Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

[MassillonBuckeye]

I'm planning my setup now and looking for ideas. Have one battery(Starter(port) and House(starboard)) on each side in rear of boat. Installing a battery switch and ACR and wondering how I want to mount the switch etc. Going to get some 6awg to run from switches to batteries and 100 amp fuses(terminal fuse setup). So yeah, any pictures of your primary battery setup and maybe explanation would be awesome!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Why not explain how YOU want YOUR system to work. It is far easier to help you if we know what you want rather than waiting for what everyone else has. Why do you feel you need the switch as well as the ACR?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Why not explain how YOU want YOUR system to work. It is far easier to help you if we know what you want rather than waiting for what everyone else has. Why do you feel you need the switch as well as the ACR?

I don't want the house battery draining the charging battery if someone decides to have a "blonde moment". Having to switch while on the water was not an attractive option. The way the boat is now, there is no switch at all. Just the batteries wired in parallel. Yet I want to charge with one charger(alternator(only 7-9a output) or portable Guest charger on land) I don't have anything major on the house circuit yet other than running lights, bilge and livewell pump and older Lowrance fish/depth finder. But plan on adding at least a radio and a few more lights maybe. I primarily night fish.
I'm just wondering about the aesthetics of the connections mostly. Where and what to mount the switches to etc. So I can decide how much and how heavy of wire I need. Everyone shows off their polished aluminum and gelcoat, time to show off those wire ties and butt splices!

I see BlueSeas site is stating their teminal fuses are only good up to 40a but they make up to 300a fuses? Using http://circuitwizard.bluesea.com/
I need a couple fuses for this system as well. The terminal type seems most convenient.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

The use of an ACR does provide one advantage in a dual battery situatiion and that is if it is properly connected, eliminates needing to change switch positions. However, you have a 7-9 amp output from the engine alternator so I rather doubt the ACR is going to be any benefit since it would not likely switch to the house battery very often since it's total output would generally be required by the starting battery. So that's issue #1. Is it necessary? No. Is it ok to add? Certainly but why spend money on somethng you don't really need. The next issue is switching while on the water. It is not an issue if the switch is placed where it is convenient. That doesn't have to be at the helm and in fact placing it near the batteries eliminates very long runs of heavy and expensive battery cable. As for the act of switching, Why Not set the switch to BOTH, run to where you are going to fish and then set the switch to the house battery. Leave the switch in that position even if you have to change fishing spots. The engine will start from and charge the house battery. Fact is, you have nothing on the house battery that represents a large current draw. Lastly, there are bunch of diagrams in this section on how to add a dual battery switch. There have been a couple in the last week or so. Just scroll down the list. As for wiring youraccessories, everything gets wired to the COM terminal of the switch except perhaps an automatic bilge pump which goes to the largest battery on the boat. That allows it to run if necessary when the battery switch is OFF. As for wiring of the ACR, I personally feel you don't need it but that's a personal choice.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

However, you have a 7-9 amp output from the engine alternator so I rather doubt the ACR is going to be any benefit since it would not likely switch to the house battery very often since it's total output would generally be required by the starting battery. .

I'm not sure what you mean. Not switch? It also switches when it detects a charging current.


Its already been bought. Along with the battery maintainer I'm going to use to slow charge that circuit between trips. Everything is enclosed in the rear so there really isn't any convenient place to put it and I don't think having to switch it multiple times a trip is convenient at all anyhow . I do a lot of stop and go sometimes so this was a major concern. I didn't ask how to wire it, I asked how you folks have dealt with your wiring and made it look nice. Or maybe all your stuff came wired from the factory. Sorry if my question was misleading. I've pretty much planned the circuits, I am more curious about the aesthetics. I still don't have any pictures of battery compartments and battery switches! Cmon folks, show off those smexy fuse blocks and 2awg wires!

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Which ACR and Battery switch do you have? Is it this one?

http://bluesea.com/category/78/1/productline/overview/329

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Yes sir.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Ok, as mentioned by Silvertip, this is not a switch you keep changing. The only reason you would change from ON to Combine would be because your starting battery was dead and you were wanting to use the house battery to start the engine.
Once you shut the engine off and the motor is no longer charging, the relay opens and all your house functions, electronics, pumps, lights etc. all rely on the house battery, ----- Automatically. The starting battery is isolated from any of the house circuits IF you have the wiring in your boat setup properly. YOU have to make sure none of your accessories are running off the engine harness.

Granted, with only 7-9A output, as mentioned, you may never close the relay. Especially if your motor is hard to start and you have to crank it a lot. But with that setup, even at home on the trailer with a small charger, you can hook the charger up to the starting battery, and with the Battery switch turned to off, you can charge both batteries.

After all that, what motor do you have, and what is the length of battery cables from the switch to the individual batteries?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

1978 70HP Merc SN# 4785***

Considering mounting the switch and ACR next to the House battery(starboard side storage comp, aft). The batteries are about 3.5 ft apart. straight line across. I might even be able to combine them into one compartment although I like the though of balance. Not a huge deal. I'd have to re-route the 4awg running from starter batt to Motor though. Unless I moved house batt but there are all my grounds and whatnot considering thats the Starboard battery. The house batt.

Thats exactly what I'm looking for Don. Something I don't Have to switch. If I can eliminate that ONE time out, where you forgot to charge, or forgot to switch and drained the wrong bank, then that's what I'd like to do. Although you are saying a 7~9a charging current might not open the relay to charge both banks? So there no way a .6a maintainer would either? I didn't realize there was a minimum charging current necessary to combine batteries. Or am I not understanding correctly?

house side:

Starter side:

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

A .6A battery maintainer, is not a charger, and will never charge a battery in real life. They KEEP a battery full, they don't fill it.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

A .6A battery maintainer, is not a charger, and will never charge a battery in real life. They KEEP a battery full, they don't fill it.

So over a weeks time, that battery(s) will not top off?

 

[gus-gus]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

A .6A battery maintainer, is not a charger, and will never charge a battery in real life. They KEEP a battery full, they don't fill it.

Are you sure? Because my Deltran battery tender does fill a completely depleted battery, very slowly.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Are you sure? Because my Deltran battery tender does fill a completely depleted battery, very slowly.

*Theoretically, this charger shouldn't have to charge all that much.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Best thing you can do is try your charger on a low battery and see if it works.
Will it push the voltage over the required voltage to close the relay and charge both batteries? Again, give it a try.

Your large battery cables need to be sized for using the starter, not for charging.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Well I have also ordered the Guest 6a portable charger. Which I was planning on charging the 12v two bank trolling motor circuit in the bow.

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Best thing you can do is try your charger on a low battery and see if it works.
Will it push the voltage over the required voltage to close the relay and charge both batteries? Again, give it a try.

Your large battery cables need to be sized for using the starter, not for charging.

There are two sets at the starter battery. 4awg going to starter, 10awg going to house battery. Don, would you recommend using 100a Terminal fuses for the + to switch wire? Like 2 http://www.iboats.com/Blue-Sea-Term...7520169--**********.226322671--view_id.729803

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Have you looked at the instructions for the ACR and switch yet?

 

[MassillonBuckeye]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Have you looked at the instructions for the ACR and switch yet?

Yes. Recommended awg and fuse size depends on load of course.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

I'm going to put a picture together for you, I don't think you understand what you are reading.
Won't take too long.

 

[Don S]

Re: Pictures of your battery systems inc. switches/ACRs?

Ok, you do not want those big fuses in the starting system, for forget about them.
In the drawing below, the red wires are battery cables, the black wires marked battery cable are marked battery cable. Got rid of the buss barr for simplicity.
The fuses you need are for the charging system. You can use 12ga wire there, and use 20 amp fuses, which is great for your 7-9A charging system and 6A charger you are looking at. The fuse in the 16ga ground wire is the ground for the relays. VERY little amperage needed.