Battery Bank with Switch, help?

[patryk]

I have all my stereo hooked up to my battery bank which is hooked up to position 2 on my switch. My main starting battery is hooked up to position 1 on my switch, and everything else is hooked to the C terminal on the switch.

So my problem... When I start the battery and then switch it to ALL position my stereo works, but if I keep it on ALL the whole time won't it kill my ALTERNATOR? When cove parting I switch it to Position 2, but when wakeboarding on Position 1, how am I going to get the stereo to work if it's all hooked up to the battery bank?

My last boat I had everything hooked to the C terminal and just switched between batteries, but someone told me not to do that on my new boat.

Thanks for the help!

[chpthril]

When left in ALL, which battery is running dead? When in ALL, both banks are combined to the C post which is connected to the alternator. If both batteries are going dead, then you have an issue with the alternator or the batteries.

Here is how I would run your setup:
Start in "1"
Run in "ALL"
Anchor in "2"

If the system is wired correctly, both get charged while the engine is running, batt-1 is isolated from the stereo when the engine is off, and the stereo is drawing off batt-2.

You can add an ACR/VSR and leave the switch on "1".

[patryk]

Having all 3 batteries running at the same time isn't going to overload the alternator?

[chpthril]

Having all 3 batteries running at the same time isn't going to overload the alternator?

How is the 3rd battery worked into the setup? The above answer will depend on their state of depletion at the time they are all brought in parallel.

Do you have a charger to replenish the batteries at the end of the day? if you have a two-battery stereo bank, I have a feeling that the batteries are ending the day somewhat depleted, thus starting the 2nd day of the weekend still down. Alternators make for poor battery chargers. A typical OEM alternator will not recharge a dead battery over a short time like a short run back to the ramp/dock at the end of the day. They really just keep up with NORMAL loads....and a 75A stereo draw is not normal. lets get all the info about your system, and then form a plan of attack.

[talltigeguy]

I have all my stereo hooked up to my battery bank which is hooked up to position 2 on my switch.
Thanks for the help!

I think what you are saying is that all of your stereo stuff is on the same battery bank that is hooked up to position 2 on the switch. If your stereo stuff, all of it, is hooked straight to the battery, then it can run independently of what the engine is doing to battery 1. That is how I have mine, and it is fine, as long as you know that and treat it appropriately.

One issue I often see is that the HU comes off of the stock connection and goes to the starting battery bank, and the amps and other stuff goes to the 'stereo bank' and guys can't figure out why the starting battery goes dead when playing the stereo.

I think we need a little more information about if there is a problem with your setup, and what some folks are telling you might be a problem. Especially need to know if you have a shore charger.

[patryk]

I haven't taken my boat out ever yet. It's brand new. I'm just getting everything set up to get rolling.

I have a two batteries in parallel for my stereo bank, someone just told me to do that. They are 2 group 27 batteries. My starting battery is a group 27 as well.

I do have a 3 bank battery shore charger as well.

[chpthril]

I was really confused there for a little bit, until I saw your edited post as well as you post on WW.

1st) I would suggest adding an ACR/VSR to your system. This will make life simpler.

2nd) bringing all 3 batteries in parallel will not damage of kill the alternator. It will though, add to its load, thus accelerate its wear. But there's no magic number here, because it will depend on the number of battery cycles and how deep the batteries are depleted during each use.

3rd) yes, wiring your 2 stereo batteries in parallel is correct. They are now one large battery.

[patryk]

What is an ACR/VSR?

So should I run all 3 batteries in parallel so I just have one huge battery?

[chpthril]

What is an ACR/VSR?

So should I run all 3 batteries in parallel so I just have one huge battery?

No. What Im saying is that when the switch is in the "ALL" position, with the engine running, all the batteries are connected and getting charged by the alt. You need to have means to isolate the house bank from the starting bank.

ACR (Auto Combining Relay) and VSR (Voltage Sensing Relay) basically does what the switch does, but automatically based on the battery voltage and charging battery.

[patryk]

So here is my setup, if you could just tell me what to buy, that'd be best!

So I have a PDX-5 that is running all my interior wetsound speakers and my JLw3 sub. It has a 60 amp anl fuse

I have a PDX-4.150 that is running two Rev10s and that also has a 60 amp anl fuse.

Right now I have a Interstate Group 24 as my starting battery, and I was planning to get 2 Interstate Group 27's and run them in parallel to run the stereo bank.

Right now I don't have anything hooked up to batteries. I'm working on my stereo now, and am just trying to get it set up now for spring. That's why I'm asking the best way to set up my stereo.

I did purchase a 3 bank 20amp charger that I will plug to my moorage slip.

So how should I hook up the batteries, do I need a switch, what batteries should I get?

[chpthril]

So here is my setup, if you could just tell me what to buy, that'd be best!

So I have a PDX-5 that is running all my interior wetsound speakers and my JLw3 sub. It has a 60 amp anl fuse

I have a PDX-4.150 that is running two Rev10s and that also has a 60 amp anl fuse.

Right now I have a Interstate Group 24 as my starting battery, and I was planning to get 2 Interstate Group 27's and run them in parallel to run the stereo bank.

Right now I don't have anything hooked up to batteries. I'm working on my stereo now, and am just trying to get it set up now for spring. That's why I'm asking the best way to set up my stereo.

I did purchase a 3 bank 20amp charger that I will plug to my moorage slip.

So how should I hook up the batteries, do I need a switch, what batteries should I get?

Its going on 11:30 ear on the east coast. I'll hit this in the AM and see what we can get you set straight. You are on the right track, just need to polish the plan a little.

[chpthril]

So I have a PDX-5 that is running all my interior wetsound speakers and my JLw3 sub. It has a 60 amp anl fuse

I have a PDX-4.150 that is running two Rev10s and that also has a 60 amp anl fuse.

Where are these two fuses located? Are you running a large gauge trunk line from the battery bank to the amp rack with distrobution blocks splitting off to the amps with a smaller gauge wire, or are you running individual power cabling for each amp and each is fused separately?

Right now I have a Interstate Group 24 as my starting battery, and I was planning to get 2 Interstate Group 27's and run them in parallel to run the stereo bank.

Keep the Group-24 24M-XHD Marine Starting battery , its more then sufficient to start the engine. Wire the Group-27 SRM-27's + to + and - to - so they become one large battery. You will need to connect the - of the stereo bank to the - of the cranking battery.

Right now I don't have anything hooked up to batteries. I'm working on my stereo now, and am just trying to get it set up now for spring. That's why I'm asking the best way to set up my stereo.

If you boat came into my shop with no stereo and a single battery, here is what I would propose:

1/0 cabling from the stereo bank to the amp rack with a 100A marine circuit breaker in line at the battery.

A pair of non-fused distrobution blocks with 4Ga running from the blocks to the amps. If you wanted bling it up a little, you can use a fused block w/volt meter on the POS side in place of one of the non-fused blocks.

ACR/VSR with multi-position switch to isolate and combine the stereo bank with the charging system

Wire you 3-bank charger with one lead to the cranking bank and the other two leads to the stereo bank (need to confirm this operation the chargers manufacturer).

what batteries should I get?

If you can fit them, go with a pair of SRM-29 deep-cycles. Not much more coin for a more Ah's.

So how should I hook up the batteries, do I need a switch

Yes, you need a switch.

The stereo wire scheme will depend on other factors such as if you will be adding an ACR/VSR. The battery banks and switch will be wired about the same with or with out the addition of an ACR/VSR.

[patryk]

So I am ran 4 gauge wire independently to each amp. Do you have a diagram on how to wire the ACR and VSR in with this setup and the switch?

[chpthril]

So I am ran 4 gauge wire independently to each amp. Do you have a diagram on how to wire the ACR and VSR in with this setup and the switch?

An exact schematic would depend on which brand ACR or VSR you install, but the basic setup is about the same: Each batteries' + terminal gets connected to one post of the relay. This link can be done battery to relay or from the switch's "1" and "2" posts to the relay. Then there is a small ground wire that completes the circuit for the coil's control windings.

[patryk]

So I got the blue sea si series automatic charging relay.