On Board Battery Charger Location

[jwanck11]

Might it be this one? Can the perko just be swapped out?

[chpthril]

Might it be this one? Can the perko just be swapped out?

If your already have a Perko, and want to keep it, you can use the Blue Sea 7610-SI (same ACR - no switch)

[DieselPWR]

Just want to make sure i am on the same page. I do have an isolator with my two batteries. The deep cycle is a very big deep cycle (kinetik). The charger is multi stage, two bank charger. So I should be ok then to hook them both up? With this setup, do I need to keep the switch off of all? would I just need to make sure it is off ALL when charging only. Thanks.

A multi bank charger can be connected to multiple ISOLATED batteries.

A single bank charger, (AKA a car charger) can be connected to multple batteries all tied together if they are of similar type and age.

If you have a multi-bank changer connected to a starting battery and a deep cycle battery, the battery switch can be in ANY position except for ALL, (ALL is the only position that wires the batteries in parallel).

In a typical 3 batt system like jwanck11 is asking, the two deep cycle batteries are tied together in parallel (plus to plus and minus to minus) and as such can be considered as a single battery bank. Therefore, you have a starting battery and a REALLY BIG deep cycle. As such there are two battery BANKS, and a two bank charger is appropriate. Again, batt switcfh can be in any position for charging EXCEPT ALL.

[philwsailz]

I believe the simple answer here is that with the isolator, you basically never need the switch in the ALL position except for in an emergency. Your starting circuit should be hard wired to the starting battery, and the accessories, or at least the stereo are hard wired to the deep cycle. They are both charged independently when the motor is running. With that logic, I am a tiny bit unsure what the load would be on the back side of the switch.

IF the boat is wired sensibly, you should never have to even mess with the switch, except to maby turn it to off...

[buffman]

which is why I have the single stage charger just for the second battery as the engine running chargers the starter battery just fine everytime.....

I will try to get a pic of my charger install as it is VERY nice as it is tucked away not in any compartment and the plug comes right out the panel hole.

[philwsailz]

I think all of this discussion really points out that fact that there is no single right way to do this; as boaters we have lots of options, based on our needs, and or desire for convenience.

There are a few instances where we can do it wrong though; those are the instances we want to avoid!

[dogbert]

I think all of this discussion really points out that fact that there is no single right way to do this; as boaters we have lots of options, based on our needs, and or desire for convenience.

Aw, c'mon phil, man up and insist that only you are right

[jwanck11]

If your already have a Perko, and want to keep it, you can use the Blue Sea 7610-SI (same ACR - no switch)

In other words, this would be a direct replacement for the isolator that I just bought?

[philwsailz]

Aw, c'mon phil, man up and insist that only you are right

No way dude!!!!

That would be the only way to absolutely guarantee I am wrong....

[chpthril]

In other words, this would be a direct replacement for the isolator that I just bought?

Yes, so if you already have an Isolator, use it, as the end result will be the same as with the ACR.

[jwanck11]

Thanks!!

[dogbert]

No way dude!!!!

That would be the only way to absolutely guarantee I am wrong....

Wuss!

[buffman]

THought I had one better but here is a quick pic of it.
Charger is tucked back in with the battery and the plug just comes right out the battery panel hole.

[da.bell]

I'll have to take some pictures of my setup tonight. Not the same pictures of when I first took possession of the boat for sure. Have been doing some DIY projects to obtain more space.

[DieselPWR]

More pics would be great, I'd like to put mine in on Friday.

I know there are several places that would work great but its always hard to commit to one spot over another.