the recommended way …
>
> I was just out pulling the batteries and re-measuring. With the terminal
> fuse setup I have, it would be extremely tight to too tall for Trojans. So
> I’m going to go with the local battery manufacturer, who has cases 1.5
> inches shorter.
>
> The batteries themselves look to be clones of Trojans. Same weight, 62
> pounds, which is important because cheap batteries are light batteries. The
> construction of the batteries also  seems to be the same. And they have a
> one-year full warranty, so I can haul them back if there are problems.
>
> The manufacturer itself has been around West Florida for decades and, as a
> wholesaler, makes many batteries that end up with someone else’s label on
> them.
>
> I may end up kicking myself for not doing the alterations need for the
> Trojans, but it just seems like a fair amount of work to do the needed
> alterations.
>
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320, no. 528
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> From: Doug Treff
> Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2020 12:06 PM
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Trojan battery installation
>
> Speaking of rotating the batteries, be careful about that. Instead
> somewhere that the plates need to be oriented a certain way on sailboats so
> that they don't get too much air exposure when jerking for long periods of
> time. Can't find the article now.
>
> --
> Doug Treff
> doug at treff.us
>
> On Sat, Jan 4, 2020, at 3:19 PM, Jack Brennan wrote:
> > Thanks all. I’ll bring my measuring tape to the dealer, too, just in
> case.
> >
> > Jack Brennan
> > Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> > Tierra Verde, Fl.
> > Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> >
> > Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> >
> > From: P.F. Ross
> > Sent: Saturday, January 4, 2020 3:13 PM
> > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Trojan battery installation
> >
> > Jack,
> >
> > I am in the process of totally upgrading the electrical system in our
> boat
> > and will write up a complete report when I am hopefully done later this
> > spring.  I owe so many people on this list it will be hard to acknowledge
> > them all but I will try once I am finished.
> >
> > However, I did install the T-105s in our boat without many problems and
> > have just uploaded a few pics to our Owner's Album under an "Electrical
> > Upgrades" sub album (please note that I an not through cleaning up some
> > wiring in the battery compartments).  I extended the existing battery
> trays
> > about an inch using resin and cloth per the C320 list (can't recall who
> to
> > attribute this to at the moment).  I then made battery hold downs kind of
> > like the original boards that came across the 4Ds in the boat except I
> > added a notched block to keep the Trojans wedged against the inboard side
> > of the trays (the Trojans are narrower than the 4Ds that took up the
> entire
> > athwartship width of the trays).
> >
> > The only issue I see with the Trojans is that the 5/16-18 threaded posts
> > are short, I'm sure to discourage putting too many lugs on each post.
> > Right now I am just using the nuts that came with the batteries (without
> > lock nut) but I have flanged serrated lock nuts on the way.  This is the
> > way Blue Sea components come today, using these flanged lock nuts without
> > lock washers.  They have their reasons and I will go with those.
> >
> > I did not have any height issues with the Trojans.
> >
> > Mine is a '95 model and close enough to yours that I thought this might
> > help.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Frank Ross
> > Beta Wave #206
> > Naples, FL
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 2:03 PM Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I have a question for anyone who has installed Trojan T105 golf cart
> > > batteries on their 320s.
> > >
> > > I have a 1998 model. With the factory battery case removed, I have just
> > > more than 11 inches of room between the battery platform and the wooden
> > > hatch that covers the battery area under the starboard settee.
> > >
> > > So Trojan says a T105 is 11.1 inches tall. I’m not sure whether that
> is to
> > > the top of the case or the top of the battery post. (Trojan dealer is
> > > closed today …) I don’t want to drive 30 miles to pick them up, then
> have
> > > to return them.
> > >
> > > My question is: Did you have problems fitting the T105s into the
> space? I
> > > plan on orienting the batteries port-starboard inside individual
> battery
> > > cases strapped down in the compartment.
> > >
> > > I also have the option of golf cart batteries from a local manufacturer
> > > that are less expensive and only 9.5 inches tall, but I would rather
> have
> > > the quality of Trojan if I can.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Jack Brennan
> > > Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> > > Tierra Verde, Fl.
> > > Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>