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BATTERY RECOMMENDATIONS
A minimum of THREE marine-grade batteries are strongly
recommended: One exclusively for engine starting and the other
two as a single bank for all other DC electrical devices such as
lights, electronics and your system. The second battery or group
of batteries (wired in series or parallel depending on voltage) is
commonly called the "house bank." A standard marine battery
selector switch should be installed to isolate each battery or
battery bank.
The house bank should be at least 300 amp/hour capacity. More
is desirable. The larger the battery bank, the longer you can
operate the various loads between engine charging and the
faster you can recharge. This is because the alternator actual
output in amps is greater into a larger battery bank. Experts
suggest the bank's nominal amp/hour rating should be four
times (4x) the alternator's rated (hot) output.
The following ampere/hour capabilities are recommended for
the house bank, which serves the ColdMachine™.
For the "casual cruiser" 25-35 feet, seldom away from dock
for longer than overnight ...minimum 200 amp/hours
For the "serious cruiser" 30-50 feet, often cruising for a week
or more ...minimum 300 amp/hours
For the charter yacht or tropics-based "serious cruiser"
operating in hot climates and requiring greater quantities of
ice cubes and frozen foods .... Minimum 400 amp/hours.
High Output Alternator, Electrical Management Systems, and
Batteries
The continuing proliferation of electrical and electronic devices
aboard boats has produced great interest in reducing engine-
running time required for battery charging. Specialty high-output
alternators are readily available. Several manufacturers offer
complete electrical generation and management systems. It is
now entirely practical for medium sized cruising boats to support
DC refrigeration, inverter-driven galley appliances, navigational
systems including computerized charting and radars, all with very
acceptable daily engine hours for battery charging.
As to batteries, a good deal of misinformation still exists
regarding "marine," "deep-cycle" and "deep-discharge" batteries.
These terms generally describe a battery constructed to provide
small-to-moderate currents for long periods of time, as opposed
to short bursts of high current to start engines. While "deep-
cycle" batteries start engines quite satisfactorily, engine-starting
batteries are very poor for small current, long-term tasks.
Automotive, sealed, or so-called "maintenance-free" wet-type
batteries are okay for the engine start battery, but are not suitable
for the house or service battery bank that runs all the other
equipment on your boat regardless of how they are labeled. A
WAECO USA, Inc.
18
Tel. (860) 664-4911 • Fax. (860) 664-4912 • www.waecousa.com
few manufacturers of genuine, marine, heavy-duty, deep cycle
wet-type batteries are creating a public awareness of the
inadequacies of disguised, re-labeled automotive batteries for
marine use, particularly as house batteries in sailing yachts.
GEL and AGM Batteries (as distinguished from so-called
"maintenance free" auto batteries ): Several high quality products
are available in all popular sizes. They perform comparably to the
very best wet-type deep cycle traditional batteries, but require
little or no maintenance. However they require very carefully
regulated charging systems, and cannot be simply interchanged
with wet batteries.
What all this means is that a boat owner with a full complement
of equipment aboard such as electronics, refrigeration, auto-pilot,
stereo, etc and who feels the engine must be run too long for
battery charging, can get very substantial improvements by using
the technology and equipment now available.
We strongly urge all boat owners to take advantage of the
excellent technical manuals, articles and products now available
in the marine industry. There is no longer any reason to put up
with long hours of engine running and marginal electrical
systems.
WIRING THE SYSTEM
All Adler/Barbour products from December 1998 forward
incorporate a new, more powerful and more energy efficient
compressor featuring a 3-phase AC motor, which is driven and
digitally managed by the electronic module (the finned device
on the side of the compressor).
NOTE: The electronic module is not repairable, should not be
opened and must be replaced if damaged.
This control unit, like most electrical devices, requires fairly
"clean" DC current for stable operation and long service life.
Batteries provide clean, ripple-free DC current. Many battery
chargers, alternators and AC/DC converters may not. This means
that the ColdMachine should not be connected directly to any of
these devices, unless a battery is between them in the circuit.
Contents, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
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