[C320-list] In-line fuse on battery cables

[islgirl3 at aol.com]

Sara,I have the same configuration as Dean, no issues. You can set the ProNautic to regulate the output. I have mine set up for 75% max output. It takes longer to charge since the output amperage is lower.
RichBarbara Rita 897


-----Original Message-----
From: dean at vermeire.us
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Sent: Mon, Sep 14, 2020 12:53 pm
Subject: Re: [C320-list] In-line fuse on battery cables

  I recently installed a new ProNautic 1230P (30A) and have the original
  configuration of 2 4D batteries with one on each bank. The inline fuses
  on mine are 30A.
  Everything is working great.
  Since your charger will automatically adjust the amperage up to 40A on
  a bank, I would think a 20A fuse would be easy to blow.

  On Sep 14, 2020 11:33 AM, SARA SCHROEDER <saras951 at comcast.net> wrote:

    I had reached out to the group regarding recommendations on battery
    charges, echo-chargers and solar panels.  As a reminder I have two
    4D deep cycle batteries, did not have a starter battery or
    echo-charger and my batteries were either not being fully charged or
    were losing capacity. After doing research, my helper and I ganged
    the two 4D batteries together into one house bank which became bank
    #1 and installed a new starter battery which became bank #2.  We
    also installed a new ProMariner ProNautic 12V 40 AMP battery
    charger.
    After a full weekend away from the dock, this set up turned out to
    be an epic failure.  The batteries were not being charged at all -
    either by the new charger or the alternator.  Upon further
    inspection we discovered that both the alternator and the new
    charger were blowing the 20amp in-line fuse located in the positive
    battery cable. We considered just putting in a larger fuse but Platt
    Electric recommended we not do this.
    We undid everything and reverted back to the factory settings.  One
    4D is back to house bank #1 and the second 4D is house bank #2.  The
    starter battery and echo-charger are on hold for the moment.  We
    installed new fuses in both positive cables, fired up the new
    battery charger and my batteries finally started getting a charge.
    At first the ProNautic was pumping in about 40amps but this quickly
    came down to about 20amps.  After about 30 minutes of charging my
    helper reached down and touched the in-line fuse casings. They were
    shockingly hot. We could not really even touch them.  I stayed at
    the boat to monitor them and after about 3 hours I could touch them
    and the cables themselves were "slightly" warm but not hot.
    I suspect the fuse housings are original which makes them 20 years
    old.  Does anyone have these round in-line fuse housings or is it
    just me? Have you had problems with them failing or replaced them?
    If you replaced them what did you use?  Thanks as always!
    Sara
    Wandering Star
    2000 / #707