I would like to add some more battery capacity to the house bank on my 1988 C30. I have 2 group 27’s in the battery compartment under the starboard settee. I also have a group 27 starting battery under the quarter birth. Has anyone added batteries to their C30 and if so where? I have refrigeration and figure that on average I use about 6 amps per hour. With 200 amp-hours total capacity, if I discharge to 50% I can only go about 16 hours before I need to recharge. Thanks for the help.
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Battery Upgrades
We upgraded the 12V power supply on our 1982 C30 recently. We installed four golf cart batteries on one bank to achieve in excess of 400 ah capacity. On our 1982 C30 there was adequate room in the chart table battery compartment to hold 2 golf cart batteries. To house the other 2 batteries, we built a new battery box. We coated the box interior with several layes of epoxy. The box holds 2 golf cart batteries end-to-end, and we placed it under the companion way ladder. We had to make accomodation in the box lid for the ladder legs. The box bolts to the hull liner at the aft berth. A starting battery sits under the starboard setee. You will have to upgrade your battery cable as well, and probably need to install bus bars for the cable terminations. You will find when you start adding batteries, the entire system needs upgrading. You will absolutely need to upgrade your charging system when you add battery capacitiy. The stock alternator is not adequate for maintaining a large battery bank. We added a Balmar 100 amp alternator and Balmar 4 stage voltage regulator. Also, you should add as much additional insulation to your refridgerator box as you can. Put a seal around the fridge lid flange. Any improvement in efficiency of the box will help you reduce you power consumption.
We upgraded the 12V power supply on our 1982 C30 recently. We installed four golf cart batteries on one bank to achieve in excess of 400 ah capacity. On our 1982 C30 there was adequate room in the chart table battery compartment to hold 2 golf cart batteries. To house the other 2 batteries, we built a new battery box. We coated the box interior with several layes of epoxy. The box holds 2 golf cart batteries end-to-end, and we placed it under the companion way ladder. We had to make accomodation in the box lid for the ladder legs. The box bolts to the hull liner at the aft berth. A starting battery sits under the starboard setee. You will have to upgrade your battery cable as well, and probably need to install bus bars for the cable terminations. You will find when you start adding batteries, the entire system needs upgrading. You will absolutely need to upgrade your charging system when you add battery capacitiy. The stock alternator is not adequate for maintaining a large battery bank. We added a Balmar 100 amp alternator and Balmar 4 stage voltage regulator. Also, you should add as much additional insulation to your refridgerator box as you can. Put a seal around the fridge lid flange. Any improvement in efficiency of the box will help you reduce you power consumption.
Batteries
Hayden; A friend of mine built a custom mount and put another battery right behind the fuel tank to run his refridgerator. And like James said, once you add a little, the whole system has to be upgraded; every project expands expotentially.
Hayden; A friend of mine built a custom mount and put another battery right behind the fuel tank to run his refridgerator. And like James said, once you add a little, the whole system has to be upgraded; every project expands expotentially.
More Batteries?
I changed the "L" shape to a "U" shape settee. This gave me room for a new house bank. The weight is in the center of the boat and also down low where you want it. It also provides easy access for checking the battery water levels. This is on a '82 Cat 30. I enjoy having the extra AMPS for the TOYS.
I changed the "L" shape to a "U" shape settee. This gave me room for a new house bank. The weight is in the center of the boat and also down low where you want it. It also provides easy access for checking the battery water levels. This is on a '82 Cat 30. I enjoy having the extra AMPS for the TOYS.
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