Echo Charger

[Bob S]

I know a lot has been posted on the subject. I have one question I couldn't find the answer in the archives. How hot do they get? This is only an answer that can be given by someone that has and/or used them before. It's simple enough to set up. Three wires. One to the house bank one to the reserve and a ground. I set it up behind the distribution panel and attached the leads to the appropriate switch posts. There was room enough but I'm not sure how good the air circulation is behind there.

 

[Barry7363]

Hi Bob, coincidentally, I am at the same stage as you appear to be, and am grappling with the same issue... finding an appropriate location where it's not exposed to moisture, dust, deer ticks, and is within 2 feet of both batteries, in a well ventilated space. (Just kidding about the deer ticks)! However, it would appear to be desirable to have it in a location where it is visible to allow monitoring of the indicator light. My sense of the problem after re-reading the installation instructions, is that while it may be beneficial to have the echocharger near the batteries, if you use a large enough conductor such as a #12 (suggested by Xantrex) or a #10, the line loss on a relatively short run (say 10' from panel to batteries), should work fine. That would allow for switching the Xantrex on and off. I have a secondary but related issue, that being the shore power AC Charger, a "Promariner 12" which is a 2 bank "smart charger" designed to charge both Engine start and House banks with separate direct hook ups. This would by-pass the echo charger if set up as directed. Is this a problem, or should a single positive charging lead be hooked up to the house bank only, (leaving the echo charger to take care of the engine start battery) and tape off the engine lead?

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Bob S]

Barry,

I have the original shore power charger on my boat. I'm sure it's junk just like the wiring. All automotive and not tinned. Go Catalina! I never get the opportunity to plug in, I'm on a mooring. What I did is plugged it into my house only. I'll let the echo take care of my reserve battery. Both leads where in the same battery compartment so I cut one of them and taped the end and marked it.

 

[Barry7363]

Hi Bob, I had an older shore power charger but am replacing it with the Promariner 12. I had the sense from your original posting that you were locating the Echocharger near the panel and connecting to the batteries through the switch. Of course I realize that the C-30 has close proximity of batteries to panel (it was our last boat), but I'm wondering if you had to extend the Xantrex cables.

Cheers,

Barry

 

[Bob S]

Barry,

I thought of mounting it on the side of the distribution panel but I didn't like the idea of seeing it. God knows, my wife might spray it with a cleaner. I decided to see if I could get it behind the panel instead. I was able to do it and lt looks good. No wire interference. I didn't have to extend the wires because I attached them directly to post 1 & 2. I ran #2 wire from the switch to the batteries. I'm sure it will work but I'm worried the unit might get hot.

I, by no means, am an expert. All my understanding has come from this site. What I did with my shore charger was to tie one side to the house and taped off the other. Let the echo charger handle the reserve. They should make shore power charger for one bank!


I'm a little annoyed at myself for taking on too many projects and starting them late.
I bumped up the house bank from 1 group 24 to 2 group 31's, moved one of the 24's to under the aft birth as a reserve. Added a battery monitor, a new alternator and smart regulator. On top of that I put in a Perko sea strainer, removed and cleaned the HX, changed all the filters......

I wanted everything done before Memorial Day...I had my mother's birthday and mother's day on the same weekend, 2 daughter's proms the next weekend and this weekend another daughter's college graduation.

Good luck, I'm curious how you intend to mount your echo. I'll try to post a picture.

Bob