Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
zcecil@ibm.net
3 Battery Bank instead of 2
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Joe Wysong
Re: 3 Battery Bank instead of 2
This is not to say this is the only way, but it is a way that works on our CD330.zeida wrote: Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
Three batteries – two deep discharge marine batteries for “in-house needs” and one high-power automotive starting battery for, of course, starting.
On juicing them up – a single output 140 amp Balmar Alternator used in conjunction with a Balmar Max Charge regulator. If you spend the $250 for the regulator, don’t let someone convince you to install a dual output alternator. If you only need a charge in one of the batteries, it will charge at only 70 amps with the other 70 going down the tubes. With the smart regulator, each battery will get just what it needs until charged with no juice wasted.
On battery switches – 2. One that controls starter juice and allows you to switch to the house bank for starting should the “starting” battery go kaput. The other allows you to either use both house batteries at the same time or to switch between same. If you aren’t that particular, use one switch with the starting battery on “1" and the house on “2". You can still use the house batteries if the starting battery goes bad. You cannot, however, switch between house batteries with only one switch. Either way, the smart regulator will keep your batteries topped off no matter how the switch(es) are set. If you install this system, replace both house batteries with identical units at the same time.
If you don’t mind the few minutes involved in putting it up and taking it down, a Hamilton Ferris wind generator is an excellent option. They are stone quiet and generate lots of power. We
don’t use ours underway but instead run it up in the foretriangle when at anchor. Even in 90 degree weather (rare in Maine) with the Adler/Barbour chugging away, we can usually last four days at anchor without running the engine. Part of this is, of course, dependent on battery size. Our two house batteries are Group 30H, the largest you can get.
Joe
tgjournal@gestalt.org
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Tom Coons
Re: Where do I find out more about Hamilton Ferris WG ? (nm
Go to Info Seek or Excite search engines and type in Hamilton Ferris Power Products to get pictures and descriptions. To contact HF directly email at sales@hamiltonferris or call at 508-881-4602 (Mass) for a free catalog.
TacCambria@thegrid.net
TacCambria@thegrid.net
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Marv Birdt
Re: 3 Battery Bank instead of 2
I have a CD 30-B. Rather than purchase a third battery, I got a YAMAHA portable generator. It is normally lashed to the two standards holding the dining table in the cabin. I built an adapter to get 110 from the generator to the 30 volt input for charging the battery through the charger. Have only had to use it once while at anchor. My reason for having the portable generator was the addition of a 12 volt cold plate system conversion in the ice box. Also a third battery installed aft would tend to increase the hobby horse effect.zeida wrote: Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
Good luck....Marv Birdt
mbirdt@peganet.com
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Jerry Hammernik
Re: 3 Battery Bank instead of 2
Marv, Is that a gasoline generator or a diesel? If it is gasoline I would strongly urge you to remove it immediately. Excuse me if I sound pushy but after 25 years on a fire department gasoline scares the hell out of me. If it's not gasoline powered than (as Lily Tomlin used to say) "never mind"!Marv Birdt wrote:I have a CD 30-B. Rather than purchase a third battery, I got a YAMAHA portable generator. It is normally lashed to the two standards holding the dining table in the cabin. I built an adapter to get 110 from the generator to the 30 volt input for charging the battery through the charger. Have only had to use it once while at anchor. My reason for having the portable generator was the addition of a 12 volt cold plate system conversion in the ice box. Also a third battery installed aft would tend to increase the hobby horse effect.zeida wrote: Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
Good luck....Marv Birdt
Jerry
dauntles@execpc.com
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Marv Birdt
Re: 3 Battery Bank instead of 2
Jerry, Thanks for the concern. I failed to mention that when using the generator it is on the seat in the cockpit. In fact the adapter I built to run power from the generator to the thirty amp input at the stern is only 3 feet long. I don't run DC directly from the generator to the batteries. Thank you again.....MarvJerry Hammernik wrote:Marv, Is that a gasoline generator or a diesel? If it is gasoline I would strongly urge you to remove it immediately. Excuse me if I sound pushy but after 25 years on a fire department gasoline scares the hell out of me. If it's not gasoline powered than (as Lily Tomlin used to say) "never mind"!Marv Birdt wrote:I have a CD 30-B. Rather than purchase a third battery, I got a YAMAHA portable generator. It is normally lashed to the two standards holding the dining table in the cabin. I built an adapter to get 110 from the generator to the 30 volt input for charging the battery through the charger. Have only had to use it once while at anchor. My reason for having the portable generator was the addition of a 12 volt cold plate system conversion in the ice box. Also a third battery installed aft would tend to increase the hobby horse effect.zeida wrote: Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
Good luck....Marv Birdt
Jerry
mbirdt@peganet.com
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Derek Hillen
Solar Panel: Galileo in Guatemala
Hello Zeida from Galileo in Guatemala!
I just picked up your email on the bboard - first time I've been on the net in a while. We are currently in the Rio Dulce area after a 3,000 mile trip from New York. I am now in the interior of Guatemala studying Spanish. Galileo, my CD33, has performed flawlessly. I have 2 batteries (D8s) in my house bank and one smaller one for the engine alone. This system along with my solar panel has worked flawlessly.
I just wanted to mention something about solar panels. As you have been aboard Galileo you may remember I have a very large panel on the port side that I can rotate to get maximum exposure to the sun. My panel, made by Astrosomething or other, puts out about 6 amps an hour with correct exposure. What I want to point out is that most solar panels are very sensitive to shade, ie, if any shadow is on the panel efficiency drops by about 90%!! On my panel if a shadow covers just one of the 36 silicon crystals I lose most of my power. This is something you must consider if you plan to mount one on your new bimini (btw, have you installed it yet?). I have been told that some panels come with diodes for each crystal which obviates this problem. This means that even if there is a little shade on the panel it will only have a minimial detrimental effect. You should check into this because this is the type of panel that would be most suitable for a bimini mounting where you are guaranteed a shadow on the panel from the boom for most of the day.
Hope alls well and you have been sailing. Drop me a line.
Derek and Galileo
galileo98@hotmail.com
I just picked up your email on the bboard - first time I've been on the net in a while. We are currently in the Rio Dulce area after a 3,000 mile trip from New York. I am now in the interior of Guatemala studying Spanish. Galileo, my CD33, has performed flawlessly. I have 2 batteries (D8s) in my house bank and one smaller one for the engine alone. This system along with my solar panel has worked flawlessly.
I just wanted to mention something about solar panels. As you have been aboard Galileo you may remember I have a very large panel on the port side that I can rotate to get maximum exposure to the sun. My panel, made by Astrosomething or other, puts out about 6 amps an hour with correct exposure. What I want to point out is that most solar panels are very sensitive to shade, ie, if any shadow is on the panel efficiency drops by about 90%!! On my panel if a shadow covers just one of the 36 silicon crystals I lose most of my power. This is something you must consider if you plan to mount one on your new bimini (btw, have you installed it yet?). I have been told that some panels come with diodes for each crystal which obviates this problem. This means that even if there is a little shade on the panel it will only have a minimial detrimental effect. You should check into this because this is the type of panel that would be most suitable for a bimini mounting where you are guaranteed a shadow on the panel from the boom for most of the day.
Hope alls well and you have been sailing. Drop me a line.
Derek and Galileo
zeida wrote: Bandolera II, my 1981 CD-33 came with 2 batteries. They are connected together. I have a Guest switch which allows the alternator to charge both at the same time, or isolate the charge to #1 or #2 individually. Recently I noticed for the first time that #1 is dead. So in effect I only have the one 3-year old battery. I have a Raritan charger that while at the dock, connected to shore power, keeps recharging my one battery. i would like to install 3 batteries, keeping one iso just for the engine, and the other two for the rest of the electrical needs of the boat. Currently I do not have an inverter. I hear that I should replace my old Raritan charger by one of the new charger/inverters and then I can have the 3 batteries. Does anyone have any recommendations? Possibly in the near future, I will add a wind generator and solar panel on top of my bimini top. Anybody yet with such an arrangement? Thanks.
Zeida
CD-33 Bandolera II
Miami, FL
galileo98@hotmail.com