[C320-list] Trojan battery installation

[P.F. Ross]

And Troy, thanks for the compliment on my installation so far.  Really
meaningful coming from one of the electrical masters on this list!

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

On Sun, Jan 5, 2020 at 12:59 PM P.F. Ross <pfrstl at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>