I am thinking about adding a battery monitor to my 2001 Hunter 290. I currently have 2 batteries set up as a single bank so the Heart Link 10 would be for me. But, at some point (a year or three out),I would like to add Radar, with built in chartplotter, so with the additional power drain would probablly need 2 battery banks (a house and a starting). Do you think I am getting too far ahead of myself and just get the Link 10, or should I plan ahead and get the Link 20 (two battery bank monitory) and for the time being not user the second battery bank features, if that is possible. The difference in cost is about $100.00 What do you think? Thanks s/v Wanderlust
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nick
battery monoter
Hi I would wait and add second battery bank when needed ,that's what I will do when I add my radar chartplotter to my 2001 290 which I will soon be owner of ,I am in the final process of owning a new 290 -2001 demo model ,it should be here on long island in april, I would love to keep in touch with you and compare notes on our boats ,my email maggio@sevensages.com nick
Hi I would wait and add second battery bank when needed ,that's what I will do when I add my radar chartplotter to my 2001 290 which I will soon be owner of ,I am in the final process of owning a new 290 -2001 demo model ,it should be here on long island in april, I would love to keep in touch with you and compare notes on our boats ,my email maggio@sevensages.com nick
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Rick Sylvester
Why would you need a monitor
for your starting battery? I mean, if the battery craps out you can start from your house bank and if the charging system isn't working you'll catch that by monitoring the house bank (you will be charging both through dual outputs or a combiner, right?) A starting battery is pretty much going to remain at full charge with only a quick small discharge at startup (unless you have a starting problem.) Do you really need to spend an extra $100 to monitor that? Put the $100 towards your battery bank.
for your starting battery? I mean, if the battery craps out you can start from your house bank and if the charging system isn't working you'll catch that by monitoring the house bank (you will be charging both through dual outputs or a combiner, right?) A starting battery is pretty much going to remain at full charge with only a quick small discharge at startup (unless you have a starting problem.) Do you really need to spend an extra $100 to monitor that? Put the $100 towards your battery bank.
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Dan
Monitors and battery banks
Not sure how your 290 is, but with three batteries on the starboard side we develoed quite a list. We coorected that by moving the house batteries under the port settee. Built a battery box, installe a switch in the face of the setteee and ran the wire over to the switch Hunter provides. We basically have three isolated batteries. Did not need a combiner because the charger that Hunter provides has three charge legs. Just hooked one up to each battery. We generally run the 2 house batteries in parellel, but if need be we can seperate them. We use the start battery for starting and the electric windlass. We have radar, dual chartplotters (helm and cockpit), refrigeration. We monitor the house bank as a unit and the starter using a link 20. We like the set-up. Nice to know exactly what is going on. Dan Jonas S/V Feije
Not sure how your 290 is, but with three batteries on the starboard side we develoed quite a list. We coorected that by moving the house batteries under the port settee. Built a battery box, installe a switch in the face of the setteee and ran the wire over to the switch Hunter provides. We basically have three isolated batteries. Did not need a combiner because the charger that Hunter provides has three charge legs. Just hooked one up to each battery. We generally run the 2 house batteries in parellel, but if need be we can seperate them. We use the start battery for starting and the electric windlass. We have radar, dual chartplotters (helm and cockpit), refrigeration. We monitor the house bank as a unit and the starter using a link 20. We like the set-up. Nice to know exactly what is going on. Dan Jonas S/V Feije
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Ralph Johnstone
Rick said it all ....................
......... as I have the same system you plan to install in the future. It's been in service for three years. I don't monitor the starting battery for exactly those reasons stated by Rick. Aways figured the literature was a bit of a scam when they spoke of monitoring the starter battery. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
......... as I have the same system you plan to install in the future. It's been in service for three years. I don't monitor the starting battery for exactly those reasons stated by Rick. Aways figured the literature was a bit of a scam when they spoke of monitoring the starter battery. Regards, s/v Island Hunter
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Rex
Monitors voltage only
One thing that is not obvious about the Heart monitors. You really can't monitor current on the starting bank anyway, because the starter current is too high for the rating of the shunt. Hence, you are limited to monitoring the voltage only on that bank. Useful, but not very.
One thing that is not obvious about the Heart monitors. You really can't monitor current on the starting bank anyway, because the starter current is too high for the rating of the shunt. Hence, you are limited to monitoring the voltage only on that bank. Useful, but not very.
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Don Alexander
Link 10
Hi, I have a Link 10 and it monitors TWO battery banks. The house bank has both voltage and current in/out monitored with all the clever predictions of depth of discharge etc. The engine start battery only has its voltage displayed. As this battery is only used for starting, the voltage alone is quite adequate to show its condition and I have never seen mine show anything other than full charge voltage. Hope this helps.
Hi, I have a Link 10 and it monitors TWO battery banks. The house bank has both voltage and current in/out monitored with all the clever predictions of depth of discharge etc. The engine start battery only has its voltage displayed. As this battery is only used for starting, the voltage alone is quite adequate to show its condition and I have never seen mine show anything other than full charge voltage. Hope this helps.
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Jerry Olivero
Link 10 alternative
I originally used a Link-10 to monitor my house battery current flow and used a SPDT (single pole double throw) toggle switch to select the either the house battery or starter battery voltage to monitor. I recently added 2 more batteries to the house bank and installed the Cruz Pro VAH35 to monitor each battery individually. The Link-10 now monitors only the starter battery voltage. I tried to rewire the shunt circuit so I could monitor current flow in the starting battery but found that with the shunt in the circuit I had problems starting the engine. Didn't fully troubleshoot it at the time so I can't really explain why. Perhaps on another rainy weeked I can determine why. In my current house bank, I installed an on/off switch on the positive side of each of the house battery to be able to control which battery/batteries are selected for house use. I have also found that the Cruz Pro's NMEA output useful since it makes electrical system status available on my laptop and at the autopilot.
I originally used a Link-10 to monitor my house battery current flow and used a SPDT (single pole double throw) toggle switch to select the either the house battery or starter battery voltage to monitor. I recently added 2 more batteries to the house bank and installed the Cruz Pro VAH35 to monitor each battery individually. The Link-10 now monitors only the starter battery voltage. I tried to rewire the shunt circuit so I could monitor current flow in the starting battery but found that with the shunt in the circuit I had problems starting the engine. Didn't fully troubleshoot it at the time so I can't really explain why. Perhaps on another rainy weeked I can determine why. In my current house bank, I installed an on/off switch on the positive side of each of the house battery to be able to control which battery/batteries are selected for house use. I have also found that the Cruz Pro's NMEA output useful since it makes electrical system status available on my laptop and at the autopilot.
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