Charging issues

Donald Tyson · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2025 10:47 pm Post subject:

I'll digest these comments on Wednesday. Seems like the solar panel isn't so bad but it is not wired into the banks but just clipped with alligator clips (I'm slowly learning what I'm looking at.
They found that a GFCI is bad. None of the 110V outlets work. All accessories are hooked to the main starting battery.

Tomorrow

Donald Tyson · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 12:55 pm Post subject:

Yes! Solar products have really changed over the years

Donald Tyson · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:38 pm Post subject:

Tom, If this doesn't cost me my marriage I don't know what will. I've used up all the bread by toasting it. I used up all the gasoline and blew through 13 pots of coffee and I still don't have a boat.
Seriously when they get it back to me later in week I will return to this topic.

Bob,
I'll look into the twin forties and the find out what their potential is for charging.

So later in week I'll come back to this.

Donald Tyson

On my 22 there were 4 batteries and 3 were shot. In addition the gfci was shot. All 4 batteries were replaced and the gfci.
So now I need to learn how to turn off the fridge. I have the AC panel turned off, Shore power is not plugged in and the DC inverter in off. So why does my Fridge still run. What the heck...What circuit is there that it still runs once everything is off. I don't obviously know something...
Rolling Eyes

So I only need the Inverter when I want to use the house batteries for AC uses?

Does the AC breaker stay on?

What is the big switch for the DC inverter in the battery box? It doesn't seem to turn anything on or off. Does that open the house batteries to the main inverter?

The Panel on the roof is a two bank charger and yet it is only hooked to one battery. I may end up removing that. Then I can get the inflatable up there. The controller is ill defined. I have no idea what it is saying. I need to look it up.

But why is the fridge still working. that is for tomorrow to figure out.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2025 8:35 pm Post subject:

Okay the charger is on and lit up like a Christmas tree and stopped when all batteries were at 14.1 +/-. great.
The DC inverter switch does indeed let juice go to the inverter.
More to come....

thataway · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 12:03 am Post subject:

The refrigerator runs on 12 volts DC and 120 Volts AC. There should be a switch on the 12 volt panel at the helm which turns the refrigator on and off. There is also likely a fuse the for the Refrigerator. It automatically switches to 120 V AC when that is avaliable. It is possible that the refrigerator is also set up on the inverter circut.

I don't know what charger you have and how it is set up, so cannot address that issue. But I would shut it off, unless you have it programed to do an. Equalizer circuit. This is why I always have a voltage and amperage monitor on all of my batteries--I am even putting one on the Caracal Cat as part of completely rewiring the boatl.

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 8:23 am Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 9:24 am Post subject:

robhwa · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 10:28 am Post subject:

Donald Tyson · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 10:35 am Post subject:

Colby and Ssobol, That now seems to be the way mine is set up. For AC it goes through the AC panel. Where the GFI power source is (behind the fridge) the gfi says "for AC shore power only". Does this imply that I should turn the AC breaker off when not hooked up to shore power?
When the AC is off and the shore power is not connected the fridge still runs. even if the battery switches are off. I believe this tells me that the fridge is hot-wired to the batteries as there is no visible switch that turns it off the supply. How can I confirm that it is the House batteries and not the starting batteries?

Bob,
The charger is an older (yellow) Xantrex Trucharge 40+. It is set on Flooded Batts, Bulk/absorsion/float, and medium temp. It can be made to manually (infrequently) Equalize but I'm not sure how that is initiated. I'm just downloading the manual now. All seems good now. Now to go use it.

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 12:22 pm Post subject:

Donald Tyson · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 4:32 pm Post subject:

I dislike electric but can't seen to live without it and so I understand your hesitancy.

This is helpful. I have a large switch in the main starting battery box that says Inverter on it. When I turn that on then I can go to the Inverter and turn it on.

My Fridge has that same switch on the Ac Panel.

I didn't know about having the AC Power off when connecting the shore power. Unfortunately, though the switches all seem to work, the AC indicator lights don't work on either settings. No big deal now that I know which direction to turn them.

I did draw up a brief schematic of all the components but I did not draw the lines connecting them as I am still discovering which is which.

I want to thank everyone that contributed as it seems that I gained much understanding. We will go this weekend and test it all.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2025 7:26 pm Post subject:

Fine weekend.everything worked.
I guess when connected to shore power you turn off the inverter. then turn on the Ac switch. Fridge ran great, batteries stayed topped off and I merely use the solar on the two house batteries. We had a great weekend electrically and mechanically but gosh was the temp and humidity stink here on the Chesapeake. Sure is a thing of beauty.

Now and then I decide to test things to see if they,re true and I did find that yes, the boat will take on water rapidly if you don,t remember to put the plug in, ask me how I know!

Schuster · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2025 11:51 am Post subject:

Donald, glad to see that you're getting things figured out electrically on your boat. Part of the fun of new boat ownership is figuring out what you have while in the process of enjoying yourself.
As far as the water intrusion issue goes ----- anyone who has owned a trailer boat for any amount of time has at one time or another failed to install the plug before launching. You will find that you will get into a pre-launching routine which will prevent that from happening again. I have found that missing something in the routine usually happens when you have helpful company that disrupts your normal routine. My routine starts prior to getting in line to launch the boat (for a stbd tie) in the staging area. Get out of truck, walk to port transom corner and release tiedown, check plug, raise motor, check plug, remove stbd tiedown, arrange rear line to tie to dock, put rear fender in place, move forward put forward fender down, arrange bow line for easy handling. Walk back around the eyeball everything before getting in the launch lane. Back down till the trailer wheels hit the water, get out and give bow line to helper, unhook safety chain and release strap. Back the boat in till the transom begins to float. Hit the brakes and the boat slides off (I have plastic caps over my 2x6 trailer bed). If my normal copilot is with me I don't worry about the boat and go park the truck. If I have a newbie with me I'll get the boat secured before parking.
I do have a couple of exciting launch sequences that involved not putting in the plug with fishing boats. Part of the life long learning experiences that make you a better boater in the long game.
My suggestion for any boater would be to get in a routine and stick with it.
Of course there is another routine once you're in the water and prior to deparure.

Donald Tyson · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2025 9:20 am Post subject:

Yes, The wife, having been to the "checklist pages" on the Great Loop site insists that we sit down this week and begin crafting a few checklists ourselves. I've never been a "write it down" type of guy and that contributed to almost sanking our boat. It was otherwise a fun trip. Thanks for you encouraging words.