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10-04-2019, 19:10
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hingham
Boat: Dickerson 37AC
Posts: 665
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Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Figured I would document some rewiring I'm doing on my Dickerson 37.
This all started last fall with a weak starter battery, which led me to test all my batteries, which led me to buying all new batteries, which led to....scope creep
I'm converting my house bank to (2) 6V GC2 batteries. The engine start will remain a Group 31 FLA.
As I dug into the wiring it became clear the only way I would be happy is to redo much of it.
I read Maine Sails excellent treatise on ACRs and everything just made sense. He was kind enough to include a great schematic so I studied it until it made sense.
I didn't like the 3 switch setup since I wanted to utilize my existing Perko cutout. Found a Blue Sea parallel switch that does just what I want.
Over the last few years daysailing and a bit longer I tend to get lazy about what battery I'm on and sometimes start from house bank and vice versa. Hopefully this setup should take all guess work out and I'm excited to see how the Balmar works.
In order to fit all this in, I have a severely cramped battery area. I measured out a board and started laying things out. I enjoy wiring projects as it's an opportunity to build my skills. I also have a machine shop so I have no fear about fabricating things which you'll see later.
This is preliminary layout. The copper busbars are due to the fact I simply don't have space to lay out cabling and fuse things. I am not sure what the protocol is with bare copper though.
The plan is to bring in the house + to top left, along with windlass. Feeding from + busbar will be alternator, charger, house panel feed, ACR.
The Balmar shunt will have house - fed from left and that will go to negative busbar. I'm debating clocking the negative busbar to feed the cables up since the hole where all cables go is all in 1 spot top right.
I found the fuse holders at Waytek while looking for a small format fuse holder for the smaller loads. Seems crazy they are rated for 150A, the fuses are small, but made by Eaton so I'm sure they are good quality.
Over the next few weeks I'll be doing the cables (bought the FTZ crimper) as well as relocating the starter battery to the other side of the boat for better voltage drop and weight distribution.
Any comments are totally welcome and appreciated as I am not an expert just enjoy doing this stuff.
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10-04-2019, 19:36
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Only thing I’d make sure if you’re putting in a switch between your main bus and your bank is to install a lockable switch.
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10-04-2019, 19:41
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hingham
Boat: Dickerson 37AC
Posts: 665
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Curious to what the rationale for the lockable switch would be?
This ON/OFF switch I have will be down underneath a cockpit locker where no one other than myself would ever know where it was. Def not somewhere where my kids or a guest would ever see it.
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10-04-2019, 19:59
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
I’m not a total fan of a ‘locked’ switch but I haven’t seen one you can lock with a zip tie, but if you accidentally leave it off after maintenance or some guest switches it off mistakenly you’d have no bilge pump and your alternator would fry. It’s one of those things that you could easily forget and it could be costly.
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10-04-2019, 20:13
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Oz
Posts: 1,042
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
If you are putting on a 150Amp alternator, best check that the ACR is rated to accept that input.
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10-04-2019, 20:28
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Ya I found the diagram a little odd with the arc off the bus, if the pos bus were off it would put the arc in between the charge source and the battery. I would put it directly off the house bank (fuses).
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10-04-2019, 20:56
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hingham
Boat: Dickerson 37AC
Posts: 665
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Thanks, this is a schematic he did for a customer i believe. I have a 100A Balmar and ACR is rated for 120A.
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10-04-2019, 21:20
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: canada
Posts: 4,642
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
in that diagram the acr is only ever going to see ~10a through it enough to run the gauges and fuel pump. 90% of the alt is going to the house bank. it's a non issue
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10-04-2019, 22:14
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by smac999
in that diagram the acr is only ever going to see ~10a through it enough to run the gauges and fuel pump. 90% of the alt is going to the house bank. it's a non issue
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Unless that switch to the pos bus is turned off, no?
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10-04-2019, 23:54
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#10
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registered user
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: back in West Australia
Boat: plastic production boat, suitable for deep blue water ;)
Posts: 1,090
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
I like the diagram, wish I could do something good like like that (make a diagram). Agree with Smac999 that the VCR only sees only a few amps. A 3 to 5 Amp DC to DC charger would be OK as well.
One thing I don't understand in the diagram: on the top right hand side (in the line of starting isolation circuit), why is there a picture of a radio? (or is it not a radio?)
This setup likely would work very well for you. I am in the process to redo the wiring on my boat, following basically a layout very close to yours, minus the 'lockable' master switch. I have instead the main alternator on the pos+ bus, and the bilgepumps, solar and wind all on separate DC circuit-breakers, that also serve as switches (all behind perspex).
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11-04-2019, 00:56
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Fisher pilothouse sloop 32'
Posts: 3,416
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by HankOnthewater
I like the diagram, wish I could do something good like like that (make a diagram). Agree with Smac999 that the VCR only sees only a few amps. A 3 to 5 Amp DC to DC charger would be OK as well.
One thing I don't understand in the diagram: on the top right hand side (in the line of starting isolation circuit), why is there a picture of a radio? (or is it not a radio?)
This setup likely would work very well for you. I am in the process to redo the wiring on my boat, following basically a layout very close to yours, minus the 'lockable' master switch. I have instead the main alternator on the pos+ bus, and the bilgepumps, solar and wind all on separate DC circuit-breakers, that also serve as switches (all behind perspex).
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Ah, could it be an inline fuse??
__________________
Rob aka Uncle Bob Sydney Australia.
Life is 10% the cards you are dealt, 90% how you play em
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11-04-2019, 01:45
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#12
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registered user
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: back in West Australia
Boat: plastic production boat, suitable for deep blue water ;)
Posts: 1,090
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
oops, you are right Uncle B!
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11-04-2019, 09:35
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42ac
Posts: 1,196
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Quote:
Originally Posted by sailah
Figured I would document some rewiring I'm doing on my Dickerson 37.
This all started last fall with a weak starter battery, which led me to test all my batteries, which led me to buying all new batteries, which led to....scope creep
I'm converting my house bank to (2) 6V GC2 batteries. The engine start will remain a Group 31 FLA.
As I dug into the wiring it became clear the only way I would be happy is to redo much of it.
I read Maine Sails excellent treatise on ACRs and everything just made sense. He was kind enough to include a great schematic so I studied it until it made sense.
I didn't like the 3 switch setup since I wanted to utilize my existing Perko cutout. Found a Blue Sea parallel switch that does just what I want.
Over the last few years daysailing and a bit longer I tend to get lazy about what battery I'm on and sometimes start from house bank and vice versa. Hopefully this setup should take all guess work out and I'm excited to see how the Balmar works.
In order to fit all this in, I have a severely cramped battery area. I measured out a board and started laying things out. I enjoy wiring projects as it's an opportunity to build my skills. I also have a machine shop so I have no fear about fabricating things which you'll see later.
This is preliminary layout. The copper busbars are due to the fact I simply don't have space to lay out cabling and fuse things. I am not sure what the protocol is with bare copper though.
The plan is to bring in the house + to top left, along with windlass. Feeding from + busbar will be alternator, charger, house panel feed, ACR.
The Balmar shunt will have house - fed from left and that will go to negative busbar. I'm debating clocking the negative busbar to feed the cables up since the hole where all cables go is all in 1 spot top right.
I found the fuse holders at Waytek while looking for a small format fuse holder for the smaller loads. Seems crazy they are rated for 150A, the fuses are small, but made by Eaton so I'm sure they are good quality.
Over the next few weeks I'll be doing the cables (bought the FTZ crimper) as well as relocating the starter battery to the other side of the boat for better voltage drop and weight distribution.
Any comments are totally welcome and appreciated as I am not an expert just enjoy doing this stuff.
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I would like to make a wiring diagram like that. What software(?) did you use?
~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH
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11-04-2019, 10:14
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Canada
Boat: T37
Posts: 2,336
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
Quote:
I would like to make a wiring diagram like that. What software(?) did you use?
~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH
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OP didnt, he pulled it off a website:
https://marinehowto.com/
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11-04-2019, 10:29
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Hingham
Boat: Dickerson 37AC
Posts: 665
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Re: Adding ACR, Balmar SG200, new batteries, bus bars...
I want to be 100% clear, the schematic was done by Maine Sail and I found it in his article about ACRs
He deserves all the credit and I don't know what software he used to make schematic although it looks like a simple paint program he dragged photos into and then added lines?
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