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Crownline33
RO# 32699
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 Posted - May 22 2012 : 08:34:51
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Hey Guys,
I have a 260 Sundancer with 3 batteries and an on board charger. What is the proper way to wire the batteries? I want to be sure I do not run out of juice on the hook overnight running refrigerator, lights, ect. I know there are a few different ways of doing this, and was curious on getting some feedback on the best way. Do I need an isolator? Thanks for your help guys!
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260 Sundancer 7.4 BravoIII
13' Boston Whaler
09 - F-150 FX4 |
Homeport: East Greenwich, NJ
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Ghost
RO# 689
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Posted - May 22 2012 : 08:48:19
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Get a copy of Nigel Calder's book on boat electrical and read everything in it.
You say you don't want to run out of juice, but that's more a function of knowing how much you consume as compared to how much you have. If you want to isolate your starting batteries from house batteries, that's a different issue. You may or may not need an isolator depending upon whether you have an idependant source of charging your starting battery.
The "best" way of achieving everything is dependant upon your boats usage and configuration. Nobody can tell you exactly what you want to do without first understanding more about what you have (and want to do). You should start by calculating out how many amp-hours you want to consume on any given day, consider how you will be able to put those amp hours back (charger, alternators, generator) and then measure whether you have the capacity for doing that in the first place (Is your battery bank large enough). I almost NEVER recommend manual switches for charging. That works for they guy who already knows exactly what he needs AND has the discipline to achieve it with checklist level perfection (meaning only about 1% of the population max including nearly all of those capable of designing such a system).
To make your system bullet proof, you need the make the operation of it nearly 100% automated.
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| What part of GALE WARNING did you not understand? |
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Homeport: Everett Wa
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Billylll
RO# 24494
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Posted - May 22 2012 : 09:16:09
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You need to oversize the battery capacity by 50% of your total current draw in amp hours. I would create a house battery bank. The house bank should be seperated from the starting battieries. I use BlueSea high current ACR's to charge various battery banks when I am cruising if the generator is off and my chargers are not running. ACR stands for Automatic Charge Relay. Mine have control switches at the helm so I can parallel house banks with starting banks if needed with the flick of a switch. Otherwise when the ACR is in auto mode the starting batteries are charged and then the house banks start charging. Also you might eventually consider changing out your lights to LED's. Standard lights are one of the largest current hogs on a boat.
Bill
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WirelessOne,
40 Mainship
Sedan Bridge
Little Egg, N.J. |
Edited by - Billylll on May 22 2012 09:19:25 |
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Homeport: Tuckerton, N.J.
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Battery Wiring??
