Dual battery clarification

[Formula001]

Hello all, before I install my second battery I would like to ask if I am going to be doing this right. I have done a good amount of reading on it. I went out and purchased a deep cycle battery to run in parallel with a starting battery. On the deep cycle I want to run on my stereo, amp, sub and some deck LED's, and everything else on the regular battery. Now I guess my question is do I only need the battery selector switch? I will switch to (2) on the switch when anchored to run the stereo and ect. Do I also need an ACR as well for this set up or will the selector switch be all that I need? Or if you do the battery selecting correctly I guess that will be sufficent. Thanks in advance

 

[nikon]

Re: Dual battery clarification

Dunno what an ACR is. The selector switch is all you need, I personally got tired of switching it to 1 or 2 when I stopped. I now have my stereo hooked up to battery 2 and leave the switch on 1. Installed a VSR (voltage sensitive relay). When it senses a charge it links the battery and charges both batteries, when you turn off the motor it splits the batteries.

 

[Formula001]

Re: Dual battery clarification

That's what I thought. Now another question would be about selecting the batteries. When starting you start on (1) correct which would be the starting bat. Do you then switch it to both while cruising or what is the process. I would think if you switched to both while not started the batteries would equalize??

 

[Noggin]

Re: Dual battery clarification

I went the ACR route myself. I installed a second Dual Purpose Battery so I could jump start if need be, and moved all the accessories (house) over to it and simply left the starter on the original battery. I then wired an ACR between the two (I did not put cutoff switches at the time, but probably will add them later) and now I can run the electronics for about 20 hours before it goes dead and still have the engine start right up. The ACR also lets the house battery charge once the engine is running. Much easier than forgetting to flip a switch back and forth. I think I have a diagram somewhere if you'd like to see it, let me know and I'll find and post it.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Dual battery clarification

You can use whichever setting (1 or 2) as your starting battery. It all depends on which side of the switch the Starting battery is on and which side the deep cycle is on. I would bet 95% of boaters put the starting on 1 and the house on 2...I know I always have.

When starting, you can either fire then engine on 1 or both. Really doesn't matter, especially if the batteries are charged. If you have a new selector switch, you can switch it to 'both' after starting on 1 without fear of damage.

If you do install an ACR (automatic charging relay), here is the spec page for installation and operation.

http://bluesea.com/files/resources/instructions/990170140.pdf

 

[nikon]

Re: Dual battery clarification

K, ACR is the same thing as the VSR..

Do yourself a favor and install one, If not you'll run the risk of forgetting your switch on both and drain both batteries.

 

[Formula001]

Re: Dual battery clarification

Thanks for the help. I got it all wired up tonight and it looks good.