Adding a windlass and third battery

[mochosla]

Hi guys,

I just bought a Powerwinch 450 windlass for my WA 21' Striper and will be installing it as per their requirements and recommendations. While their instructions are fairly clear, I have a question regarding adding a third battery to the boat. I must add that my boat already has 2 batteries connected to an A / B switch. I already have a deep cycle battery that I'm planning to use and I want to add it right under the anchor box but my question is, how can I connect it to the boat electric system so that it is automatically charged by the motor while not impacting my electronics when lifting the anchor.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Adding a windlass and third battery

One of these should do the trick

http://bluesea.com/category/2

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Adding a windlass and third battery

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=239445

This diagram may help. I've been wrestling with some of the same type issues. I may end up adding an entire new 24v circuit instead of just the third battery as my house load would drain the starting battery anyway.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Adding a windlass and third battery

Single or twin engine? For a single engine, and please correct guys if I'm wrong, you could just add on an additional house battery in parallel - red to red, black to black. Simply make up short "jumpers" (bolted terminals, NOT clamps) and run them from the old house battery to the new house battery. Voltage in paralell stays the same but the capacity is increased.

I've got two dual purpose batteries as starting batteries - each wired to an A/B - and one group 31 deep cycle as my house. I'm considering adding a second 31 just for good measure.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Adding a windlass and third battery

Sorry - I didn't realize it was a 12v windlass.

www.powerwinch.com/powerwinch/file?fileid=-410659799

 

[dingbat]

Re: Adding a windlass and third battery

Single or twin engine? For a single engine, and please correct guys if I'm wrong, you could just add on an additional house battery in parallel - red to red, black to black. Simply make up short "jumpers" (bolted terminals, NOT clamps) and run them from the old house battery to the new house battery. Voltage in paralell stays the same but the capacity is increased.

The problem with that is that you?re putting both batteries at risk should one of the batteries or the charging system fail. Connecting the batteries with an ACR will protect both from being discharged should something happen.