I would like to change the original battery charging system (alternator, charger, etc.) to a larger one. Has anyone done this and how?
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sailboat electrics simplified
It is a book written by don casey and it deals with the background info on sailboat eletrical systems it is a great read and quick. I highly recomend it. If you read it you would probably feel comfortable designing your own system From the ground up. (No pun intended) But as an aside I am currently redoing the entire system on my cat 30 and am mainly concerned with balancing the expected usage demand. With charging output VS Battery bank size. I am definatly upgrading from the scant 35 amp alternator that is currently on the engine. And I am considering a truly isolated Battery bank utilizing a battery combiner or voltage sensitive relay. Anyway I digress there is a sea of options open to you. I strongly advise you step back study up and evaluate your true needs for power aboard. And when you figure all that out tell me cause im adrift in that sea of possibillity.
It is a book written by don casey and it deals with the background info on sailboat eletrical systems it is a great read and quick. I highly recomend it. If you read it you would probably feel comfortable designing your own system From the ground up. (No pun intended) But as an aside I am currently redoing the entire system on my cat 30 and am mainly concerned with balancing the expected usage demand. With charging output VS Battery bank size. I am definatly upgrading from the scant 35 amp alternator that is currently on the engine. And I am considering a truly isolated Battery bank utilizing a battery combiner or voltage sensitive relay. Anyway I digress there is a sea of options open to you. I strongly advise you step back study up and evaluate your true needs for power aboard. And when you figure all that out tell me cause im adrift in that sea of possibillity.
Been there, done that
I did this project to my C-36 several years ago. Not too difficult. I worked with Hamilton Ferris to get a hig-output alternator, 3-stage smart regulator, AGM batteries, and a Link 10 monitor. The key is to plan out your system. Make an inventory of your electrical appliances with their power requirements. Knowing what your energy requirements are key to knowing how big your house bank should be and what recharging capacity is necessary. I ended up with a house bank of 2 Group 31 AGMs for over 200 AHs capacity. I should really get a third battery for running my fridge. When you know how much energy you need per day, then the rest is just math. You need at least twice as much but preferrably three times as much for capacity in your battery banks. Then you need to be able to replace your daily usage quickly, prefferably within an hour or two. The other component is an emergency starting battery. I just went to West Marine and got a Group 27 low maintenance sealed battery. It is kept charged up by an Echo Charger, which feeds a low-amp trickle charge from the house bank. Pretty fool-proof system and easy to install. Good luck and just remember to spend a lot of time with the planning. That way, when you get all the components together, it is just a matter of assembling the puzzle pieces. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
I did this project to my C-36 several years ago. Not too difficult. I worked with Hamilton Ferris to get a hig-output alternator, 3-stage smart regulator, AGM batteries, and a Link 10 monitor. The key is to plan out your system. Make an inventory of your electrical appliances with their power requirements. Knowing what your energy requirements are key to knowing how big your house bank should be and what recharging capacity is necessary. I ended up with a house bank of 2 Group 31 AGMs for over 200 AHs capacity. I should really get a third battery for running my fridge. When you know how much energy you need per day, then the rest is just math. You need at least twice as much but preferrably three times as much for capacity in your battery banks. Then you need to be able to replace your daily usage quickly, prefferably within an hour or two. The other component is an emergency starting battery. I just went to West Marine and got a Group 27 low maintenance sealed battery. It is kept charged up by an Echo Charger, which feeds a low-amp trickle charge from the house bank. Pretty fool-proof system and easy to install. Good luck and just remember to spend a lot of time with the planning. That way, when you get all the components together, it is just a matter of assembling the puzzle pieces. Les Murray s/v Ceilidh '86 C-36 #560
Oh Boy
Bill Try www.jackrabbitmarine.com and www.amplepower.com Les is right, there are many ways to do it and it's up to you. The references give you most all the information you need to get started. Casey's book can be supplmented with Calder's Boatowner's Manual. Happy reading. Stu
Bill Try www.jackrabbitmarine.com and www.amplepower.com Les is right, there are many ways to do it and it's up to you. The references give you most all the information you need to get started. Casey's book can be supplmented with Calder's Boatowner's Manual. Happy reading. Stu
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