Struggling with multiple connections

[KnightHawk]

Have a fairly standard electrical system on my Dufour with an Engine Starter Battery (12v 100amps) and a Auxilary Bank (12v 250amps) they are charged by both my alternator (volvo penta d1-30) and a smart charger running off 240v when on pontoon through a SunPower multi battery isolator. So this winter I have finally added a electric windlass (I've brought appropriate Core size cabling to the stern battery locker ready to hook upto its own 150 Amp battery. I have installed a solar arch also this winter with a wind turbine post but yet to chosen those parts as now I am a bit lost. Some questions for the more electrically proficient
1. Keep all three battery systems separate, engine/aux/windlass?
2. How does the battery isolator work with three batteries systems do I need one with 3 outputs?
3. How does the Wind and Solar inputs work with the smart charger and the engine alternator?

If anyone wants to draw me a wiring diagram and components they would be my hero for life and happily rewarded in Alcohol!

 

[Tranona]

Welcome

If you are having a dedicated windlass battery then the sensible thing is to mount it at the front and charge it with a B2B 30A charger from the engine battery. However if you already have spent the money on the heavy cables then run it from your house bank. While the current draw is high when the windlass is running it is only for a short period and the amps taken is not high. Very common to use the house bank for the windlass - the downside is the cost of cables. A bow battery and B2B (which only needs light cables) is much the same as the heavy cables. The downside is usually finding space for the battery up front. Does not make sense to have a dedicated battery located in the stern. If you have space there makes much more sense to add another battery to your house bank. a 150Ah is OTT for a windlass. I have a 105Ah bow battery (charged by a B2B) that runs both the windlass and a bow thruster.

 

[KnightHawk]

Thanks Tranona so will just add the battery in parallel with the 'house bank'.

 

[Boathook]

Thanks Tranona so will just add the battery in parallel with the 'house bank'.

Connecting a new battery to an existing bank of old batteries is never particularly good. Ideally the batteries should all be the same, age, size, etc.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Welcome

If you are having a dedicated windlass battery then the sensible thing is to mount it at the front and charge it with a B2B 30A charger from the engine battery. However if you already have spent the money on the heavy cables then run it from your house bank. While the current draw is high when the windlass is running it is only for a short period and the amps taken is not high. Very common to use the house bank for the windlass - the downside is the cost of cables. A bow battery and B2B (which only needs light cables) is much the same as the heavy cables. The downside is usually finding space for the battery up front. Does not make sense to have a dedicated battery located in the stern. If you have space there makes much more sense to add another battery to your house bank. a 150Ah is OTT for a windlass. I have a 105Ah bow battery (charged by a B2B) that runs both the windlass and a bow thruster.

For the unitiated, B2B stands for "battery -to-battery".

 

[PaulRainbow]

Connecting a new battery to an existing bank of old batteries is never particularly good. Ideally the batteries should all be the same, age, size, etc.

As opposed to throwing away 250ah of perfectly good batteries ?

 

[KnightHawk]

I think I'll take the risk the house batteries are cycled well and same size. Now someone has to post how I incorporate the Solar and Wind into this model, knowing that the solar and wind will just be used to charge the engine and house batteries, I have a 2 KW inverter which I very infrequently use which is on the house battery bank aswell. Keep your knowledge going please

 

[Tranona]

No need to connect to the start battery as that will always be fully charged if used only for start. As soon as the engine fires it charges the start battery and then it all goes to the house. It is the house that benefits from the constant top up from the solar