This is an early image of my setup. 3 Battleborn batteries, agm start battery designed for a Mazda Miata, inverter and dc to dc charger. This was cleaned up and properly bolted brown. We launched early here in New England, been cycling this setup for about two weeks.
I have learned a few things:
The charging via solar is much more efficient than lead acid. The battery power is amazing with no sag using the inverter, all lights, two refrigerators, etc. very glad I went with them.
alternator charging is limited, the 51amp stock alternator is not adequate at idle to keep the dc to dc charger from cycling on and off - works fine above 1400 rpm. I need to rework the settings to better protect the agm start battery. Or upgrade the alternator setup.
The undersized agm start battery works great even in 32 degree weather, not my preferred boating, but these are unique covid times. Long duration glow plug and combined starting is easy.
The stock battery charger (Charles with a battery setting switch on the back) works ok, but slow. We are using a portable generator during the very bad spring weather here, and it could be faster. I may look into a LiFePO4 specific charger- but this is not typical usage for us.
The ability to use and add power fast has been great - we never shut the inferter off and run the propane solenoid 24/7 for a cabin heater (force 10), at night we have mattresses heaters for both cabins. The flip side is we do have to put the electrons back, and with Days and days of no sun we are resorting to other methods that were not part of the plan.
Looks great! I have been working on my electrical too. Thanks for posting.
I have room for two 200 watt solar panels on the top of my hard bimini. I have a costway refrigerator and I want to be able to run it if i anchor out. The refrigerator was cheap and made in China so I wouldn't buy it again now. It works great though. Anyway I am trying to add batteries but maybe just go with two and max solar.
Mike
Catalina 36 MK1
1984 Hull #306
You should have no problem leaving the fridge in all the time. We did last year on a mooring with lead acid and 220 watts of solar, and that's the factory refrigerator that may use more power than the portables. We only used it weekends and some evenings, but the fridge was always cold. The batteries stayed full unless we had several days of no sun, but would recover when the sun returned.
Hello Mike and two-rocks,
My 6 year old 2x 8D 250 Ah AGM house batteries was near the end of life so I replaced them on my C36 MK2 with 200Ah CHINS LiFePO4 batteries (Amazon). The 2x new LiFePO4 house batteries seems to be doing good with the existing Charger/inverter but the Link 10 seems to hang&lock up once in a while. Also, the existing charger/inverter is designed for AGM. So I'm planning to replace the system with a Victron 3000W inverter Charger with Cerbo GX and display. Will also add Solar panel to the system as well. Any tips or caution about this project?
Regards and thanks,
Nat S.
Nat, I've been researching how to convert to Lifepo4 batteries. I can't tell for sure, but you haven't mentioned anything about a DC to DC charger or other conversion issues. These "drop in replacements" aren't really drop in. You need the alternator to charge the lead acid starter battery which in turn charges the lifepo4 house batteries. Please check with someone about this or you might blow out your alternator.