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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

battery charger

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/22/2011 : 16:26:21

Do you know if our boats came with a charger from the factory? Basically, if I'm plugged in to shore power are my batteries charging or must I add equipment to accomplish that?

I know the motor charges and I'm pondering solar but still unsure on the shore power. Thank you!

Will Osborn
2000 C250 WK #478

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2011 : 17:56:33

Just connecting to shore power is not enough. You must have the proper equipment installed.

Do you have an AC panel? Most installations of an on-board charger will have a breaker dedicated for that purpose.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2011 : 19:49:29

A charger is not standard equipment. Below is a photo of our electrical system. The big silver box is the battery charger (120V AC in - 12V DC out). To the left of the charger - from the top - are the main shore power (AC) breaker, the shore power (AC) subpanel (1 breaker to the battery charger, one breaker to an outlet, one breaker unused) and a 12V (DC) battery meter.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 03/22/2011 19:51:41

booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2011 : 16:48:09

You are right, I don't have the equipment. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

You sure have a sweet setup there Randy.

Edited by - on

mhartong
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2011 : 17:41:32

An alternative panel setup. The 30 A AC panel replaces the stock DC panel, and the 12 V DC panel is below.

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booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 17:52:39

I looked for an AC panel this weekend but could not find one. I know that shore power was installed from the factory but it appears that the 30 amp plug runs straight to the 2 gfi outlets in the cabin. Is this normal or am I missing something?

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 19:02:50

You should have an AC circuit with at least a main breaker but preferably with several sub-breakers for individual AC loads. The shore power should not go directly to the outlets in my opinion.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 04/03/2011 19:05:22

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2011 : 20:44:29

I do not know for sure about the 250 factory wiring, but my 25 had factory shore power and it came wired direct to the A/C outlets without any switches or breakers. Also would recommend if you plan on adding a charger, make sure it can function while under a load. Some do not allow you to have any DC equipment operating while the battery is charging and if you do it will burn out the charger. The Guess charger is one of these types that will burn out.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 02:58:53

I do not have Cat250 experience as I have a Cat25 but I replaced my AC outlets with GFI outlets. I guess it is possible that to save costs, they may have not wired in an AC circuitbreaker if they have GFI outlets as you indicated. It would seem to me that an AC circuitbreaker should be wired in regardless of what type of outlet is used. As you indicated, if you traced the wires and the AC circuit breaker is not in the circuit well then it's not there. The GFI outlets will trip off if overloaded or there is a short but I guess I would want to brush up a bit on what the web or a good electrical handbook has to say about AC wiring and what it should or should not have in the circuit. Going just by home wiring, bathrooms should have GFI outlets or a circuit breaker in the house's main breaker box that has a GFI built into the circuit breaker. I have seen it both ways in house wiring. Maybe someone can shed some light as to any differences if only GFI outlets are used. For example, the GFIs protect against overloads and shorts from the outlet..at least I think they also protect against overloads but maybe only shorts. Also, I am not so sure if they also protect the wiring from the outlet to the shore connection.

As some others have done, I also added a battery charger that independently charges each battery (has 2 DC wire leads to each battery and I added fuses into the each positive lead). My website also shows addl electrical improvmeents - Added an addl circuitbreaker/switch panel that allows me to reach the nav lights, etc without leaving the cockpit. Here's the charger:

Edited by - OLarryR on 04/04/2011 03:08:38

booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:36:00

Thanks, I have a Charles 15 amp charger on the way and I also ordered an AC main with 3 additional breakers on it. If I can get the boat in the water this weekend, I'll give it a shot (after reading up on boat electrical systems)

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2011 : 16:18:36

Another thread on the same subject, a good read. My setup is in this one.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23034

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2011 : 08:10:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by frog0911
 ...Also would recommend if you plan on adding a charger, make sure it can function while under a load. Some do not allow you to have any DC equipment operating while the battery is charging and if you do it will burn out the charger. The Guess charger is one of these types that will burn out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Guest has over a dozen models of charger. Have you confirmed that they all have this limitation? Which model did you have?

I have Guest #2615 15A automatic with 2 stages and support for separate charging of 2 batteries (though I only have one in use). I haven't managed to find the manual yet, so still trying to figure out its limits. I'm almost always running the stereo and/or VHF when working on the boat at the dock. I always assumed that as long as you did not exceed the amperage limitation for charging + in-use equipment that you would be OK, and that if you exceeded that a circuit breaker would kick off inside the charger before you burnt it out.

What does your manual actually say?

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2011 : 20:09:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by frog0911
 ...The Guess charger is one of these types that will burn out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I finally located the manual for my Guest 2615 charger. This model is not one of the types that will burn out. Just as I said in my prior message, as long as you stay below the charger's amperage limit, you can operate devices, including a 12v refrigerator or air conditioner. If you go over the limit, an internal circuit breaker kicks off to protect the charger.

Edited by - on

booyacht
1st Mate

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53 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 13:08:02

While climbing into my battery compartment to figure out another issue, I discovered this battery charger! I'm not sure why it was mounted in such a hard to get to spot (aft side of the rear bulkhead)

Also, there is no Main circuit breaker - the shore power plug has 2 cables coming out; 1 directly to the charger and another directly to the GFI outlet.

I'm ready Don Casey's Sailboat Electrics Simplified and this is all starting to make sense. Thanks again for all the help.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2011 : 14:04:52

Another charger consideration...IMHO, a charger should have the capability to charge the batteries when 12v usage is high, and top off the charge. Also, when the boat is not being used and the batteries are at full charge, have the capability to shut off it's full charge rate and go to a trickle charge. With these features, it can keep up when needed and not burn up the batteries when not needed.

Edited by - on

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