I just purchased a 1973 Catalina 27 and replaced the outboard witha Yamaha High Thrust 9.9 4 Stroke with alternator. I am looking at installing a battery selector (1,2,Both,Off) to so that I have back up on my cabin and starting baterries. Is this safe and can I ahrge both batteries at once with the engine running or with a battery charger? Has anyone done this before on this model and have any words of wisdom? Thanks, Dan B.
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Electircal Help too deep a question
Dan This question has too many answers. It doesn't matter what kind of boat you have, electrical systems are electrical systems. I suggest that you buy and study Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Manual, or at least Don Casey's electrical book, and figure out the best way for you to do it for the way you intend to use your boat. Many C27s have been "completely" wired, with 1-2-B switches, lots of battery capacity, or, just plain jane, one battery, no switches. The choices are yours. PS I didn't intend for this message to be harsh, but the answers to your question are infinite, and many books have already been written that answer it. This board is too short to rewrite those books. Please do some research in libraries, book stores, marine websites, marine store catalogs, etc. The answers ARE out there. {already, basic stuf, maybe not yet to you, it will come.............} PPS If anyone else would like to help here, I'd really appreciate it, if you could do it within the fram,e of the answer box.
Dan This question has too many answers. It doesn't matter what kind of boat you have, electrical systems are electrical systems. I suggest that you buy and study Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Manual, or at least Don Casey's electrical book, and figure out the best way for you to do it for the way you intend to use your boat. Many C27s have been "completely" wired, with 1-2-B switches, lots of battery capacity, or, just plain jane, one battery, no switches. The choices are yours. PS I didn't intend for this message to be harsh, but the answers to your question are infinite, and many books have already been written that answer it. This board is too short to rewrite those books. Please do some research in libraries, book stores, marine websites, marine store catalogs, etc. The answers ARE out there. {already, basic stuf, maybe not yet to you, it will come.............} PPS If anyone else would like to help here, I'd really appreciate it, if you could do it within the fram,e of the answer box.
use a battery combiner
Dan... My DC system on my Cat '30 has one battery for starting (battery 1 on the switch) and one house bank (battery 2). The charger is hooked to the starting battery, and I have a battery combiner (50 amp unit from West Marine) connected between the posts on my 1-2-Both-Off switch. Anytime the charger or the engine is providing a charge, the combiner kicks in and basically puts ALL the batteries on-line and they all get charged. If the combiner senses either bank of batteries providing current and no charging going on, it'll switch off and thereby separate the two battery banks. I never touch my 1-2-B-Off switch (switch stays on battery 1 and all DC loads (except the starter) are hooked to the house bank (battery 2))and can run my stereo/fridge/lights until the house bank dies and the starting battery will be charged and ready to start the engine....once the engine or the battery charger starts charging the starter battery, the combiner senses this and will connect the house bank so they too can get charged. Sounds confusing, but it works out great and it's fully automatic. Check out the West Advisor on the combiner and also for a schematic of how the setup would look. Have fun!! Jim
Dan... My DC system on my Cat '30 has one battery for starting (battery 1 on the switch) and one house bank (battery 2). The charger is hooked to the starting battery, and I have a battery combiner (50 amp unit from West Marine) connected between the posts on my 1-2-Both-Off switch. Anytime the charger or the engine is providing a charge, the combiner kicks in and basically puts ALL the batteries on-line and they all get charged. If the combiner senses either bank of batteries providing current and no charging going on, it'll switch off and thereby separate the two battery banks. I never touch my 1-2-B-Off switch (switch stays on battery 1 and all DC loads (except the starter) are hooked to the house bank (battery 2))and can run my stereo/fridge/lights until the house bank dies and the starting battery will be charged and ready to start the engine....once the engine or the battery charger starts charging the starter battery, the combiner senses this and will connect the house bank so they too can get charged. Sounds confusing, but it works out great and it's fully automatic. Check out the West Advisor on the combiner and also for a schematic of how the setup would look. Have fun!! Jim
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