Blue Sea SI-Series Automatic Charging Relay

[Ron Laking]

Any body out there using the Blue Sea SI Automatic Charging relay? If so what is your opinion on it. Added a new starting battery and looking for some thing to isolate the starting battery from the house bank.

[serah]

We installed one on our boat. No complaints, standard blue sea high quality. Takes the human factor out of our charging system.

[CharlieJ]

I have installed dozens of these...they are solid performers.

Charlie

[matauwhi]

G'day, Mate. I don't have the Blue Sea version, but have you similiar relays to combine the batteries. There are times, despite the different battery voltages that I want to have them combined and like the ability to do this manually. For example, I can run my fridge/freezer using an inverter on the house bank. The wind dies, we end up motoring and I can then combine the batteries to put the engine alternator amps into the hosue bank. The house bank voltage is usually below 12.3 volts during this operation and the automatic relays usually prevent them from combining. Cheers.

[barnakiel]

I think now there are two types and probably there is something with a manual override also. Seen in their catalog.

I have a non-Blue Sea relay here and it works great. I would think the Blue Sea thing is even better with its control light, the different cut-in/off voltages etc..

Definitely on my 'to buy or steal' list.

b.

[CharlieJ]

To matauwhi's and barnakiel's comments regarding ACRs with manual over-rides, Blue Sea's ML Series fits that niche. Although any SPDT switch can be used to control the ACR, the mn 2145 or 2146 are made for the ML Series ACRs. I have installed several of these and their battery switch brethren and they are also top performers.

Charlie

[Ron Laking]

Thanks for the replys. I have another question. I have been running on two 6 volt banks for the last 10 years with great success but have now added a 12 volt starting battery to the system. I was thinking of the Blue Sea SI between the 12 volt starting battey and the house bank so the house bank will not drain the starting battery. What about the starter cable? Can it stay as is or do I need to run a seperate cable from the 12 volt battery to the starter or am I okay going thru the system as I always have.
Thanks again

[Roy M]

I have the Blue Sea SI on my boat. Install and forget about it. I like that.