Another Wetsounds Install

[philwsailz]

On another note, I was on the phone with Ble Sea yesterday inquiring about the Battery Link ACR and if it would work the way I planned on using it. We spoke for quite a while, I even sent them my wiring diagram. The conclusion they came to was that it was not ment to be used in that application but it will certainly work. It is meant to go between two batteries but the way I am using it it will work great. They just never planned on it being used like that. It will basically control the voltage charge the Kinetik is receiving and it will combine the Kinetik during the charging cycle and disconnect from the other battery banks under discharge. It was all over my head but they approved of the application with the two different style of batteries.

That is a cool thing to know. thanks so much for posting that up to us!

Hah, we figgered out a way to use the ACR that they didn't..... AND they agree it is a good way to go.

We need to flag the diagram and share it as often as possible then!

[da.bell]

And now they are going to take credit for that idea.

Got to love american corporations

[Micah]

I had some time this weekend to get a few things done for the stereo. I built an amp rack that will mount under the passenger storage. I also wrapped the sub box in carpet and wired it all up. The top doesn't have carpet because it is getting attatched to the wall under the drivers feet. I get my boat from WWS Friday so I will finally get a chance to tear into it. Here is a picture of my progress.

[buffman]

NICE!!!!!!!

[DieselPWR]

Holy Dyna, thats a beautiful creation.

[chpthril]

Sweet dude

PM sent

[philwsailz]

Nice!

[wetsounds1]

Wow! Looks great. Love how you pre built and pre wired the amp panel.

Tim
Wet Sounds

[Micah]

My plans kind of changed at the last minute with the Kinetik battery. My boat is ready for the install but I didn't have the battery yet so I had the dealer swap out one of my batteries for a Kinetik 1800. So as of now I have two batteries hooked up to the perko switch. Battery One is a Deep Cycle Wet Cell, and Battery two is Kinetik 1800. There is a good possibility of me adding another Kinetik for a third battery under the storage at a later date. What would be the best way to wire up the ACR isolator/combiner with this new setup and with the possibility of adding another battery later? Here is link to different ways of wiring this in. http://bluesea.com/files/resources/s...,031%20KB).pdf I will be wiring the stereo off the Kinetik 1800 with 0ga to the distribution blocks seen on the picture. Thanks for any input.

[xpjim1]

Where are you going to mount the amp rack. Looks big in the picture?

[philwsailz]

My plans kind of changed at the last minute with the Kinetik battery. My boat is ready for the install but I didn't have the battery yet so I had the dealer swap out one of my batteries for a Kinetik 1800. So as of now I have two batteries hooked up to the perko switch. Battery One is a Deep Cycle Wet Cell, and Battery two is Kinetik 1800. There is a good possibility of me adding another Kinetik for a third battery under the storage at a later date. What would be the best way to wire up the ACR isolator/combiner with this new setup and with the possibility of adding another battery later? Here is link to different ways of wiring this in. http://bluesea.com/files/resources/s...,031%20KB).pdf I will be wiring the stereo off the Kinetik 1800 with 0ga to the distribution blocks seen on the picture. Thanks for any input.

A quick first-blush says that if you could do it quickly, before age came into play, simply add the additional kinetic in parallel to the first, and consider the two combined together as one much larger battery.

The pic that best describes what I am saying is the one that says "Sailing Auxiliary or Large Power Boats with a Large House Battery

[philwsailz]

My comment about age specifically refers to the batteries. When putting multiple batteries in parallel, one is best served to install several of the same type/brand/size all at the same time. This prevents you from creating a situation where one battery charges differently, due to the fact it is newer or older or has seen different use when compared to the other(s) it is prarllel wired to.

[Micah]

Where are you going to mount the amp rack. Looks big in the picture?

I am cutting out four squares in the carpet under the passenger side storage on the hull side. I made some blocks that I will glue to the hull. I will then mount the amp rack sideways to the blocks glued to the hull.

I got off the phone with blue sea and I'm more confused on what to do now. They suggested this switch over the one I have http://bluesea.com/products/6011 What I am looking to do is forget about the batteries (never have to worry about switching from 1 to 2) and have one battery dedicated to starting and another dedicated towards the stereo, I need both of them charging at all times but the stereo only pulling off the Kinetik. The batteries are different kinds of batteries so I need the ACR in between the batteries if I understood right. Does this sound right? Has anyone done this or has a similar battery setup?

[Guest]

chpthrl had a suggestion for something similar in my project where all the house wiring is common to alt lead. See thread Part Numbers and Source for Isolator and Perko. The last few posts. For now I am manually going to switch mine.

[philwsailz]

Micah-

Does the device that Blue Sea now recommend provide for auto-charging of the stereo batt and the charging batt when the engine is running? If so, it looks to me like the following is the case:

* In OFF position, the switch does not engage a charge relay ever. IT also will prevent the stereo from draining the starting battery.
* In ON position, the switch is in "smart mode" (my verbiage) providing for charging of both batt banks, without the stereo draining the starting battery.
* the yellow COMBINE BATTERIES position would be for that freak occurance where you neede djusice from the stereo battery to assitst the starting battery in order to start the motor.

These are all assumptions, but if my assumptions are correct, what they are recommending makes sense.

1Lab-

The reason we are so enthusiastic about the Blue Sea products is the fact that they are not using diodes to provide charge combining, and load isolation. A diode will have a voltge drop across it while charging, typically .7 volts. For a 12 volt charging system, and depending on charge voltage, this could be as much as 5% of the total charge voltage lost. As a result I am not as much a fan of diode-type isolators.
Given a multi-battery system like we are all talking, I would rather either have a spare battery that I can engage, either with a switch or even jumper cables to start the motor. You probably will not see a diode-style device in one of my boats; as a stereo guy, I realize the problems with them.

Micah, see if what I typed above is similar to what Blue Sea descrives. If so, I would say you are fine.

I am out of the office the rest of the day, but I will check in later to see what the verdict is. Have a great day all!