If anyone has added additional batteries to their CD36, I would be interested in hearing where you have the located. In Jazman (#68) I currently have 2 group 27 and 1 group 24 located in the port locker. With minor modification, these sit next to the hot water tank. Despite the additional plumbing (cold, hot and heat exchanger),I have considered moving the hot water tank to the aft lazarette (loads of unused space)and using the additional shelf space in the port locker for additional batteries. My CNG tanks are in the stbd. locker. Obviously a shelf would have to be glassed into the lazarette. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Jeff
jbarnes@oxbio.com
CD36 Battery space
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Russell
Your layout is mirror image ours ..
</LI>
Our batteries and water tank are in the stbd lazarette, and CNG in the port lazarette.
It would be nice to find battery space LOWER than the lazarettes. If it weren't for all the hoses and condensation, I would be tempted to make space for them in the bilge. Unfortunately, the storage under the quarterberth seems too shallow.
Our batteries and water tank are in the stbd lazarette, and CNG in the port lazarette.
It would be nice to find battery space LOWER than the lazarettes. If it weren't for all the hoses and condensation, I would be tempted to make space for them in the bilge. Unfortunately, the storage under the quarterberth seems too shallow.
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zeida
Re: CD36 Battery space
</LI>
Jeff: Even though I have the CD-33, we have a very similar layout to yours. I have my batteries and the hot water heater tank on my port cockpit locker. However, I just completed an electrical upgrade to my boat by replacing my TWO old Sears diehard group 24 batteries (that's all I had for two years) with THREE group 27 gel cells -much larger than the old ones, and heavier!!!, and a group 24 dedicated solely for engine start-up. We placed two of the gels on the port locker with the hotwater tank. Placed the third gel on the starbd locker and ran the cables under the cockpit sole, since I had them wired in parallel... so my three group 27's are connected to each other, to the Perko switch, to the Inverter and to the engine. Then a separate wire runs from my engine to the single group 24 gel, which I located inside the cabin, under the port settee, right behind the galley sink.
We made small platforms for All the batteries and they are very well protected, but still very reacheable in need be. however, being gels, we hope there will be zero maintenance. They recharge very fast, and so far we are very happy with the arrangement. On your 36 you should have more room, but if you don't, you can for sure split your "house bank" between the two cockpit lockers and connect them together with the wires. Of course, use the thickest wire possible, (1/0 marine grade). Good luck,
Zeida
zcecil@attglobal.net
Jeff: Even though I have the CD-33, we have a very similar layout to yours. I have my batteries and the hot water heater tank on my port cockpit locker. However, I just completed an electrical upgrade to my boat by replacing my TWO old Sears diehard group 24 batteries (that's all I had for two years) with THREE group 27 gel cells -much larger than the old ones, and heavier!!!, and a group 24 dedicated solely for engine start-up. We placed two of the gels on the port locker with the hotwater tank. Placed the third gel on the starbd locker and ran the cables under the cockpit sole, since I had them wired in parallel... so my three group 27's are connected to each other, to the Perko switch, to the Inverter and to the engine. Then a separate wire runs from my engine to the single group 24 gel, which I located inside the cabin, under the port settee, right behind the galley sink.
We made small platforms for All the batteries and they are very well protected, but still very reacheable in need be. however, being gels, we hope there will be zero maintenance. They recharge very fast, and so far we are very happy with the arrangement. On your 36 you should have more room, but if you don't, you can for sure split your "house bank" between the two cockpit lockers and connect them together with the wires. Of course, use the thickest wire possible, (1/0 marine grade). Good luck,
Zeida
zcecil@attglobal.net
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Ryan Turner
Avoid storing heavy things in the aft lazarette
</LI>
Cape Dory's are sensitive to weight distribution given the short waterline and relatively large overhangs fore and aft. I would try to avoid mounting or storing anything as heavy as water or batteries in the aft lazarette.
Ryan Turner
s/v Zenobia
Cape Dory 33, hull no. 100
Oreintal, NC
rturnertec@aol.com
Cape Dory's are sensitive to weight distribution given the short waterline and relatively large overhangs fore and aft. I would try to avoid mounting or storing anything as heavy as water or batteries in the aft lazarette.
Ryan Turner
s/v Zenobia
Cape Dory 33, hull no. 100
Oreintal, NC
rturnertec@aol.com
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Matt Cawthorne
Re: CD36 Battery space
</LI>
Jeff,
One of the folks at a CDSOA raftup a few years ago had modified the quarterbirth in such a way as to put a fold down seat back for the nav station and one of his batteries just behind the seat. It was therefore lower and more foreward than the cockpit locker. I would suggest not shifting any weight back. The boat sits down at the stern if you add too much stuff aft. I have 2 group 30's in the port cockpit locker and a battery monitor. I am very careful with the batteries and this system works out ok. My goal one of these years is to use all LED lights and a really well insulated icebox to cut usage down.
Matt
Mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
Jeff,
One of the folks at a CDSOA raftup a few years ago had modified the quarterbirth in such a way as to put a fold down seat back for the nav station and one of his batteries just behind the seat. It was therefore lower and more foreward than the cockpit locker. I would suggest not shifting any weight back. The boat sits down at the stern if you add too much stuff aft. I have 2 group 30's in the port cockpit locker and a battery monitor. I am very careful with the batteries and this system works out ok. My goal one of these years is to use all LED lights and a really well insulated icebox to cut usage down.
Matt
If anyone has added additional batteries to their CD36, I would be interested in hearing where you have the located. In Jazman (#68) I currently have 2 group 27 and 1 group 24 located in the port locker. With minor modification, these sit next to the hot water tank. Despite the additional plumbing (cold, hot and heat exchanger),I have considered moving the hot water tank to the aft lazarette (loads of unused space)and using the additional shelf space in the port locker for additional batteries. My CNG tanks are in the stbd. locker. Obviously a shelf would have to be glassed into the lazarette. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Jeff
Mcawthor@bellatlantic.net
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TWM
Re: CD36 Battery space - yet another opinion
</LI>
More (useful / useless?) information from the peanut gallery....
I faced a similar dilemma w/r to more batteries in my CD 36 and solved it as follows -
- I left the water heater as original (port locker on the shelf)
- end result is 5 group 24's - 1 12v - 4 6v
- one for engine start - on port shelf as original
- the four 6v are tied together as one bank (serial then parallel to get up to 12v
- Link monitor for the house bank
- engine start battery (alone) is monitored (sort of) using the orginal CD installed voltmeter
- location of the four 6v are as follows - 1 on orginal port locker battery/hot water heater shelf - 1 in port locker aft on floor mounted new fabricated battery shelf - the remaining two are located in the lazarette - one center forward, one starboard forward
These locations seemed to be the least worst compromise between weight distribution, minimal intrusion into "usable" space(s), above potential water in the boat, securely tied down, and reasonably accessible for periodic maintenance.
They've all been in place for nearly three years to date and seem to be doing fine - this includes one solid year of cruising then more (unfortunately) "normal" weekend use.
BTY - 1. I did upgrade the alternator to a 120 amp Balmar with an external adjustable regulator which has also made life a whole lot easier. 2. I also had installed a Heart inverter (which comes with a "smart" recharger) 3. I also replaced all battery cable sized wiring with correct sized, tin plated copper, (kind of expensive, but I figured I wanted to crawl around like that for several days only once). I did all the work myself - a bit a glutton for punishment, but I really do understand the system, and of course saved a bit of money and wound up with some really cool (now useless) special new tools.
I also rearranged the battery selector switch setup, it's quite simple, but requires three selectors. But the result is that I can run either engine or house panels form either battery bank; recharge either bank exclusively from the engine alternator; draw or recharge 12v power from or to the inverter exclusively as well.
Like any other significant revision, some think it's the cat's pajamas, some shudder upon seeing it. But it works, and I understand it (most important for non-electricians when your "out there").
Hope it helps (but it'll probably confuse the well thought out ideas you already had),
TWM
tommor@toad.net
More (useful / useless?) information from the peanut gallery....
I faced a similar dilemma w/r to more batteries in my CD 36 and solved it as follows -
- I left the water heater as original (port locker on the shelf)
- end result is 5 group 24's - 1 12v - 4 6v
- one for engine start - on port shelf as original
- the four 6v are tied together as one bank (serial then parallel to get up to 12v
- Link monitor for the house bank
- engine start battery (alone) is monitored (sort of) using the orginal CD installed voltmeter
- location of the four 6v are as follows - 1 on orginal port locker battery/hot water heater shelf - 1 in port locker aft on floor mounted new fabricated battery shelf - the remaining two are located in the lazarette - one center forward, one starboard forward
These locations seemed to be the least worst compromise between weight distribution, minimal intrusion into "usable" space(s), above potential water in the boat, securely tied down, and reasonably accessible for periodic maintenance.
They've all been in place for nearly three years to date and seem to be doing fine - this includes one solid year of cruising then more (unfortunately) "normal" weekend use.
BTY - 1. I did upgrade the alternator to a 120 amp Balmar with an external adjustable regulator which has also made life a whole lot easier. 2. I also had installed a Heart inverter (which comes with a "smart" recharger) 3. I also replaced all battery cable sized wiring with correct sized, tin plated copper, (kind of expensive, but I figured I wanted to crawl around like that for several days only once). I did all the work myself - a bit a glutton for punishment, but I really do understand the system, and of course saved a bit of money and wound up with some really cool (now useless) special new tools.
I also rearranged the battery selector switch setup, it's quite simple, but requires three selectors. But the result is that I can run either engine or house panels form either battery bank; recharge either bank exclusively from the engine alternator; draw or recharge 12v power from or to the inverter exclusively as well.
Like any other significant revision, some think it's the cat's pajamas, some shudder upon seeing it. But it works, and I understand it (most important for non-electricians when your "out there").
Hope it helps (but it'll probably confuse the well thought out ideas you already had),
TWM
If anyone has added additional batteries to their CD36, I would be interested in hearing where you have the located. In Jazman (#68) I currently have 2 group 27 and 1 group 24 located in the port locker. With minor modification, these sit next to the hot water tank. Despite the additional plumbing (cold, hot and heat exchanger),I have considered moving the hot water tank to the aft lazarette (loads of unused space)and using the additional shelf space in the port locker for additional batteries. My CNG tanks are in the stbd. locker. Obviously a shelf would have to be glassed into the lazarette. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Jeff
tommor@toad.net