B331 battery configuration

[Cwoody]

After chartering for over 30 years, I (and my wife) took the plunge in September and purchased our first Yacht, A 2002 Beneteau 331, shoal keel, std main. Now all the issues I used to hail the charter company to come fix will be my issues. Already gained a lot of knowledge studying this forum.

My first post relates to the batteries. Going to add a 2nd house.
There are currently two on board purchased in Apr 06. A G27 and a G32. The B331 owners manual shows the location of the house battery to be in front of the engine, and the engine battery to behind the engine.
Current configuration (from previous owner) has the G27 in front of engine and the G32 behind.

At this time I am not sure which is on Bat 1 or Bat 2 switches. Got confused trying to follow the positive lead back through the bundle of zip tied wires.

What's the easy way to do this and how should they be arranged?

Thanks, Chuck

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Easiest may be to just disconnect one of the pos battery leads at the battery and measure voltage at the switch.

This should not discourage you from tracing the wiring as there are a few other critical components you should find out about, e.,g, if the batteries are interconnected through a switch, how they are "combined" for charging from both the alt and the battery charger and how you can monitor condition of it/them.

 

[Gunni]

Throw one switch to off. Which isn't getting juice - the starter motor, or the house volt meter?

Never heard of a G32 battery. The 27 is a reasonable starter battery. A 4D makes a good house battery, and fits perfectly in front of my engine.

 

[Cwoody]

Never heard of a G32 battery.

You are right Gunni...it is a West Marine Group 31.

 

[Gunni]

If you can fit the 4D (21" x 9") into that house batt spot you would nearly double your amp-hour storage. I would also look at your shore power charger and alternator output to match the storage and charge acceptance of the bigger battery.

 

[Bum]

Hello Chuck, If you have not figured it out at this time, let me know and I will double check when I am at the boat this weekend, I beleive that the switch on the starbord side is for the aft battery and the switch to port is for my batteries in front of the engine. I have a Group 31 battery for my starter and two 6 volt batteries in series for my house bank that sit in front of the engine.

 

[Ron M]

We bought our 331 in April 2010. It is kept on the Chesapeake, hence a lot of cruising. The lack of battery power became apparent very quickly. After several discussions on this forum and asking fellow sailors. I have come up with a tentative plan. Since space is at a premium use 2 Type 31 batteries for the house (a 31 or 27 for start). Place the new one under the aft berth near the fuel shutoff pull handle... this is on the other side of the stringer from the existing engine battery. Need a means of leveling the battery. Then modify the wiring as to so charge the engine battery from the house batteries (such as BALMAR Digital Duo Battery Charger). Thinking about adding a Battery Monitor (XANTREX Link Lite Battery Monitor). The ultimate would be automatic switching for starts, then isolate the start battery after engine shutdown. I would be very curious to know what you come up with for a final design.

 

[stevern]

suggestion on battery batch

Throw one switch to off. Which isn't getting juice - the starter motor, or the house volt meter?

Never heard of a G32 battery. The 27 is a reasonable starter battery. A 4D makes a good house battery, and fits perfectly in front of my engine.

HELLO Gunnni. You have got the same model as mine,so Ii have a question. My batch battery is combined as: 2 Optima 75 A + 2 optima 55 for service =260A and 1 55A for engine? i purchased this welcome sailboat just 10 ten days ago. Your opinion on this???? Are they enough or a little bit few? Have I to add someone others for house service?

 

[Gunni]

Four smaller batteries have smaller plates, smaller cells and many more corrosion (resistance) prone connections. The hard up and down cycling of the house battery bank isn't what these batteries were designed for. I actually have two 12vdc 4D aboard for my house. They are a good balance of weight and capacity.

 

[gord331victoria]

Hi Guys, I just bought my 331 last Janaury, I have one group 27 starting battery behind the engine. two 4D house batteries in parallel. The fiirst 4d is in front of the engine, the second 4d is in a battery box in the bottom of cockpit locker. The alternator was upgraded to a balmor 75amp dual output, with a link dual monitor. The dock charger is still the original 20amp dual output, which works fine. Behind the engine bulkhead I can turn each battery string on/off and a third switch to parallel the starting with the house if the house dies. In normal use the house and starting battery are separate.

This set up allows me to run the fridge for 2 days. My Windlass is manual at this time.


Planned upgrades:
#1. Replace all the batteries with AGM technology. I have a special skinny size that can lay on it side and have not finalised the location of them. They have the same AH as the 4D, but smaller dimensions, higher recharge rate, no fumes or condensation.

#2. Electric windlass.

#3. Heating.


Now how about some feedback on my heating survey?

Gord

331
SYNAPSE
Victoria BC

 

[Cwoody]

Finally figured out that the original owner had marked batteries wrong for Bat 1 and 2. Least I know which one I am drawing from. Bat 2 (G27) is forward and bat 1 (G31) is aft of engine. Boat will start on which ever one is on 1 or 2. Here is a shot of the switch circuit from behind. Looks like the charging (generator and charger) and starter leads are jumped between 1 and 2.