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You beat me to it. I'd typed up a similar reply to the ignition circuit but my Dad called just before I hit send.

I'm with you though. I never connected the ignition wire either. I do have the switch in place to disconnect the ACR though. I turn it off when I'm on shore power since all three banks have their own charge source and I don't want to confuse the "not very smart" 3 bank charger by tying them all together.

Be Free wrote: ↑Sun Jun 27, 2021 8:26 am You beat me to it. I'd typed up a similar reply to the ignition circuit but my Dad called just before I hit send.

I'm with you though. I never connected the ignition wire either. I do have the switch in place to disconnect the ACR though. I turn it off when I'm on shore power since all three banks have their own charge source and I don't want to confuse the "not very smart" 3 bank charger by tying them all together.

Lol.

I had a "smart" dual-bank charger before I installed the ACR, but switched it out for a single-bank charger to avoid that confusion you speak of.

On my boat I try to make everything as independent of me as possible: with my current setup I don't have to think about anything or switch anything, or remember anything. The battery selector stays on position 1 at all times, night and day for 5 months, the only exceptions being 1) I'm working on the electrics or 2) battery 1 gets depleted overnight through usage and can no longer start the motor. The system takes care if itself.

Same here. That's why I went with the ACR. My switch stays on "all" (ties both house banks into one big bank) except when I'm charging at home and then it's off. My "smart" charger would figure out what was going on eventually but I'm trying not to confuse it when each bank has its own charge source anyway.

In my attempt to keep this thread alive while cramming my brain full of new info- here's my new book! I'm working through the first chapter and have picked up a lot of new info on batteries, so far. I've gotten through some parts about alternators but still nothing on ACRs yet. It's a great book, though, and I'll post some thoughts/questions for the practical world as soon as I get through the charging sections...stay tuned!!

I've got that book. Excellent information.

So do I.

Russ recommended it awhile back. We are on the eleventh day of a thirteen day cruise (planned as eleven), I have the book with me.

I only read the O.P. and skimmed some of the replies... apologies if this has already been covered. As you have already discerned, there are many ways to roll the project. Many solutions (some simple, some complicated) are based on specialized use cases and don't apply to other cases. In my case, I have a mixed system... lead-acid starter, Lithium house. It requires special handling. You indicated a minimal house requirement and as such a dual lead-acid system is completely satisfactory. If you are a tinkerer, then some of the systems in the replies are interesting science projects and great if you intend to expand in the future.

If you really want "simple" and don't really want to have to "dink around" with it all the time or wonder if you remembered to set it correctly the last time you left the boat... @C Buchs recommended this combiner https://www.yandina.com/acrobats/C50Data.pdf that sounded very interesting. It charges both batteries, yet draws isolated... (starter battery only used by motor, house only by other battery). Sounds like it would charge both from motor alternator or trickle devices. I book marked it for later study... You might ping him for details.

To me it sounds like the perfect fire and forget weapon... go boating and enjoy.

I'm glad you chimed in Inquisitor as I've read several of your posts regarding Lithium batteries and your system. I hadn't reached out yet because Lithium batteries get a whole chapter later to themselves in the book I'm reading and I haven't gotten there yet!! I like the 'science project' take, It's kind of how I'm approaching this part of the ongoing boat project. I'm balancing a wife and 14 year old wanting to go out and enjoy the boat with wanting to tear into pretty much all of the systems and make adjustments! At this point, my Mac runs well and I feel pretty safely set up so I am trying to get a plan together for the winter when I can hopefully get her in a garage and go through these systems at my leisure.
After my limited reading to this point, I'm leaning towards a more simple set up, at least initially. The 2 batteries I have are only a year old, adequate for starting the Honda BF50 and running lights. Getting a charging scheme together is the challenge and I will definitely check out the link you sent as I'd like to add a solar panel, mainly as a kind of science project, ha! Probably don't need the power as the alternator keeps these batteries charged but in the future I'd like the flexibility to expand my electrical needs and have the knowledge to do so properly...

Get out there and have some fun with your wife and kids while the weather is good. You have all winter to tinker.

Hi SoundDevice

As much as we like tinkering and improving things we have to agree with BeFree!
Get out and enjoy while the weather lasts!
Before too long, a blink of an eye, a season is past.
Sunshine and warmth gives way to cold, falling leaves and then snow and ice.

Fall and Spring are the times we’ve found to be a good time for tinkering.
The shortening daylight can be supplanted by worklights.
Cooler temps make it easier to wear long sleeves and jeans and a sweatshirt if need be.
A small fan space heater does wonders inside to do the interior cabin work.

Enjoy the time with your wife and 14 year old.
It’s an important time, especially for teens.
Quite literally they are there one ordinary day and the next thing they are grown and off on their own leaving only a slight dust cloud behind. (We’ve had two good’uns several years apart an’ they both flew da’coop to their own life’s adventures….. )

Hint: IF possible get them to help and/or take on thier own improvements to your Mac.
It can surprise you to find out the ingenious ideas that other perspectives can provide.
Sometimes it might need to iterate a time or two, but it is surprising!

Making them happen can help build a sense of cooperation and co-ownership in your Mac that can be very precious in the present and future.