Happy Holidays everyone! I have a 1989 Hunter 28, and was just wondering if anyone else has a similar electrical set up as I do. The 110 volt outlets and the battery charger are both hooked up to the same AC circuit breaker. So when I turn on the outlets to have my dehumidifiers on, I am also charging my batteries ( I have 2 - wet cell series 24 batteries)with an old rediamp 8amp charger that is constantly charging the batteries. The problem is the batteries are always drying out (I add water almost every week to them). I am hoping to get a smart charger for X-mas, so that will solve that problem, but I was just wondering why the set up would be this way. I believe the charger was installed by the dealer when the boat was originally purchased. Thanks in advance, Trevor
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Does your panel have room for another breaker?
Trevor: On our panel (AC side) we have a main breaker for AC, then we have a breaker for the outlets, charger etc. I hope your are getting a good quality unit. The Statpower (Xantrex) units are great. Xantrex owns most of the marine electric business today. Pro-Mariner also makes a nice unit too.
Trevor: On our panel (AC side) we have a main breaker for AC, then we have a breaker for the outlets, charger etc. I hope your are getting a good quality unit. The Statpower (Xantrex) units are great. Xantrex owns most of the marine electric business today. Pro-Mariner also makes a nice unit too.
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Glenn Bollin
Smart Charger for Xmas
is the first thing to try. Not only is it a nice present but it should solve the overcharging problem. Monitoring cell levels is critical to battery power and life. Also, if you can talk Santa into it, a 4 circuit box would be great. Good Luck. Glenn WindWisp
is the first thing to try. Not only is it a nice present but it should solve the overcharging problem. Monitoring cell levels is critical to battery power and life. Also, if you can talk Santa into it, a 4 circuit box would be great. Good Luck. Glenn WindWisp
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Trevor
Reply to Steve
The AC side has a main AC on switch, then the outlets and charger are on a seperate breaker. I'm assuming that this is par for the Hunters? As for the charger, I have a request in to Santa for the Xantrex 20 amp Smartcharger! Would you recommend that I keep the same set up, or add an extra breaker in for the charger alone? I really enjoy this site, and all the assistance everyone is so willing to give. It's been a great source of info for this newbie sailor. Thanks for all the great work!
The AC side has a main AC on switch, then the outlets and charger are on a seperate breaker. I'm assuming that this is par for the Hunters? As for the charger, I have a request in to Santa for the Xantrex 20 amp Smartcharger! Would you recommend that I keep the same set up, or add an extra breaker in for the charger alone? I really enjoy this site, and all the assistance everyone is so willing to give. It's been a great source of info for this newbie sailor. Thanks for all the great work!
I prefer a seperate breaker.
Trevor: I prefer a seperate breaker. I do not think that these chargers pull that many amps, but depending on what you have on the breaker it is a good idea. I agree with Glenn, I think that this will take care of the water problem in the batteries too. Unless there is something wrong with your batteries of course. These Smart chargers will allow you to change battery technologies in the future too. Just remember that you SHOULD not mix battery technologies on a single charger. You can cheat if you have Gel and AGM but not flooded with the other two.
Trevor: I prefer a seperate breaker. I do not think that these chargers pull that many amps, but depending on what you have on the breaker it is a good idea. I agree with Glenn, I think that this will take care of the water problem in the batteries too. Unless there is something wrong with your batteries of course. These Smart chargers will allow you to change battery technologies in the future too. Just remember that you SHOULD not mix battery technologies on a single charger. You can cheat if you have Gel and AGM but not flooded with the other two.
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Trevor
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Terry
Hi Trevor, we also had a 1989 H28. Great boat.
With the charger on check the volts going into the batteries. Should be no more that 14.4 when charging. Two common reasons for them to dry out is over charging and heat. I'm assuming your batteries are located in the head cabinet like ours, so heat should not be a problem in Vancouver. I kept our charger running all the time when we were connected to shorepower. This should not harm the batteries unless the charger is failing to step down as the batteries become fully charged. How old are the batteries? Terry
With the charger on check the volts going into the batteries. Should be no more that 14.4 when charging. Two common reasons for them to dry out is over charging and heat. I'm assuming your batteries are located in the head cabinet like ours, so heat should not be a problem in Vancouver. I kept our charger running all the time when we were connected to shorepower. This should not harm the batteries unless the charger is failing to step down as the batteries become fully charged. How old are the batteries? Terry
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Glenn Bollin
Box, panel like soda, pop
Same thing, different name. Sorry for colloquialism confusion. Glenn WindWisp
Same thing, different name. Sorry for colloquialism confusion. Glenn WindWisp
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Trevor
Reply to Terry
Hi Terry. Thanks for the reply. We really like the boat too. Have only had it since March of this year, so still getting to know it. But she has been very forgiving to these first time boat owners. One of the batteries appears to be very new (deep cycle), and the other is anybodys guess (starter battery). I'm assuming it is fairly old and starting to go, as it can just get the motor started. My problem is the old single stage charger I presently have (rediamp 8). So it is not stepping down, and overcharges the batteries, causing them to boil off. So if I get that Smartcharger for X-mas, should take care of the problem, although I will probably need a new starter battery as well to replace the old one. By the way the batteries are in the head, beside the sink, in that covered opening. Was that where they all were located on the 28s?
Hi Terry. Thanks for the reply. We really like the boat too. Have only had it since March of this year, so still getting to know it. But she has been very forgiving to these first time boat owners. One of the batteries appears to be very new (deep cycle), and the other is anybodys guess (starter battery). I'm assuming it is fairly old and starting to go, as it can just get the motor started. My problem is the old single stage charger I presently have (rediamp 8). So it is not stepping down, and overcharges the batteries, causing them to boil off. So if I get that Smartcharger for X-mas, should take care of the problem, although I will probably need a new starter battery as well to replace the old one. By the way the batteries are in the head, beside the sink, in that covered opening. Was that where they all were located on the 28s?
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Terry
Hi Trevor, yes, our batteries were in the same...
place. I think both of ours were deep cycle, no maintenance type. Seemed to work for all our needs, what little electricals the H28 had. The new charger should solve the over charging problem. Looks like you might need new batteries, too. Terry P.S. So, where have you sailed your boat?
place. I think both of ours were deep cycle, no maintenance type. Seemed to work for all our needs, what little electricals the H28 had. The new charger should solve the over charging problem. Looks like you might need new batteries, too. Terry P.S. So, where have you sailed your boat?
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Trevor
Hey Terry,
We bought the boat down in your neck of the woods, Anacortes. So me and a buddy sailed it up to home from there in 2 1/2 days. Stopped in Montague harbour on Galiano Island the first night, and then in Nanaimo on the second night. Was a great trip. It was the first time I had been through the San Juan Islands. Hope to get back there again sometime, this time with the wife. We have been sticking fairly close to home this year while getting the feel for the boat and sailing in general. So have only been down to the northern Gulf Islands (DeCourcy Island, Newcastle Island, Saltspring, Gabriola, and over to Lasquiti and Jedidiah Island). Most of our trips have been for 3 to 7 days. I'll give you my E-mail address so we can compare notes. I don't know anyone else who has, or had a Hunter 28, so have a million questions about it. Anyways, if you are interested my address is t-rmurray@canada.com Thanks for the input.
We bought the boat down in your neck of the woods, Anacortes. So me and a buddy sailed it up to home from there in 2 1/2 days. Stopped in Montague harbour on Galiano Island the first night, and then in Nanaimo on the second night. Was a great trip. It was the first time I had been through the San Juan Islands. Hope to get back there again sometime, this time with the wife. We have been sticking fairly close to home this year while getting the feel for the boat and sailing in general. So have only been down to the northern Gulf Islands (DeCourcy Island, Newcastle Island, Saltspring, Gabriola, and over to Lasquiti and Jedidiah Island). Most of our trips have been for 3 to 7 days. I'll give you my E-mail address so we can compare notes. I don't know anyone else who has, or had a Hunter 28, so have a million questions about it. Anyways, if you are interested my address is t-rmurray@canada.com Thanks for the input.
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