AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

[Sunsetrider]

I am upgrading electrics over this winter: I have bought a BlueSea ACR and Switch, and am looking at getting the newly released ProMarine Sport Gen3 12A charger


The charger is designed to hook up to 2 batteries at the same time. The ACR also functions (I believe) to distribute the charge between the 2 banks. It seems to me that the most direct way to install the charger will be to hook up the charger directly to each battery rather than routing the charger through the ACR/Switch. Does this make sense?

FYI the boat has no AC shore power, uses a start battery plus a 115AH house battery to power basic lighting, fans and instruments (no refrig eg).

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I am upgrading electrics over this winter: I have bought a BlueSea ACR and Switch, and am looking at getting the newly released ProMarine Sport Gen3 12A charger

The charger is designed to hook up to 2 batteries at the same time. The ACR also functions (I believe) to distribute the charge between the 2 banks. It seems to me that the most direct way to install the charger will be to hook up the charger directly to each battery rather than routing the charger through the ACR/Switch. Does this make sense?

FYI the boat has no AC shore power, uses a start battery plus a 115AH house battery to power basic lighting, fans and instruments (no refrig eg).

The manual indicates that it is acceptable to connect both cables to a common battery bank in parallel.
You can connect each charge cable to each battery, The ACR will still parallel the batteries during the charge cycle.

Or you could connect BOTH Cables to one battery, the ACR will still parallel the two batteries.

As long as both batteries are the same chemistry, Both Flooded Cells or Both AGM, The end result will be exactly the same.

A Flooded Cell Start battery and a Flooded Cell Deep Discharge are considered the same chemistry.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I guess I'm over- or under- thinking. :laugh:

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I have a two bank promariner charger and it works just fine hooked directly up to the batteries. That charger has the added benefit of using on two different battery types at the same time also.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

If you hook up the charger to both batteries or one battery, it won't matter as the ACR will combine once the charger is turned on.

If you would prefer to have the ACR not combine, put a switch in the negative lead of the ACR and switch it off while the charger is charging. Another option is to put a relay in the negative lead of the ACR so that the ACR only functions when the ignition is on.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Just thought of something that will work and keep the ACR from combining when using the charger. If you normally keep your Blue Sea in the off position, connect the ACR to the side of the switch that faces the load side of the switch. That way it will only operate when the switch is in the ON position but won't operate in off.

This of course will not work with a 1/2/Both switch...only the type switch used in the "Add-a-battery" kit.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I'll have to concentrate my disappearing brain cells to follow . . . I was thinking that with the Charger leads connected to each battery terminal, when I dock the boat and go home for the week, I turn the Batt Switch (On-Off-Both) to Off and plug the AC power in to the Charger. That way the batteries are charged during my absence but there is no danger someone has left a consumer on inadvertently. But now I'm wondering whether I am imaging the operation of the circuits correctly.

Maybe I could follow along better if I unwrap the Add-a-Battery kit. When it comes to practical things like electricity I am a **** Jane Spot person. :embarassed:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I modified a Blue Sea Diagram showing the different connection I am proposing in yellow.

Instead of connecting the ACR to the battery terminals, connect to the switch as shown.

You would charge your batteries with your 120VAC Dual charger with the switch in the off position just as you said.

 

[jhebert]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

On my boat I have a 120-VAC-operated dual-battery battery charger connected directly to the batteries. I leave the main power switch set to OFF and plug the 120-VAC charger into a power source to charge the batteries when the boat is being stored or not in use for a long time. The power leads in the charger output are fused. If you are concerned about the 120-VAC charging circuit causing a problem when it is not operating, you can remove the fuses. This will completely disconnect the charger from the batteries and any boat wiring connected to the batteries.

 

[jhebert]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I modified a Blue Sea Diagram showing the different connection I am proposing in yellow.

Don't use YELLOW as the actual wire color. In DC wiring the color YELLOW is for the negative circuit.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Don't use YELLOW as the actual wire color. In DC wiring the color YELLOW is for the negative circuit.

It's just to highlight the change in the diagram! :facepalm:

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I modified a Blue Sea Diagram showing the different connection I am proposing in yellow.

Yes - see, that's what I need to get it! :lol: Seems like that will result in a common-sense operation with no confusing of tasks between the gizmos.

Is it cheating for me to ask out loud what gauge wire recommended for (a) battery to switch-to bus and (b) ACR to switch? I am thinking #2 for (a) and #10 for (b). ??

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Blue Sea has recommendations in design notes but depends on charging system. I would bump up the size from what you currently use without a switch.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Blue Sea has recommendations in design notes by depends on charging system. I would bump up the size from what you currently use without a switch.

I have been studying those directions, but as mentioned earlier, I do require quite a high degree of hand holding. I am upgrading all the wiring associated with the battery and engine by one or two gauge sizes. The picture below shows the existing wire going from my existing Perko switch to the POS bus. I have put together a new #2 cable for that, but it will go on the new switch.



But what I am really fishing for is confirmation that only a relatively small-size gauge is required to electrify the ACR itself, as opposed to the switch which carries the starting and house-load currents. I suppose I actually know the answer is yes.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

The wire that connects from the ACR to ground is a small wire. It is carrying less than 200mA,

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Same with POS batt to ACR?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

Same with POS batt to ACR?

The two positive leads to the ACR from each battery need to be large enough to carry all the charge current minimum so they are going to be large. They will likely be 6 gauge or bigger. There are no other wires that are absolutely necessary for the ACR to work(those 2 positive and the negative wire). If you are talking about the leads that control if the ACR disconnects during starr or for the indicator LED wire, those are small.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I misspeak again. So, referring to your revised diagram above, the wires shown as red (to switch) are heavy gauge, the yellow, not so much. Is that right? (they no longer go from POS to ACR).

 

[bruceb58]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

I misspeak again. So, referring to your revised diagram above, the wires shown as red (to switch) are heavy gauge, the yellow, not so much. Is that right? (they no longer go from POS to ACR).

Yes, they still should be large enough to carry 120A especially if you make them fairly short. If your house battery is very low and your engine battery is fully charged, the current that will flow can be large once the ACR connects. It could be more than what your charging system can actually supply. After a few minutes, the most that will be flowing is the max that your charging system can put out.

You need to size them at least to what the current the alternator can put out.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: AC Charger with BlueSea ACR hookup ?

OK, I think I am set. Many thanks!