Wild Rover
New Member
- Mar 5, 2018
- 18
- Boat Info
- 1997 Sundander 400 DA with Hurley davits on swim platform: 10 foot dinghy with 8 hp Honda outboard
- Engines
- Twin Caterpillar 3116 Diesels with westerbeke diesel generator
Hey all--I have a 1997 400 DA Sundancer with 5 batteries--2 port,2 starboard and 1 generator.
I also have the cross-over emergency start system in case 1 bank gets low. The refrigerator runs off my starboard battery and this is most likely to become depleted if I'm off shore power (I know, I should run my generator more). Occasionally I have had difficulty starting my Starboard engine because of this and my crossover switch doesn't always work. Others have told me that this arrangement is crazy and that one bank of batteries should be "house" to run appliances, and one bank should be reserved as "starter" so one never has to worry about starting the engines (makes sense). Should I even pursue trying to rearrange the batteries this way? Is it even possible in a Sea Ray? Either way, I am considering a solar panel hookup to the battery running the fridge, so less need to run generator and less worry about battery depletion. Anyone know the amp draw on a stock fridge in a 1997 400DA? Need to calculate the size of solar panel(s) I would need. I know someone out there has used solar panels to address this issue. thanks, Mike K--Wild Rover
I also have the cross-over emergency start system in case 1 bank gets low. The refrigerator runs off my starboard battery and this is most likely to become depleted if I'm off shore power (I know, I should run my generator more). Occasionally I have had difficulty starting my Starboard engine because of this and my crossover switch doesn't always work. Others have told me that this arrangement is crazy and that one bank of batteries should be "house" to run appliances, and one bank should be reserved as "starter" so one never has to worry about starting the engines (makes sense). Should I even pursue trying to rearrange the batteries this way? Is it even possible in a Sea Ray? Either way, I am considering a solar panel hookup to the battery running the fridge, so less need to run generator and less worry about battery depletion. Anyone know the amp draw on a stock fridge in a 1997 400DA? Need to calculate the size of solar panel(s) I would need. I know someone out there has used solar panels to address this issue. thanks, Mike K--Wild Rover