Echo Charge Logistics Question

S

Solstice

.
May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Maine Sail,
Have a question that I'm afraid I already know the answer to. I'm in the process of upgrading my electrical system (on a brand new boat, as in out of the factory) and I need to install my Echo Charger. Problem is logistics. I had to install my reserve battery on the opposite side of my house bank (Port-starboard) and the only practical space I have for mounting the EC is next to the reserve battery.
My question is, can I connect the EC's neg to the reserve battery's neg post as opposed to running it to the other side of the boat and to the shunt of the battery monitor? Basically I'm looking at putting the EC physically next to the reserve battery, understanding I will have some voltage drop (approx 25 ft round trip)...As always would appreciate your advice on this.....Thanks in advance
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Solstice said:
Maine Sail,
Have a question that I'm afraid I already know the answer to. I'm in the process of upgrading my electrical system (on a brand new boat, as in out of the factory) and I need to install my Echo Charger. Problem is logistics. I had to install my reserve battery on the opposite side of my house bank (Port-starboard) and the only practical space I have for mounting the EC is next to the reserve battery.
My question is, can I connect the EC's neg to the reserve battery's neg post as opposed to running it to the other side of the boat and to the shunt of the battery monitor? Basically I'm looking at putting the EC physically next to the reserve battery, understanding I will have some voltage drop (approx 25 ft round trip)...As always would appreciate your advice on this.....Thanks in advance
Click to expand
Your start/reserve battery neg should already be connected to the LOAD side of the shunt. Does not matter if the EC is on the start batteries neg or not if the start battery is properly wired to the shunt.. Be sure to use a large enough supply wire from the house to the EC to minimize any VD. The EC already has some inherent voltage drop anyway... The other part of the round trip will be using the large neg cable so VD should only be an issue on the pos feed from the house to the EC....
 
S

Solstice

.
May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Maine Sail said:
Your start/reserve battery neg should already be connected to the LOAD side of the shunt. Does not matter if the EC is on the start batteries neg or not if the start battery is properly wired to the shunt.. Be sure to use a large enough supply wire from the house to the EC to minimize any VD. The EC already has some inherent voltage drop anyway... The other part of the round trip will be using the large neg cable so VD should only be an issue on the pos feed from the house to the EC....
Click to expand
Thanks Main Sail! I installed my Reserve with 2/0 and the neg is on the load side of the shunt. I just wasn't sure if I would be comprising the neg side of things by using the reserve to complete the circuit. I'm aware of bad wiring setups by tapping into neg wherever convenient and I feared I might be doing that in this case...good news for me though! I was planning on using a 12 ga on the positive per Xantrex recommendation and the amp load of the EC. Too small?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Solstice said:
Thanks Main Sail! I installed my Reserve with 2/0 and the neg is on the load side of the shunt. I just wasn't sure if I would be comprising the neg side of things by using the reserve to complete the circuit. I'm aware of bad wiring setups by tapping into neg wherever convenient and I feared I might be doing that in this case...good news for me though! I was planning on using a 12 ga on the positive per Xantrex recommendation and the amp load of the EC. Too small?
Click to expand
This has more to do with people tapping into BONDING wires and using them as neg returns.

15A over 13 feet on the 12GA wire is a 2.7% voltage drop. Or if you started with 14.4V your battery is seeing about 14.0V... 10GA gets you to 2% but I generally prefer less on charging circuits as the voltage is so important. 8GA takes you to 1%....
 
Bob S

Bob S

.
Sep 27, 2007
1,804
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Solstice, beautiful boat. My wife and I fell in love with it at the boat show. Good luck and congrats. Where will you be keeping her?

Maine,
i had the same logistics problem when I installed my EC. The EC comes with approx. 10" leads and I have about 6-8' between battery banks. I installed the EC behind the distribution panel and wired the leads directly to the #1 & #2 posts on the switch. The negative goes to the neg buss. I didn't have to add any wire to the leads already on the EC. I've always wondered where they where meant to be installed. Is this an acceptable location?
 

Attachments

S

Solstice

.
May 10, 2008
392
Catalina 355 Boston
Bob S said:
Solstice, beautiful boat. My wife and I fell in love with it at the boat show. Good luck and congrats. Where will you be keeping her?

Maine,
i had the same logistics problem when I installed my EC. The EC comes with approx. 10" leads and I have about 6-8' between battery banks. I installed the EC behind the distribution panel and wired the leads directly to the #1 & #2 posts on the switch. The negative goes to the neg buss. I didn't have to add any wire to the leads already on the EC. I've always wondered where they where meant to be installed. Is this an acceptable location?
Click to expand
Thanks Bob, this is our 3rd Catalina (a 30 and a 320) and we absolutely love it! We keep it in Boston, so we are in your neck of the woods. As a matter of fact, there is another that will be moored in Marion this season...
I'll let MS answer your question as he is the expert, but I believe the EC needs to be connected directly to the batteries and I know that all charging sources (shore, alt, etc) must be connected directly to the house bank or the EC won't follow the charge.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Bob S said:
Solstice, beautiful boat. My wife and I fell in love with it at the boat show. Good luck and congrats. Where will you be keeping her?

Maine,
i had the same logistics problem when I installed my EC. The EC comes with approx. 10" leads and I have about 6-8' between battery banks. I installed the EC behind the distribution panel and wired the leads directly to the #1 & #2 posts on the switch. The negative goes to the neg buss. I didn't have to add any wire to the leads already on the EC. I've always wondered where they where meant to be installed. Is this an acceptable location?
Click to expand
It should be fine provided the alt & other charge sources are still fed direct to the house bank. If wire runs are an issue one can take advantage of the battery cabling. I generally don't like to load the backs of batt switches any more than necessary but it can certainly work.
 
Bob S

Bob S

.
Sep 27, 2007
1,804
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Solstice,

My dad kept his boat @ Hewlett Cove in Hingham. I loved sailing in Boston Harbor but it took forever to get out through Hull's Gut. We live in Marshfield and tried to find somewhere to put our (first) boat that was reasonably close. Long story short we ended up keeping her where we bought her. I am glad we did.

Maine,
We're so lucky to be able to get first hand advice from people like yourself.....thank you.
 
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