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06-28-2020, 02:44 PM
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#1
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Member
City: Campbell River
Vessel Name: RavenSong
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 18
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12V vs 24V bow thrusters
I am going to get a bow thruster for my 26 Monk. I see that Vetus makes both 12V and 24V thrusters. I am leaning to the 24V model but wonder if anyone here has made the choice and why? Also did you wire the thruster to an existing battery bank or install 1 or 2 up front closer to the thruster? I see lots of discussion on here about pros and cons of bow versus stern thrusters but nothing on the voltage issue. I await your comments .Thanks.
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06-28-2020, 03:26 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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I went from 12 to 24 volt but on a substantially larger boat. Oops, you said 26', the Monk is 36'. I would still go 24 volt and put the batteries in that compartment. The higher voltage cuts the amperage in have. Two 12 volt batteries in series will substantially reduced voltage drop which is better for performance and the motor. If you have an inverter, it's very easy to recharge the batteries with a 6 amp battery charger.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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06-28-2020, 03:33 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Malmö
Vessel Name: ABsolutely FABulous
Vessel Model: Greenline 33 Hybrid (2010)
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,504
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Definitely use a dedicated battery! Using a big house battery just doen’t cut it . Been there. Done that. Had to re-do that! I use a DC to DC charger from my house battery to the thruster battery, however. It greatly simplified the charging installation.
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06-28-2020, 03:33 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Circuit Breaker
Vessel Model: 2021..22' Duffy Cuddy cabin
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,691
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Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver
I went from 12 to 24 volt but on a substantially larger boat....... The higher voltage cuts the amperage in have. Two 12 volt batteries in series will substantially reduced voltage drop which is better for performance and the motor.
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I agree but I use 4-6volt AGMs mounted within 4 feet of the thruster.
__________________
Done with diesel power boats! Have fallen in love with all electric!
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06-28-2020, 04:07 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Malmö
Vessel Name: ABsolutely FABulous
Vessel Model: Greenline 33 Hybrid (2010)
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,504
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Agree about the proximity! When I re-did my installation to a dedicated & close battery, I think I must have removed 30-40 lbs of long, heavy cables.
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06-28-2020, 05:12 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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Yes the goal is to have short battery cables to minimize voltage drop.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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06-28-2020, 06:40 PM
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#7
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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My boat is a 24-volt boat (like its larger Seahorse Marine sisters). Also, have ancillary 12-volt and 110 AC. Bow-mounted 24-volt thruster is about 10 feet from the batteries. No problem. Have not seen the need for a dedicated battery for the thruster. Besides, the engine is normally running and generating electrical power whenever the thruster is used.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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06-28-2020, 07:14 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: St Petersburg
Vessel Name: Knot Fast
Vessel Model: Great Harbour GH37
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 243
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OC, That's a nice, clean install. But what's that PVC thing in the middle?
Also, good to has an accessible battery switch. Thrusters do occasionally stick "on".
[I bet OC has one]
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06-28-2020, 07:50 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,131
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I put a stern thruster on my 41’ President. It is a Sidepower SE100/185T which is 8 hp. It is a 12 volt unit and it works wonderfully. I have used it in 25+ mph winds and it immediately moves the stern upwind. I don’t see the need for a 24 volt unit in my application.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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06-28-2020, 08:47 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Puget Sound
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 631
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__________________
When crap happens, turn it into fertilizer for your tree of knowledge..... Scott Brodie
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06-28-2020, 09:25 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Here
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,940
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Two 12volt starter batteries at the thruster with a series parallel switch and relay. Charging takes place at 12volts from your existing alternator and charger but switches automatically to 24volt output when the thruster is energized.
You can buy a series parallel switch from Vetus for about $1,300 or buy one at a farm supply outfit for about $100.
If uncomfortable with this kind or wiring hire a farm equipment mechanic they do this stuff all the time.
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06-29-2020, 03:11 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Malmö
Vessel Name: ABsolutely FABulous
Vessel Model: Greenline 33 Hybrid (2010)
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,504
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The unit I refer to above is mounted as a stern thruster. Side Power Retractable SR80/185T 12V. Love it. And yes, do mount a local battery switch with it, as Knot Fast suggested. Once every 4-5 months, mine sticks on and I need to "re-boot" it using the battery switch.
To expand a bit on my earlier posts... When I first had this thruster hooked up to my 200Ah 12v AGM house battery, it worked fine. It didn't take many weeks, however, for me to notice that some of the helm instruments did not appreciate the sudden, fluctuation in voltage that accompanied each use of the thruster. It could have been that my house battery was approaching end-of-life anyway. Or, it could have been that attaching the thruster to it pushed it into the grave even faster. I don't know. After learning a little more about the situation, before changing to a dedicated thruster battery, I came to understand that the kind of battery one typically uses for "house" applications is different than the ideal battery type for starting your engines. The thruster creates a short, extremely heavy power demand...just like starting your engine. So, a starter battery is more appropriate for thruster use.
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06-29-2020, 04:17 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Malmö
Vessel Name: ABsolutely FABulous
Vessel Model: Greenline 33 Hybrid (2010)
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,504
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Since you mentioned, specifically, bow thruster in the title of this thread, I will throw in one other comment. My boat came from the factory with a Side Power SE40 Bow Thruster AND a Quick anchor windlass. The local 12v bow thruster battery is also used by the windlass. Nothing else. This has worked well, as these two items are never used at the same time and they have somewhat similar power draw characteristics.
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06-29-2020, 04:59 AM
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#14
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Guru
City: Saint Petersburg
Vessel Name: Weebles
Vessel Model: 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,166
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Surprised by the comments thus far. Not that I don't agree about 24v being worth the cost/complexity/effort on many boats, but this is a 26-footer. 12V is fine but don't cheap-out on the cables.
Peter
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 1970 Willard 36 trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
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06-29-2020, 05:26 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Knot Fast
OC, That's a nice, clean install. But what's that PVC thing in the middle?
Also, good to has an accessible battery switch. Thrusters do occasionally stick "on".
[I bet OC has one]
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The PVC thing is the oil reservoir. The original one cracked.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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06-29-2020, 05:30 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mvweebles
Surprised by the comments thus far. Not that I don't agree about 24v being worth the cost/complexity/effort on many boats, this is a 26-footer. 12V is fine but don't cheap-out on the cables.
Peter
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Hi Peter, I thought that also, but 26 was a typo by the OP. A Monk is almost always a 36' boat, and is so indicated by the OP's information under his username.
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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06-29-2020, 05:44 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Saint Petersburg
Vessel Name: Weebles
Vessel Model: 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,166
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Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver
Hi Peter, I thought that also, but 26 was a typo by the OP. A Monk is almost always a 36' boat, and is so indicated by the OP's information under his username.
Ted
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That makes sense - your original response said as much, but I didn't catch it.
Thanks for the clarification. I'm still not sure it makes sense for the OP given the generic value of a Monk 36, it certainly makes more sense than for a 26-footer. A lot depends on his need (some boat/berth combo's really need a thruster) and current config - heavy 2/0 cables are dang expensive; but he likely already has a 12v windlass. Tough call from the bleachers except to state the obvious - starting from scratch, 24v requires a relatively small upgrade of DC-DC inverter which is more than offset by reduced cost of cables. At some point, 12v thruster is too small or cables required are too large. At some point, a hydraulic thruster makes more sense than even a 24v thruster. Etc., etc.
BTW - nice install on your thruster Ted.
Peter
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 1970 Willard 36 trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
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06-29-2020, 08:45 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Oconto, WI
Vessel Name: Best Alternative
Vessel Model: 36 Albin Aft Cabin
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,145
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If you can make your installation as simple and sweet as O.C. shows, go for it.
pete
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06-29-2020, 09:50 AM
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#19
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Member
City: Campbell River
Vessel Name: RavenSong
Vessel Model: Monk 36
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver
Hi Peter, I thought that also, but 26 was a typo by the OP. A Monk is almost always a 36' boat, and is so indicated by the OP's information under his username.
Ted
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Yes I made a typo. The Monk is 36’. Thanks for your help. And there is an inverter running off a bank of 6 “golf cart” batteries, but they are at least 15’ away from the location of the bow thruster. That is why I am considering going to 24V with designated batteries.
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06-29-2020, 10:49 AM
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#20
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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I went 12V on my rather light and skinny 38'. Put a dedicated grp 24 starting batt right there so cables were short. Been happy with the performance. Charging is done through 10ga leads to house bank through a 15A breaker with a relay that opens when thruster is running. System works well.
I would not want to increase the complexity in a 36' by putting a 24v system into an otherwise 12v boat. Can be done, probably get a bit better thrust, but is it worth it?? Me thinks not. Can be done with the series/parallel relay as posted above, but that is just another thing to go wrong.
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