BrianSmith
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 487
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Smartini
- Vessel Make
- 2002 Kristen 52' Flybridge Trawler
I know... this is probably a question like "Which religion is best?", but I can't find any threads that deal with it specifically, so I'm asking. (If such a thread exists and someone can point me to it, that would be fantastic!)
Bought our 1974 Gulfstar 43' Trawler in May. Been learning about it ever since, while learning about boat electrical systems - we're newbies. Recently replaced a totally fried Xantrex inverter / charger with new from Magnum Energy, and I'm trying to get it set up optimally.
The boat has 8 6V GC2 batteries (wired to make 4 12V pairs), totaling about 830 Ah of capacity. There are three battery switches - two that can tie together, or isolate, pairs 1 and 2; another that can tie together / isolate pairs 3 and 4; another at the DC panel that can tie together / isolate the output from the other two switches.
Since we got the boat, we have always had all three switches set to BOTH, so all 8 batteries are all being used as the house bank, and also the starting bank.
We have an 8kw Westerbeke with a totally separate starting battery, and the genset provides 120v to the AC panel, which includes power to the inverter / charger to charge the 8 batteries. (We don't have, but intend to add, some kind of trickle charger to the genset start battery - probably solar powered.)
Each engine has a Balmar high output alternator connected to a Balmar three-stage regulator, tied together with a Balmar Centerfielder, to ensure equal output of the alternators.
For most of the year, the boat is in a slip with shore power, so the inverter / charger keeps the batteries topped up all the time. We occasionally take it out for 1 - 3 days at a time on the hook, but so far, haven't been away from shore power longer than that. Next summer, however, we want to cruise the Bahamas for a month, hoping that much of that time will be on the hook.
So, the question: since we have a completely separate way to charge the 8 batteries if we ever discharge them below their ability to start an engine - is there any compelling reason to use the 8 batteries as two separate banks - house and starting? (As you can probably tell, I'm inclined to continue to operate them as one big bank - and Calder, in his latest edition, leans that way - but I'm open minded!)
Bought our 1974 Gulfstar 43' Trawler in May. Been learning about it ever since, while learning about boat electrical systems - we're newbies. Recently replaced a totally fried Xantrex inverter / charger with new from Magnum Energy, and I'm trying to get it set up optimally.
The boat has 8 6V GC2 batteries (wired to make 4 12V pairs), totaling about 830 Ah of capacity. There are three battery switches - two that can tie together, or isolate, pairs 1 and 2; another that can tie together / isolate pairs 3 and 4; another at the DC panel that can tie together / isolate the output from the other two switches.
Since we got the boat, we have always had all three switches set to BOTH, so all 8 batteries are all being used as the house bank, and also the starting bank.
We have an 8kw Westerbeke with a totally separate starting battery, and the genset provides 120v to the AC panel, which includes power to the inverter / charger to charge the 8 batteries. (We don't have, but intend to add, some kind of trickle charger to the genset start battery - probably solar powered.)
Each engine has a Balmar high output alternator connected to a Balmar three-stage regulator, tied together with a Balmar Centerfielder, to ensure equal output of the alternators.
For most of the year, the boat is in a slip with shore power, so the inverter / charger keeps the batteries topped up all the time. We occasionally take it out for 1 - 3 days at a time on the hook, but so far, haven't been away from shore power longer than that. Next summer, however, we want to cruise the Bahamas for a month, hoping that much of that time will be on the hook.
So, the question: since we have a completely separate way to charge the 8 batteries if we ever discharge them below their ability to start an engine - is there any compelling reason to use the 8 batteries as two separate banks - house and starting? (As you can probably tell, I'm inclined to continue to operate them as one big bank - and Calder, in his latest edition, leans that way - but I'm open minded!)