Adding 3rd Battery - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Small Boat Electrical
  Adding 3rd Battery

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Adding 3rd Battery

Sschmitzs posted 11-09-2007 08:11 PM ET (US)
Guys I'm new to this website and thought I'd seek advice on the electrical project on my 26' cabin cruiser that I'm planning.
Here's the situation: I have a two battery system that is currently in parallel w/ a factory installed 1-2-off-both switch.
I installed a windlass and connected to the positive terminal on one of the existing batteries. I've found that I have drained the power down overnight after anchoring up, running the stereo, refrig, etc. Most of the time I remember to keep the switch on 1 or 2 and keep one battery in reserve for engine cranking in the morning.
What I want to do is install 3rd battery which powers the windlass, stays fully charged, and can be used to parallel the existing two battery system at my discretion. This way if I forget and leave the battery switch in the "both" position and draw both down then in the morning I can manually flip a switch and have 3rd battery back-up power to crank the engine.
Any good advice on: 1. Battery Selection 2. ACR 3. Switch 4. Wiring Diagram
I've looked at the BlueSea.com website, studied the info at WestMarine but am still a bit confused on how to rig this up.
Thanks,
Steve- Edwards, CO
jimh posted 11-09-2007 11:34 PM ET (US)
I would avoid complicated switching arrangements. Install a third battery as a HOUSE battery. Run the windlass from this battery, as well as your house lighting and electrical loads. Get an automatic combiner relay (ACR) --also called a voltage sensitive relay (VSR)--and install it so that it routes charging current to the third battery.
The more complicated the electrical switching arrangement, the harder it is to keep track of how to operate it. If you just add a HOUSE battery and an ACR, you will have a relatively simple system, and it should be no harder to operate than what you have now.
glen e posted 11-10-2007 05:37 AM ET (US)
A very simple way to execute Jim's post above:

http://bluesea.com/products/7650
Sschmitzs posted 11-10-2007 03:11 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input!!!!Steve

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Adding 3rd Battery
Sschmitzs	posted 11-09-2007 08:11 PM ET (US) Guys I'm new to this website and thought I'd seek advice on the electrical project on my 26' cabin cruiser that I'm planning. Here's the situation: I have a two battery system that is currently in parallel w/ a factory installed 1-2-off-both switch. I installed a windlass and connected to the positive terminal on one of the existing batteries. I've found that I have drained the power down overnight after anchoring up, running the stereo, refrig, etc. Most of the time I remember to keep the switch on 1 or 2 and keep one battery in reserve for engine cranking in the morning. What I want to do is install 3rd battery which powers the windlass, stays fully charged, and can be used to parallel the existing two battery system at my discretion. This way if I forget and leave the battery switch in the "both" position and draw both down then in the morning I can manually flip a switch and have 3rd battery back-up power to crank the engine. Any good advice on: 1. Battery Selection 2. ACR 3. Switch 4. Wiring Diagram I've looked at the BlueSea.com website, studied the info at WestMarine but am still a bit confused on how to rig this up. Thanks, Steve- Edwards, CO
jimh	posted 11-09-2007 11:34 PM ET (US) I would avoid complicated switching arrangements. Install a third battery as a HOUSE battery. Run the windlass from this battery, as well as your house lighting and electrical loads. Get an automatic combiner relay (ACR) --also called a voltage sensitive relay (VSR)--and install it so that it routes charging current to the third battery. The more complicated the electrical switching arrangement, the harder it is to keep track of how to operate it. If you just add a HOUSE battery and an ACR, you will have a relatively simple system, and it should be no harder to operate than what you have now.
glen e	posted 11-10-2007 05:37 AM ET (US) A very simple way to execute Jim's post above: http://bluesea.com/products/7650
Sschmitzs	posted 11-10-2007 03:11 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input!!!!Steve