Adding an ACR to dual battery setup

[dingbat]

Currently running a dual battery setup with a 3 way switch. Been working well for quite sometime but getting tired of messing with the switch and will install the Blue seas Add a battery kit.

Both batteries are Grp. 27 deep cycles. The switched ?boat? accessories are currently wired to the com. post on switch.

Battery 1 supplies the auto bilge pump and a helm mounted distribution panel for non-critical electronics, i.e. CD player, back-up VHF.

Battery 2, supplies a distribution panel in the overhead electronics box for critical navigation devices. GPS, radar, primary VHF and fish finder.

My question. Should I remove the direct feeds from both batteries and connect them directly to the com fed on the new switch? Leave the feeds where they are?

Suggestions for connecting the boat accessories wire(s) to the switch. The switch has a ? ? dia. post and the boat accessories connections are a couple of #10 rings. Don't want to put a bus bar in for a couple of wires unless I have too.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Adding an ACR to dual battery setup

In my view if you had installed EVERY feed on the COM terminal of the switch (except for bilge pump(s)) you would have the ultimate in versatility and simplicity that the switch provided in the first place. In addition, you don't have to continually mess with the switch unless you have a very unique set of operating conditions. If your engine is tuned and starts reliably, set the switch on BOTH and leave it there while underway. IF, and ONLY IF you know that one of the batteries needs a charge more than the other, switch to it to allow the full alternator output to go to that battery. Even if you leave the switch in BOTH, the two will equalize and the alternator will still consider the two batteries as one bigger one but will still need to replace the same amount of current. ONLY if you intend to stop somewhere for an extended period would you need to switch OFF or to the house battery. Should a battery take a dump on you you simply switch to the good one and go on your way.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Adding an ACR to dual battery setup

The "add a battery" Blue Seas switch is not your typical 1/2/both switch. Internally, it has two on/off switches and then another between the two(combined position). There should actually be 4 posts on that switch.

This shows how the switch works.
http://bluesea.com/files/resources/instructions/5511e_web_version.pdf