All New Lectrix

[Kristal]

Hello all - don't often post on the PBO board, but as the off-season approaches, my practical aspirations are growing.

Crystal is a 1927 wooden yawl, and has an electrical system to match - some lovely components scattered about, all of which are disconnected. I intend to completely modernise her electrical system, and as part of this, wish to buy a unit which can charge and condition the batteries from a 240V shore supply, and hopefully provide a better solution than the big 1/2/BOTH/OFF switch for battery management.

I've heard that American boxes are better than British ones at this - does anybody have any suggestions for a good system in a smallish package (Crystal is only 30ft on deck at her longest, and 8ft at the beam).

Many thanks...

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<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://d205161.u24.uk.assimilatedservers.net/cryspics/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[tr7v8]

I think their is some confusion here. The battery charger will charge the batteries but this is not part of the battery master switch.
I'm about to rewire mine after the dash has been rebuilt and rewired. Then I'll fit a Sterling 20Amp 3 output battery charger which can charge 1,2 or 3 batteries. The power wiring I intend removing the 1,2 both switch and fitting seperate battery master switches. Having trained in electrics & electronics I'm not convinced about diode splitters so will go with a split charge relay to link the 2 batteries together whilst the engines are running. NO volt drop & much cheaper!
Bear in mind that USA battery chargers are designed around 120V 60Hz whereas the UK ones are set up for 240V 50Hz. More than one US company I've worked for has got themeselves in deep water with kit tested in the US and not tested in Europe.


<hr width=100% size=1>Jim

Draco 2500

 

[Kristal]

Aha, yes, I did actually mean what you went on to explain - I wanted to find a better way to switch between batteries than using the Master switch, presumably using some clever diode system.

What I actually want is a system which will charge and recondition the batteries, and provide 12VDC power whilst attached to shore power, and manage the batteries whilst at sea. If possible, I'd like to eliminate the need to use the Master Switch at all, but probably more feasible would be a system which took the Master Switch out of the charging circuit. Put simply, I mean that both batteries would charge from the alternator regardless of the position of the Master Switch. I think you would still need to have a Master in case of emergency, in some capacity.

I did already notice the 120V/60Hz aspect on the American systems I looked at.

Thanks for the advice so far...

/<

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://d205161.u24.uk.assimilatedservers.net/cryspics/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[snowleopard]

battery switches: if you have 2 domestic batteries you would be better advised to combine them into a single bank (if you don't have nigel calder's book i can explain the logic of that). then you only need a key type switch.

the big benefit of the rotary 1 -2 - both - off switches is that they are make-before-break so are less likely to blow your alternator diodes than separate single switches.



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