How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

[clasavi]

Hello,
I need a little help making sure I do it correctly. I currently have a four position perko switch. Two batteries, one deep cycle and the other starting. I would like to archive the following, 1) hook up the house panel to the deep cycle battery and 2) use the starting battery only to start the boat. Does any one have a "how to" ? The boat is equipped with a single engine

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

You can't do it with the Off/1/2/Both 4 position type battery switch. The common terminal on the switch has both the house and start systems on it.
You need the three position Off/On/Combine switch from Bluesea, or 3 separate on/off switches to use the ACR.

 

[clasavi]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Thanks Don. I will order a on/off combine switch tomorrow. Meanwhile, are there any instructions I can start studying so I can order the correct fuse and wire?

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Sure, here's the link Add-A-Battery - 120A - Blue Sea Systems

Look on the left side under product documents.

 

[clasavi]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Thanks again Don. I looked at those earlier and I can't seem to tie it together. Where do I hook up the alternator wire to?

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

You leave the alternator hooked like it normally is on your motor.

If you post what motor you have, including year, it might help.

 

[clasavi]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

You are the best Don.

I have a 1998 mercuries 350 EFI MPI
Engine Serial OL067176
Sterndrive OL153367

Also, is the bus bar used to bring all negative wires to one common place?

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Yes, your alternator remains hooked to the starter terminal.

 

[clasavi]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Ok, two more question and I am set, I hope!

On the common bus bar (4 terminals), I will have each of the batteries negative wire, a ground wire that will be connected to the engine block and where is the 4 th wire coming from? Is it the starter negative?

Which bus bar should I buy, or better yet what size would I need?

Thanks, Claudio

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Nothing wrong with putting the battery negative cables directly on the engine ground studs.
The bus bar can come from the engine as well with a single wire and you can use it for grounding items on the back of the boat. Bilge pumps, blowers, lights, etc. without having the engine ground stud looking like a porcupine with a lot of small ground wires.

The size depends on what all you expect to hook to it. Typically a 10 gauge wire from the engine to the bus bar will handle small loads.

One like this would work fine, TERMINAL BLK 5SCR 100A - Marpac EL080100 - iboats

Here is a drawing that shows the basics of how the battery system would be wired.

View attachment Add A Battery IO.pdf

EDIT Fixed wiring diagram. Original had the + and - terminals on the fuse panel reversed :facepalm: Shame on me.

 

[clasavi]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

All hooked up and working. Now I need to know to what color wire do I hook it up to at the ignition switch. Any idea?

 

[Don S]

Re: How to hook up an ACR to an inboard

Why do you want to hook it to the ignition switch? It's all automatic the way it is.

It would be the yellow/red striped wire if you need it.