Trojan Boat Forum

Are the batteries set up port to port, middle to genset and starboard to starboard?

If so, which supplies the house?

Thanks

S.A.M. wrote:Are the batteries set up port to port, middle to genset and starboard to starboard?

If so, which supplies the house?

Yes.

Now for the "house" question, I may be off base on this but it seems that the 12 volt side of the panel is split half on the port battery and half on the stbd side with no "house"circuit.

I tried running everything on one battery, but it drew that battery down so veryquickly that I put everything back to the factory settings.

I did adda battery switch to the genset battery which hadbeen connected to the port battery. This way it is completely isolated, should the two group 31s go down, the genset battery can start thegenny which can then charge the starting batteries.

That battery switch plus te helm toggle allow me to parallel two or three batteries in a bad situation.

Daytime on the hook is generally not an issue however the 10 meter has a number of flourescent lights and we added a small amplifier for the cockpit speakers. I believe these are the source of the high current draw.

For us it really didn't make a differenceas we generally run our diesel genset whenever we're out for the referigerators, ice maker and most importantly, for the HVAC.

On the hook, the genny runs the battery charger which handles all three battery banks.

RWS

Thanks RWS

The previous owner has a G27 DC battery on the port and G24 start batteries at gen and starboard.

I've ordered 3 G34 AGM dual purpose batteries to replace them. Like you any time my wife and I are out the genset is running. We enjoy the outdoors, but also enjoy the comforts of home.

I've had problems with the factory altenator(s) on the 454's overcharging the AGM batteries, which I believed to be a better product at the time.

It made sense on paper.

They were victims of overcharging, swelled up and failed.

Subsequent research showed me that to properly utilize AGMs or gel cell batteries a special regulatoris needed to avoid the high charging rates that can be pushed out by the factory alternators.

Additionally, should you leave the 120V charger accidentially turned ON when the genset is on while running the engines, there is a chnce of REALLY overcharging the gel cells.

I switched back to standard, low maintenance lead/antimony batteries in 2004 and have had excellent results since and all at a lower expense without having to change out regulators/alternators/isolators etc.

RWS

I had read that gel batteries were bad about over charging. When I installed new Crusaders in my other boat, which I've got sell, the Optimas started giving me problems. They have high amp altenators.

To late now, but thanks for input.