On Board Battery Charger Location

[da.bell]

Crap, didn't take pictures when I was in the boat but here is one that I have. I moved the batteries behind the wall and the charger was moved to the lower left hand side of the wall. The plug goes back behind the wall and mounts to the inside of the Activity Center boxes. I then run my extension cord into the boxes and plug it into the wall.

Clear as mud?

[dogbert]

My setup is similar, one battery between the rear bulkhead and transom on each side and the charger mounted on the port side, but in the rear storage compartment.

[Razzman]

So here's a pic i found of of an install with a perko, blue sea SI ACR, circuit breaker, fuse block, distribution block and a slew of wires! Talk about confusing and way more than neccessary! Granted some of this for the stereo but it's way harder than it needs to be!

So Guru Guys if you were going to add a Blue Sea ACR into an existing loop that has a Perko, how would you wire that mess?

[chpthril]

Razz,

Blue sea has a variety of diff wiring configs, depending on how the system will be used. Or you can just come up with your own as we did for Micah.

[spharis]

I would run the Blue Sea and Perko like the diagram they have online for it. Batteries combine to charge, otherwise remain isolated or joined depending on where you set your Perko switch. This seems like the most logical way to wire it in. BTW in this diagram, the starting battery is on the right, and the house battery is on the left.

Like this.

[Razzman]

I could just leave my exising "2-OFF-1-ALL" perko to all and leave it with your diagram correct?

[spharis]

Yes. That is straight from Blue Sea, and it is exactly how I would do it if I wanted to isolate my batteries and keep my Perko (though I would likely just remove the Perko). I would set battery 1 on the switch to my house, battery 2 on my switch would go to the starting battery. You could turn the switch and start from either one, two, or both, and once the engine is started, regardless of battery switch position, both banks are charging from the alternator. Battery 1 would always power the stereo and battery 2 would always power the starter when the engine is not running.

[UK based tige]

I have got a battery each side, one is clearly starter and other is house however neither is holding charge well (this could just be an age issue) when you guys have been referring to a battery charger is this one you hook up to the mains at home so you can charge batteries whilst boat is stored?

[da.bell]

I have got a battery each side, one is clearly starter and other is house however neither is holding charge well (this could just be an age issue) when you guys have been referring to a battery charger is this one you hook up to the mains at home so you can charge batteries whilst boat is stored?

Yes. There are some that will charge and maintain the battery when not in use.

[UK based tige]

got it, cheers! Not sure that will work for me since the boat is up on a dry stack...

[da.bell]

It would work if you have electricity readily available or a super long extension cord.

[UK based tige]

What do you reckon 400 yards of electric cord would set me back?

[philwsailz]

If you had sunlight available, ICP GLOBAL technologies makes a little 5 watt solar panel that does a good job as a battery maintainer. Get one for each battery, and simply connect them. The 5 watt panel is small enough to not need a charge controller to prevent battery cooking due to over charging.

[chpthril]

I have got a battery each side, one is clearly starter and other is house however neither is holding charge well (this could just be an age issue) when you guys have been referring to a battery charger is this one you hook up to the mains at home so you can charge batteries whilst boat is stored?

If your batteries are 3 yrs old, I would get them tested/checked very close. If they're 4 or more........just replace to be safe.

[UK based tige]

sunlight is a little intermittent over here, i think I may bite the bullet and replace them as they are probably at least 4 years old given the state the boat is in from the previous owners.