Increased Battery Bank/Seperate Starting Battery
Saturday - October 30, 2004•Views: 8014••
My 31 came with 2 batteries, one on each bank. Because of the existing refrigeration and adding additional electronics (autopilot, wind instruments, radar, etc.) and wanting to add an inverter to power a microwave, TV, DVD and other items, I decided to increase the battery bank size and add a dedicated starting battery.
The existing cabling for the starter made quite a long run from the starter all the way to the battery switch on the panel and back to the batteries (about 20' total for just the starting circuit). I took all this out and added a dedicated starting battery switch under the companionway and ran cable to a dedicated starting battery placed in a compartment in the rear of the quarterberth reducing the total cable run for starting to about 8 feet.
For the house bank, I expanded the battery compartment into the locker beside it making room for 4 batteries total. These are divided into two banks and attached to the 1/2/all switch on the panel and used just for the house.
I have a TrueCharge 20 that has 3 outputs (1 one to each house bank and 1 to the starting battery). I also have West Marine combine to allow all the batteries to charge from the altenator. I mounted a TrueCharge remote panel above the electrical panel to monitor charging status.
The inverter is a Xantrex 1500 (1500 WATT - $85 at Costco) that powers the TV, DVD, microwave, etc. While it won't run the MarineAir heat pump, it has no problem running the fan in the air handler to provide good circulation in the boat while out.
I decided not to add a switch to combine the starting battery and house banks. Instead for emergencies, I have a single jumper cable to connect the two banks. I also carry a seperate jump pack when out.
The photos also don't show the completed house battery box and tie down straps.
The existing cabling for the starter made quite a long run from the starter all the way to the battery switch on the panel and back to the batteries (about 20' total for just the starting circuit). I took all this out and added a dedicated starting battery switch under the companionway and ran cable to a dedicated starting battery placed in a compartment in the rear of the quarterberth reducing the total cable run for starting to about 8 feet.
For the house bank, I expanded the battery compartment into the locker beside it making room for 4 batteries total. These are divided into two banks and attached to the 1/2/all switch on the panel and used just for the house.
I have a TrueCharge 20 that has 3 outputs (1 one to each house bank and 1 to the starting battery). I also have West Marine combine to allow all the batteries to charge from the altenator. I mounted a TrueCharge remote panel above the electrical panel to monitor charging status.
The inverter is a Xantrex 1500 (1500 WATT - $85 at Costco) that powers the TV, DVD, microwave, etc. While it won't run the MarineAir heat pump, it has no problem running the fan in the air handler to provide good circulation in the boat while out.
I decided not to add a switch to combine the starting battery and house banks. Instead for emergencies, I have a single jumper cable to connect the two banks. I also carry a seperate jump pack when out.
The photos also don't show the completed house battery box and tie down straps.
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