BLUE SEA SYSTEMS Automatic Combiner Relay
Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 1:22 pm
(This article is an update of one I wrote six years ago. The prices have all gone up, so I thought it appropriate to revise the article.)
Blue Sea Systems makes a nice automatic combiner relay or ACR (which they now call an automatic charging relay), their model 7610, and its retail price is about $110. I was investigating this product for possible use on my boat, and I read the installation instructions:
http://bluesea.com/files/resources/inst ... 310020.pdf
It struck me as odd that the device requires installation of fuses in every one of the five circuits that connects to it, yet the device itself does not provide for any of these fuses. I'd expect that if the device requires five fuses, the design of the device would have incorporated five fuse holders in the device itself.
Adding all the required fuses will add considerably to the cost of the installation. The main connections between the batteries and the ACR require a fuse in each leg with a minimum rating of 80-amperes and a wire conductor size of 6-AWG. A suitable device from Blue Sea would be their 5006 80-Amp MaxiFuse connector. Two will be needed, along with two 80-ampere fuses. The other three fuses can be simpler, less expensive, in-line fuses.
Added Parts:
2 x Blue Sea 5006 MaxiFuse connector; $29.21-each
2 x 80-ampere MaxiFuse; $3.27-each
3 x In-line Waterproof ATC fuse holder; $9.88-each
3 x ATC fuses, 2-ampere, 10-ampere: $1.09--each
COST = $98
In addition, installation will require a great deal of terminal connectors:
8 x 6-AWG ring terminals; $3.50--each
12-miscellaneous butt splices and ring terminals; $0.75-each
COST = $37
We also need quite a bit of new wire to install the device:
2-feet 6-AWG; $4
25-feet 16-AWG; $12
COST $16
These added costs now total $151, which is actually more than the ACR device itself cost. If you are planning to install an automatic combiner relay, it may be useful to take into account all of the additional components recommended for installation, to order them in advance, and to consider their cost as part of the project cost.
It looks like just the parts for this project will cost about $260 at retail. Like everything, you can certainly find some vendors selling these parts at lower costs. But for making a comparison, providing a comprehensive summary of what will be needed, and to be consistent I have used the manufacturer's prices .
I previously compared these components and prices several years ago. At that time the total cost was about $175. In this new comparison I upgraded the in-line fuses to the ATC waterproof holders, as that style provides for simple mounting to a bulkhead instead of leaving the fuse holder hanging in mid-air. The costs of marine electrical wiring devices has risen in six years since I first looked at this project
Blue Sea Systems makes a nice automatic combiner relay or ACR (which they now call an automatic charging relay), their model 7610, and its retail price is about $110. I was investigating this product for possible use on my boat, and I read the installation instructions:
http://bluesea.com/files/resources/inst ... 310020.pdf
It struck me as odd that the device requires installation of fuses in every one of the five circuits that connects to it, yet the device itself does not provide for any of these fuses. I'd expect that if the device requires five fuses, the design of the device would have incorporated five fuse holders in the device itself.
Adding all the required fuses will add considerably to the cost of the installation. The main connections between the batteries and the ACR require a fuse in each leg with a minimum rating of 80-amperes and a wire conductor size of 6-AWG. A suitable device from Blue Sea would be their 5006 80-Amp MaxiFuse connector. Two will be needed, along with two 80-ampere fuses. The other three fuses can be simpler, less expensive, in-line fuses.
Added Parts:
2 x Blue Sea 5006 MaxiFuse connector; $29.21-each
2 x 80-ampere MaxiFuse; $3.27-each
3 x In-line Waterproof ATC fuse holder; $9.88-each
3 x ATC fuses, 2-ampere, 10-ampere: $1.09--each
COST = $98
In addition, installation will require a great deal of terminal connectors:
8 x 6-AWG ring terminals; $3.50--each
12-miscellaneous butt splices and ring terminals; $0.75-each
COST = $37
We also need quite a bit of new wire to install the device:
2-feet 6-AWG; $4
25-feet 16-AWG; $12
COST $16
These added costs now total $151, which is actually more than the ACR device itself cost. If you are planning to install an automatic combiner relay, it may be useful to take into account all of the additional components recommended for installation, to order them in advance, and to consider their cost as part of the project cost.
It looks like just the parts for this project will cost about $260 at retail. Like everything, you can certainly find some vendors selling these parts at lower costs. But for making a comparison, providing a comprehensive summary of what will be needed, and to be consistent I have used the manufacturer's prices .
I previously compared these components and prices several years ago. At that time the total cost was about $175. In this new comparison I upgraded the in-line fuses to the ATC waterproof holders, as that style provides for simple mounting to a bulkhead instead of leaving the fuse holder hanging in mid-air. The costs of marine electrical wiring devices has risen in six years since I first looked at this project