I have a Magnum MS2012 pure sine wave inverter/charger and four, 6V, 300Ahr, Lifeline AGM batteries connected in series and parallel to run just about everything when we are on the hook. We sometimes motor for hours with the refrigerator running on the inverter. I just purchased a Blue Seas SI-ACR to keep my inverter batteries fully charged while we are under way using the engine alternator. Blue Seas says I need to install a fuse block between my house battery and the ACR, and another between the ACR and my bank of inverter batteries. They say the fuses are to protect the wiring. Unless I missed something when tracing the existing wiring in my Carver, there is no fuse between my alternator and house battery (via the battery switch), and the wiring is much smaller than the marine grade 1 AWG that I am running (less than 12'). Do I really need these fuses, and if so, why doesn't my existing wiring have these fuses installed? Thanks in advance.
Installation of Automatic Charging Relay
- Thread starter tim f
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- RO Number
- 25362
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- 3,996
Hi Tim,
Personally, I wouldn't take what a boat manufacturer does as the safest option. There is "safe" and there is "safer". Plus, you've changed things and now you're going to be drawing more amps from the alternator than what Carver may have designed that system for. IMO, listen to Blue Seas and install the fuses (protect yourself and those nice, expensive batteries!). Heck, I'd likely upgrade that alternator-to-house bank cable to be safe(r)!
Personally, I wouldn't take what a boat manufacturer does as the safest option. There is "safe" and there is "safer". Plus, you've changed things and now you're going to be drawing more amps from the alternator than what Carver may have designed that system for. IMO, listen to Blue Seas and install the fuses (protect yourself and those nice, expensive batteries!). Heck, I'd likely upgrade that alternator-to-house bank cable to be safe(r)!