Installing acr and dual batteries on my 1990 seaswirl

[Linecoach97]

I have a 1990 Seaswirl Topaz (Striper) with a 3.0 OMC Cobra sterndrive. I've worked for years with autos but I am fairly inexperienced with boats. My alternator went bad so I have replaced the original with a 105 amp single wire (reccomended by the local boat shop). I have a dual battery system and I am installing a Blue Sea ACR and Dual circuit battery switch to facilitate the charging of both batteries. My questions begin with where to run the alternator to? The manufacturer reccomends running directly to the battery, while I have found several wiring diagrams, very few address one wire alternators and where to route them. Some actually show running the alternator into the battery isolator switch. My second question pertains to how and where to run the Start Isolation (SI) wire. I know it goes to the ignition switch, but does it replace the existing wiring, or simply tie into the ignition wiring? Do you tie it in "under dash", at the starter, or is there a better location (like a relay switch) that is easier to access? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and happy boating!

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Installing acr and dual batteries on my 1990 seaswirl

the advise on the web site for the acr says that you should hook it up to the batterys that get the most use on them. if you are only starting the boat then cruising then it should be installed on the house batteries if you are starting and stopping then install on the starting battery (bass boat set up) always keep the dual switch on the starting battery unless you have a problem then use the house batteries for starting. its to reduce the cycling time on the acr (the acr will charge in pulses as the voltage rises and drops but with 105amps available that wont be a real problem as the voltage proberly wont drop unless you are on tick over). kinda makes sense