Battery charger and switch advice

[mattman]

Also here's a photo of the setup if it helps at all. It's definitely well organized and labeled, which gives me pause about overhauling it much

[john61ct]

Neat and pretty is good, but not nearly as important as the functionality of the design.

However you can get accurate ammeter and DMM measurements at all the critical points, maybe use an infrared gun to look for resistance hot spots, and perhaps judge it "good enough" to only make most-needed adjustments.

[mattman]

My ACR is BlueSea PN 7600, I can't tell from the product page if they are generally weather resistant and I can move it from my engine room to the lazarette where my batteries are. If so, that will simplify the long distance wiring significantly I think.

[john61ct]

Mounting

• Select a mounting location near the battery banks or the battery switch.

• Choose a cool, dry, and well-ventilated location if possible. The CL-Series BatteryLink ACR may become very warm when operating at full current capacity or in current limiting mode.

• Avoid locations directly above batteries where corrosive fumes may be present.

• Do not mount directly to a conductive surface because of the proximity of the mounting screws to the main electrical terminals.

• Mount the relay securely with #8 or M4 screws.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by john61ct

I have said from the beginning the ACR approach is fine.

If a multiple output charger eliminates the need for an ACR I think it's better.>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sometimes you hit the nail on the head. But sometimes I wonder about your replies.

Like this one. ^^^^

Most boats we talk about here have SINGLE OUTPUT alternators. We have all learned that ACRs work great for single output ANYTHINGS (alternators, solar, wind) that provide charging for our battery banks. Anyone who has a multiple output charger has learned to gang the multiple outputs to a single one, fed to the house bank, thus using their ACR as intended.

Could you please explain your reply? "...better..." Really? I think not.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by matthidinger

Attachment 154412

Also here's a photo of the setup if it helps at all. It's definitely well organized and labeled, which gives me pause about overhauling it much

I'd get it out of the engine room. Fast.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Could you please explain your reply? "...better..." Really? I think not.

Well, I already made the very limited advantage and relevant context clear above.

Which discussion was also here limited to the shore charger only. But to further refine this yes limited hypothetical:

Starters rarely need anything but alt, and alt often isn't needed by House.

It is a fact that there are much better designs than simple voltage-following devices joining the circuits together.

But as a general statement for most people I do concede you're right.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Starters rarely need anything but alt, and alt often isn't needed by House.

?????

It is a fact that there are much better designs than simple voltage-following devices joining the circuits together.

What in your opinion is better and please explain why.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Mounting

• Choose a cool, dry, and well-ventilated location if possible. The CL-Series BatteryLink ACR may become very warm when operating at full current capacity or in current limiting mode.

With all charge sources wired to the house bank the ACR will never be anywhere near its current limit charging a start battery of 126 AH that is never down by more than a percent or so after an engine start.

[mattman]

Tomorrow morning I'm going to look into what it would take to mount the PronauticP and the ACR in the lazarette near the batteries. I found a location that is not directly above them. It would simplify the long wire runs significantly. The only "long" run would be the alternator. It's a pretty big redesign but the only concern aside from time and cost would be making sure the lazarette stays dry.

Are there any strong concerns with mounting this charger in a lazarette?

Also, for the alternator run, pragmatically could I just wire it to the Start switch terminal and reuse the existing run back to the battery, or are there strong reasons to run the alternator back to the battery with a dedicated wire.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

What in your opinion is better and please explain why.

Thanks but no, enough, all laid out above, and I was never saying it was a major issue

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

With all charge sources wired to the house bank the ACR will never be anywhere near its current limit charging a start battery of 126 AH that is never down by more than a percent or so after an engine start.

Sorry I thought it was clear just copy pasted from the manual

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by matthidinger

Also, for the alternator run, pragmatically could I just wire it to the Start switch terminal and reuse the existing run back to the battery, or are there strong reasons to run the alternator back to the battery with a dedicated wire.

I would wire the alt directly to the house bank positive with a fuse close to the battery rated at 150% of the alt output. Make sure you size the wire for very little voltage drop.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Starters rarely need anything but alt, and alt often isn't needed by House.

This doesn't make much sense.

It is a fact that there are much better designs than simple voltage-following devices joining the circuits together.

Much better? Please describe.

[john61ct]

>>Starters rarely need anything but alt, and alt often isn't needed by House.

> This doesn't make much sense.

I thought it was clear.

Starter **batteries** are usually well-serviced with no charge source at sea but the alternator.

And for many setups, the alt is not needed as a charge source to keep the House/Main bank fully charged.

So in the example of the mains charger having separate outputs to the two banks, that is an example of a context when no ACR is needed.

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Much better? Please describe.

As I already clarified above, for people with an expensive Reserve/starter bank, which chemistry requires a different charge profile than the Main bank, more sophisticated solutions like a B2B DC-DC charger are better than a simple voltage following combiner.

And yes, that is overkill for most setups.