Dual Battery
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16660
Printed Date: November-18-2024 at 6:49am
Topic: Dual Battery
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Subject: Dual Battery
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 1:28pm
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I'm planning on reinstalling both batteries like I had last year. The way I did it last year was the "house" battery was only connected to the stereo and amp and it wasn't connected to the engine. I threw it on the battery charger at home. This year I'd like them both to be able to be charged by the engine. Here's my set up:
Starter Battery: Marine Starting (24 Series) 625 CA 500 CCA "House" Battery": Dual Purpose (Starting / Deep Cycle) 875 CA 205 Reserve Capacity **Goal** Engine always charges batteries individually when the engine is running with priority to the starting battery. When engine is off the drain is always on the "house" battery, or never drains the starting battery below a certain level. I've started reading about battery switches, relays, voltage sensing switches and voltage sensing relays. It kind of sounds like I should use a switch and VSR, but I'm not sure. Can anyone provide some feedback or share your setup? |
Replies:
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 2:56pm
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Here is a post on what I did:
http://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9758&KW=hellroaring&title=span-classhighlighthellroaring-span-battery-isolator--combiners - Hellroaring Battery Isolator This setup works great. no need to remember to turn a switch or anything all automatic! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 2:59pm
| Randy...the link didn't work for me. |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 4:06pm
 ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 4:08pm
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Not sure why the link isn't working I don't have time to look at it now..
try doing a search for hellroring on this site.... ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: skicat2001
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 5:12pm
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Thats a great question, and I have one as well too. I notice when I turn the boat off say for an hr or two, when I recranck the boat, I am down under 12 volts and then she powers back up to normal. For mine 13 volts is where mine normally rides, so if in a hr or 2, you lose volt amps, why does the boat suck that much apm, I dont use any radios to it.. Dont make since.. Is two batteries better to operate off of? ------------- 1985 CC 2001-SOLD Lee Michael Johnson |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 9:32pm
I'm not to sure what you're trying to say! When cranking the volts drop below 12? Then they go up past 13 but after running the engine for awhile it drops back to 12? If so, that would be normal. During cranking the load of the starter will produce a voltage drop. After starting the alternator kicks up to full to replace the power from the battery from starting. Then, the battery becomes fully charged and the alternator takes a rest! Volts go down. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
skicat2001 wrote:Posted By: skicat2001
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 9:41pm
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Pete,
Ok thanks.. I was thinking that shows a sign of a altnator going bad. But guess not, I did not know that the altanator takes a rest after boat is not running.. Thanks pete.. ------------- 1985 CC 2001-SOLD Lee Michael Johnson |
Posted By: lewy2001
Date Posted: February-27-2010 at 9:53pm
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Randy here you go
http://correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9758&KW=hellroaring&title=span-classhighlighthellroaring-span-battery-isolator--combiners - Hellroaring Battery Isolator ------------- If you're going through hell, keep going http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=2999" rel="nofollow - 89 Ski <a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5685" ta |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: February-28-2010 at 1:02am
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Thanks Lewy ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Date Posted: February-28-2010 at 3:16pm
| Thanks guys. I'm also looking at the http://bluesea.com/category/2/productline/overview/329 - Blue Sea solution. Basically it looks like it just adds a switch to the Hellroaring set up. Either one seems to only charge the battery that needs charging and keep them isolated, it seems to me. Does that seem right to you all? |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: February-28-2010 at 5:03pm
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The Blue Sea looks like it is just a VSR (voltage sensing relay) setup. The problem with VSR's is that they are moving parts susceptible to corrosion and sometimes the contacts can become welded. they also have a high resistance and can create a decent voltage drop across them. I researched using this type of setup, but decided spending a little more on the isolator was worth it. I've been really happy with Hellroaring isolator/combiner. I like it because I never have to think about it, it just works.
------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Cslaten33
Date Posted: March-01-2010 at 12:47am
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Andy: Im going to use a Perko switch. They are about 20.00 bucks and you can get them at about any mairne store in Tulsa. You will need the two channle "A/B" switch. Basically you can run your stereo on battery A, When the battery goes dead you can switch to battery B and start your boat. Then place the switch on A&B to charge battery A. It is really simple. This is what my God father runs in both his boats. I don't think he has had a problem out of it yet. ------------- Thanks Clark Slaten |
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Date Posted: March-01-2010 at 3:20pm
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Randy,
You did it with no switch, right? Is the hellroaring ignition protected? Clark, I'm leaning towards relay isolator ideas because I don't want to mess with a switch all the time and I only want one battery at a time to be charged by the alternator to keep the load down on it. Ultimately I want something I don't have to think about much. |
Posted By: MorganB
Date Posted: March-01-2010 at 6:54pm
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I Sell around 5 a week of the Blue Seas system you have talked about it is one of the better systems on the market, have never had any problems with Corrosion as they are a fully sealed unit and have never had one weld together, as the current is so low (its only the charge current going through the VSR)
we use this system on anything from small boats like ours to 50-60 footers. the real advantage is that battery switch also it keeps the 2 banks separate then if you ever run your start battery flat cranking you can combine the 2 banks to get the engine started straight away (just like jump starting) i have not seen very many of the Hellroaring set up's around, seams a lot of people on here use them and are happy with them. the one thing i do not get about the way people seam to set up the Hellroaring system is they do not allow the batteries to be Connected in case of emergency to start the engine, this it one of the main reason i would have a second battery on board. |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: March-02-2010 at 1:47am
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I have a three postition switch and an LED mounted in the kickpanel. I can flip this switch in an emergency and combine the two battery's (just like jump starting....) it is just a small switch, not a big Perko switch, and it connects back to the Hellroaring unit. The LED provides battery status and diagnostic information.
The unit is ignition protected and produces no heat, spark, or voltage drop. If your really looking for something you never have to think about this is the way to go... IMHO... ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Date Posted: March-02-2010 at 1:36pm
This is from the other thread Randy had going regarding the Helroaring unit. Here's a couple questions that came to mind when reading through the thread and especially this quote... 1. Combining the batteries sounds like a problem. Doesn't that put twice the load on the alternator? 2. Does the Blue Sea combine batteries or charge them seprately based n which one needs it? 3. With the toggle switch and LED's how are the batteries combined for starting? 4. On the Blue Sea, when the switch is set to combined how are the batteries combined for starting? |
Posted By: Randy_in_Ohio
Date Posted: March-02-2010 at 3:38pm
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"1. Combining the batteries sounds like a problem. Doesn't that put twice the load on the alternator?"
>> Once the engine is started, the starting battery is brought back up to full charge, once it is at full charge it starts to charge the aux. battery, I'm not sure if this is putting twice the load on the alternator since the starting battery is fully charged... I have the original alternator (51A). I have been running this setup for 3 years, I have tested it in every way I could think of and it works flawlessly. The Hellroaring does basically the same thing as the Blue Sea from what I gather... but the Hellroaring will do it without any voltage drops or moving parts. If you are unsure if this will work in your setup, I would recommend you call and talk to Mike at Hellroaring, he was very knowledgeable and helpful when I did my install. If you are thinking about going this route, give him a call, he will be able to explain everything better than I could. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1602&yrstart=1991&yrend=1995" rel="nofollow - 1993 Sport Nautique |
Posted By: Okie Boarder
Date Posted: March-02-2010 at 9:06pm
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Good continued info Randy, thanks. I'll be sure to contact Mike to discuss further.
I like the fact you're still running on the original alternator and haven't killed it. |
Posted By: Cslaten33
Date Posted: March-03-2010 at 6:33pm
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Guys If you have a 51 amp alternator it will only push out 51 amps. If the battery is calling for 300000000 amps to charge it the alternator will only push out 51AMPS it will just take three days to charge it. The alternator will only put out what it can. It won't push out anymore or anyless. So over loading the alternator is out of the question. ------------- Thanks Clark Slaten |
Posted By: MorganB
Date Posted: March-05-2010 at 1:28am
AS said someone else has said it will bring your 1st battery up to around 80% charge (norm 13.7v) then it will combine them and allow the 2nd one to charge, 2nd, it will combine them (this is no problem at all every boat over 7m will do this) 4th, the batteries are combined in parallel (i hope i have this the correct way around but it still leaves it at 12v the other way would make it 24v) |