Guys,
First of all thanks for all the help and advice. As some of you may recall my engine started to become very hard to start. I thought it might be the glow plugs but I pulled them all this weekend and they all checked out at 1.5 Ohms, which is within spec.
You may also recall I had an odd battery configuration from the PO, I traced it this weekend and determined that I have one single bank of four group 27 batteries. I tested the bank at the battery terminals and was surprised to see a strong reading of 13.56 volts. I put the glow plugs back in and energized the plugs for 5 seconds like I always used to, and the engine cranked right up on the first revolution like it always used to before the problem. I might add the temperature that day was 30 degrees F.
So I figure with all of this cold weather my fridge has not been constantly running like it had been and the batteries finally got fully charged. So I should be good for the winter, but I would really like to have a viable solution for when the fridge is running more. First I want to isolate one of the group 27 batteries for engine only so I am confident that the engine will start (maybe keep two of the group 27's in parallel since I have them), and my thought was to replace the other batteries with two GC2's And add a newer style charger with the float and absorption, temp sensing etc. I know the 6 volt GC2's in series will give me about 200 AH from what I read... and probably do better with the fridge.
Do I need a combiner? How does that work with a split bank for charging?
Thanks again for all the help and advice.
Tony
Tony Castagno
S/V Terra Nova (Hull #22)
Atlanta GA, Lake Lanier-based
1983 C-36 mkI M25XPB
Tony -
In your prior thread, [url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2633[/url], I posted (about 4 or five posts down) a response with some links to a bunch of other discussions on this. Did you get a chance to check them out yet? Lots of good information and wiring scheme diagrams.
You can feed the 6V GC house bank with a properly sized cable directly from the alternator, and then use a battery combiner relay (we use the Blue Seas) to automatically charge a group 27 12V starter battery. Works well for us.
Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY
Tony, I may be forgetting important details about your situation. Based upon what you just wrote, I am confused.
While 4 Group 27s are far from an ideal battery bank, IMHO, when fully charged, they are 4 times the 'power' you need to start your engine (i.e. one charged Group 27 will start it fine).
You seem to be saying that perhaps when your fridge is running under a typical duty cycle that it is not allowing your batteries to stay fully charged. If you have shore power and any decent battery charger, that should never happen. If you have marginal solar or wind power, that is a different story.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Thanks Matt, I could not open those links last time for some reason... I can now.... very informative...
Duane,
Yes I agree the four batteries should be overkill, but in the warmer weather the compressor ran non stop in this GA heat, and I think they never were fully charged with my old charger on shore power. I think I will probably split the banks and go with deep cycle for house.
Still trying to understand how I should wire it, I will continue with the great links you guys Matt sent but they are creating more questions than answers.... :)
Thanks,
Tony
Tony Castagno
S/V Terra Nova (Hull #22)
Atlanta GA, Lake Lanier-based
1983 C-36 mkI M25XPB
Tony,
As Matt suggested, there is a TON of information on this website. A little reading will get you lots of answers. As a quick-and-dirty answer, if you have (4) 12V batteries, use three for the house bank wired in parallel, alternator output directly to the house bank, use one for the starting battery, charged by an echo charger or combiner. Upgrade the battery/charging wiring. Your fridge should not be running all the time, even in a hot GA summer. Check the connections, and check the insulation (or lack of insulation) around the box. Lots of articles on that topic, too. The frdige only draws about 5A when running. If your battery charger can't keep up with that, replace it now. Hope this helps.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Tom,
Yes the MKI insulation is pretty much non existent as it was a true ice box. During the summer the outside walls in the galley "sweat" with condensation, I've been thinking about more insulation, I will do a thread search. One thing I notice is that my expansion plate gets very icy before the first bend in the box... I bought a long one and covers three sides of the box, don't recall the length... I understand that optimally there should not be ice as it is less efficient, I assume the Freon is running through the whole plate as I don't think it would make the return to the compressor if part was kinked.... I tried to be really careful when bending it to fit.
Tony
Tony Castagno
S/V Terra Nova (Hull #22)
Atlanta GA, Lake Lanier-based
1983 C-36 mkI M25XPB
I know this is off of the starting issue and on to the frig ,but 2 things that helped mine a lot was having the freon serviced and putting in a small computer fan and hooking up to the port for electrical off of the compressor.There is a spot for a fan to come off so when the compressor comes on the fan runs
Bill Miller
S/V Lorraine
Pacific Northwest,Sound Sound
Grapeview,Wa
1990 Mk1