Dan, you can certainly extend a set of leads. If you're adding much length, it's a good idea to run heavier cables, though, to keep the resistance down.
An alternative to a two-bank charger that you may want to consider to a two- bank charger is an ACR, or Automatic Charging Relay. In the '77 C27 I'm refitting, I've eliminated my battery switch and using a Blue Seas 9112 ACR instead. It connects both banks together during heavy draw (like starting), and also watches both banks during normal cruise operations or while hooked up to shore power--if it sees that the active bank is fully charged, it combines the two banks so they both get charged, and then isolates them again when charging is done. It's like having a little battery monitor that does exactly what's best for my boat under the current circumstances, and I don't have to wonder whether I've remembered to set the switches right. I paid about $125 for it, but I saved a lot of money by buying a big single charger rather than a two-bank unit and my battery switch was defective anyway. And I don't need an isolator, either. How was your trip down south, by the way? Best regards, David Shaddock 1977 C27 #3495 Pixie, in Rockford IL > Phil, > > Can I extend one of the sets of leads -- it appears that most 2 bank > chargers require that the batteries be fairly close together. > > Thanks, > Dan > > Phil Agur wrote: > > >Hi Dan, > > > >The most common solution is to buy a two bank charger, that's a single > >charger with two outputs. > > > >Phil Agur s/v Wing Tip > >Commodore, Call Sign WCW3485 > >IC27/270A MMSI 366901790 > >www.catalina27.org Vessel Doc# 1039809 > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [email protected] > >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dan Buller > >Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 6:35 PM > >To: [email protected] > >Subject: catalina27-talk: Charger question > > > >I have what probably sounds like a dumb question: I want to put a 2 > >bank battery system in place this year (house and starting) and I will > >have a combiner switch I am also wanting a hard wired charger in place. > >Here is the issue: the batteries will be in different locations so do I > >need 2 chargers or can I place the charger with the switch and charge > >both batteries with one charger or will I need 2 chargers (one at each > >battery location)? > > > >Thanks, > >Dan B > >Sotto voce 1973 Catalina 27 Hull 653 > >OB Dinette Std Rig > > > > > >
