If you don't have one, I recommend you stop by a Home Depot and pick up a simple outlet checker. They come in many forms but typically they are yellow with three lights. I use mine every time I plug into shore power just to make sure the shore side is wired correctly. I've seen it wrong a couple of times so I always check.
Phil Agur <http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Derek Atkin Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 11:34 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [IC27A] Replacing A/C breaker box I was planning on upgrading the boat to apair of group 27 batteries, which I checked have a 115 amp/hour rating. For now - I am just going to replace the panel and install a switch for the charger. Have a lot of other first year ownership issues to deal with - so the a/c wiring will be done right - just not fancy with a marine panel inside for now. Derek.- # 4297 _____ From: Phil Agur <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 2:58:58 PM Subject: RE: [IC27A] Replacing A/C breaker box Hi Derek, Yes, the True Charge 20 is one of my top picks for a smart charger. Just be mindful of the minimum 100 amp hour rating for the batteries. I read it as each not combined so if recollection serves me correctly Group 24s are too small. Phil Agur <http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 -----Original Message----- From: ic...@yahoogroups. com [mailto:IC27A@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Derek Atkin Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 7:06 PM To: ic...@yahoogroups. com Subject: Re: [IC27A] Replacing A/C breaker box Hi Phil, Thanks for the detailed note. I was under the impression the Xantrex Truecharge 20 was a smart charger. It offers three charge modes and temperature sensing so that it won't overheat the batteries: http://www.xantrex. com/web/id/ 69/p/docs/ <http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/69/p/docs/pt/7/product.asp> pt/7/product. asp So my new plan is just to replace the existing 20 amp breaker and install a switch between the breaker box and the charger - I just want to be able to turn on the a/c outlets without activating the charger. I assume if I replace the existing outlet on the port side with a GFCI outlet - it will protect the other outlet on the starboard side? I don't have a specific panel for A/C. Thanks Derek.- _____ From: Phil Agur <pja...@sbcglobal. net> To: ic...@yahoogroups. com Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 5:34:03 PM Subject: RE: [IC27A] Replacing A/C breaker box Hi Derek, The first thing after the shore power connector is a two leg 20Amp circuit breaker feeding a GFCI outlet. On Wing Tip these 3 items are inside the port coming compartment behind water proof covers. Only after the power has been run through a main breaker and the GFCI does it go to the boat's electrical panel. A 20A charger doesn't draw 20A from the AC line. It's only going to draw around 3 amps at full output. That means there would always be 15A available for the outlets. A 20A charger is actually a little on the large size. While bigger sounds better I'd always opt for a smart charger over a bulk charger. Certainly a 20A smart change would be fine but if you check the recommended bank size for a True Charge 20 you'll find it's more like what you would have on a little bigger boat. A big bulk charger heats the electrolyte as a by product of charging causing the electrolyte to hold less charge. A smart charger recognizes this and limits it's bulk charging phase lets the battery cool and comes back later to slowly top off the charge. It's better for the battery life and the battery will hold more energy. Wing Tip has a 20A built in charger that will jump start the diesel but I actually use a 10A smart charger to maintain the batteries. Phil Agur <http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 -----Original Message----- From: ic...@yahoogroups. com [mailto:IC27A@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Derek Atkin Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 9:33 AM To: ic...@yahoogroups. com Subject: [IC27A] Replacing A/C breaker box My existing circuit breaker box is pretty old an rusty. I am also adding a bigger battery charger. It was my plan to replace the unit with a new box and add two circuit breakers. One for the main (20A) and another for the battery charger(15A) . Do I feed the A/C in through the 20A then pass through to the 15A or can I wire both together off the same inline feed, thus allowing interal outlets to be off while the charger is on. Any thoughts ? Derek.-
