How to install dual batteries on a boat | Blue Seas Systems Add-A-Battery
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- Опубліковано 17 бер 2020
- #HowTo #DualBatteries #BlueSeasSystems
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Now that was just what the Dr. ordered !. Thank you for putting the links to Amazon for quick purchase. Very good video , very easy to understand.
Thank you, I hope it helped.
Man that is such a valuable project to do, really helps you to sleep at night before a big fishing trip knowing that you have a back up battery in place if needed. Exceptional videos or keep up the great work!
Thank you, I am really happy with this project!
You rock dude! On behalf of everyone who will benefit from this video I’d say all our thumbs are up! 👍👍
Thank you very much Tyler, I really appreciate it!
Damn good video. Love the fabrication and detail to what goes where and how the entire application needs to fit the compartment. Appreciate the tips on the rubber anti-rub fittings and liquid tape to avoid corrosion. Great stuff. You are a working-class hero sir. Simple to understand and right to the point. I'm getting ready to build the same setup into our Sea Ray. Again huge thanks to you.
Awe, man, thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it. I hope your system works out great for you.
Just gotta say is you damn good job with explaining every detail you went over and WHY you’re doing it👍🏼going to use this set up
Wow, thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
Nice work. Looking into adding a second battery. This helped immensely. Thank you!
Thank you Victor, I glad it helped you.
Excellent video, exactly what I was looking for. Will be looking to make this a winter project this year.
That's great Nate, I hope it helps you out.
Good job. I'm just starting my new blue sea system. Now that all the parts came. I took a photo of your board to go back too. Thankyou for sharing.
Thank you and good luck with your project.
Excellent Project with instructions, very helpful. I'm changing mine out ASAP. Thank you and thanks for the parts list. I'll subscribe and watch many more of your videos. Finally someone who isn't in a big Rush to talk fast and force me to replay over and over to get it. Keep it up man, I'm sold
Thank you, I hope it helps.
Great video been researching this project and just like you said do it right the first time! Thumbs up for making this easy to follow.
Thank you for the kind words.
Thank you for the video!!!
Exactly what I was looking for. You did nice job.
It will help me now to install, and enjoy the music when the engine off.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Great tutorial video John. Two batteries is a must
Thanks, you’re right, I’ll be much more confident when I’m out now.
That board ..... was brilliant !
Thank you, it made it much easier to install.
Thanks for this! It’s a pretty simple setup but there are so many variations and a lot of videos make it seem complicated.
Thank you, I hope it helps.
Now that is a quality installation.
Thank you.
Love the descriptions along the way. Thanks
Thank you, I hope it helps.
Great video and I did learn something. You mentioned using liquid electrical tape, great idea. I am doing a total rebuild on my pontoon boat and ofcourse I am installing two batteries and one will be a deep cycle. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for the kind words, and good luck with the pontoon.
Nice install I did one on a boat a few months ago turned out nice and works perfect
Thank you and congrats on doing your own.
Great Video I just starting the exact same process and this was a great video with great information. Well done.
Thank you, I hope it helps you.
Very helpful tips and thanks so much for showing us how. Hope you and the family are staying safe and healthy my friend have a great week big like 11 here as always. 😀👍
Thank you, hope you and your family are staying safe as well.
Great install and explanation! Thanks. Subscribed.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
Fairplay nicely done thanks for taking the time
Thank you for the kind comment.
Nicely done! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for the comment and watching.
Hey thanks for the video and the links. I have been thinking of doing this for a while.
Thank you for watching, I hope it helps you.
Thanks for the info and I’m like you I wanna do it right the first time. I’m rewiring my boat under my helm and it’s been a challenge but I’m making it through
Thanks, I hope this helps you get it rewired.
Awesome Job Dude!
Thank you!
CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor. Works great.
You the man keep them coming
Thank you!
Thank you for the video I got a 1994 Searay one thirty five black max outboard One battery setup definitely want to upgrade. Thanks for the video I think Going to attempt it myself wish me luck I'm gonna do this.
Good luck, it's not that bad.
Thank you for the step by step
Thank you for watching and I hope it helps you.
Nice upgrade. 👍
Thank you Grant!
Good job nice and clean
Thank you!
My man showing those boat mechanic skills. I don't have the brains or patience to do what you did brother
LOL it ain't as hard as I made it look! :)
Nice upgrade for sure man
Thank you.
Thanks for this video. I’m gonna do same thing in my pontoon
Great, I'm glad it can help you!
Good battery system! 👍
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing! Just subscribed!
Thank you!
I noticed you did not use the isolator battery mount that isolates the battery cable from each of the batteries to the ACR. When I installed mine I called BS and they were really adamant about using the battery cable isolator. Basically it protected the ACR with a fuse yet did not disrupt the other positive cable as each battery has two positive cables. One item I learned was mixing battery types, e.g. one a gel the other lead acid or some other combination. Doing that can really mess up the ACR as the charging characteristics are different for each battery type and can cause battery damage. Really liked your mounting board. I had to build a "bulkhead" as I had nothing on my pontoon boat to mount all the items.
Great explanations. Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Great upgrade John.
Wiring confuses me
Good explanation
Thank you Steve.
I am thinking you should test the charging system. When the engine is running, measure the terminal voltage on each battery. It should be near 14 Volts. That will indicate that current is flowing into the battery(s) from the engine alternator.
Nice. Thanks
Nice brother thanks for the info.
Thank you for watching and the kind comment.
USCG requires positive terminals to be covered. It is also an ABYC and NEMA standard.
Good job! Put covers on battery posts! Coast Guard safety issue.
it's exactly what I'm going to do in mind thanks so much I will tell you keep your batteries clean they can drain power from them.verry slowly.
Thanks for the tip Michael.
Thanks for the video, I used it as a referance to add a battery to my boat with the same kit. As far as protecting the exposed battery terminals, I figured the liquid electrical tape might be a good start as a non conducting material if you arent planning on using battery boxes. Also keeping the battery compartment free of conducting materials that can bounce around and short out the terminals is a good idea. I recently saw a video where a gentlemen set his boat on fire because his spare jumper cables in his battery compartment bounced around and shorted the terminals in his trolling motor batteries, just food for thought.
Awesome, I'm glad you were able to use it. Good point on not keeping anything that could conduct a current in the battery compartment. The liquid tape my the the perfect solution for protecting the terminals.
Great info friend
Thank you.
Fuses (60 amp) are supposed to be located within 7” of the battery positive terminal to properly protect the cables. Bob
fine job well done
Thank you Anthony, I appreciate it.
That dirty boat though! Still, I'm glad you made this. Doing electric work isn't difficult. I hope more boaters take on jobs like this.
Hey don't dirty boat shame me! LOL yeah I'll be the first to admit I don't keep the boat very clean. Thanks for watching!
@@AJOutdoors1 🤣🤣🤣 hey be proud! You da man! Thanks for contributing by making these vids. I really do appreciate them.
@@Grottolova Thanks man, I really appreciate it.
11:45 now thats a smile of relief 😊
Yes it was. 😊
@@AJOutdoors1 I know that feeling 😁
thanks,learned alot
Thank you for watching.
Nice job.
Thank you.
Thank you for this video - very informative!
I’m glad you appreciated it, thank you.
@@AJOutdoors1 Btw. I noticed the LED light on ACR was still blinking when I turned switch OFF. Is that because it still drains battery? ALSO - does it mean that you need to disconnect batteries to ACR before disconnecting their cables (need to clean poles).
@@Jstars200 It should not be flashing, I pulled this information for the installation instructions:
• Because the m-ACR is dual sensing, the battery connection terminals are interchangeable.
m-ACR function will not be affected by reversal of the starting and house batteries versus the diagram.
• If the status indicator LED is triple-flashing, the m-ACR is in a lockout state, and will not combine
batteries until the lockout condition is removed. Ensure neither battery is below 10V for a 12V system
or 20V for a 24V system.
• If the status indicator LED is double-flashing, check for positive voltage on the start isolation terminal.
• It is recommended that the m-ACR be connected directly to your battery positive terminals through
appropriately sized fuses. Connecting in a different location such as a battery switch may affect
accuracy because of voltage drop along current carrying conductors.
@@AJOutdoors1 sorted it out. Could be flashing because ACR was connected close to battery terminals which it should.
@@Jstars200 Glad you got it sorted.
I really like the clear shrink tubing idea, what better way to see if corrosion is forming as the crimp. I think the clear liquid is a bit overkill seeing as those are SS studs but to each their own. 👍👍
Thank you.
Great video
Thank you.
Nice job, well thought out, well executed. Do you use an on board charging system or alligator connect type?
Thank you Randy. The beauty of this system, the motor charges both batteries, no need for an additional charger.. I do have an onboard charger for the trolling motor batteries.
Thanks for the great video! :) Where does the alternator connection terminate? I've seen a separate alternator terminal on battery isolators, but I'm curious if it simply is combined with the other positive connection(s) to the engine using this kit?
Mine is combined with the other positive connections as you assumed. Thanks for watching and I hope it helps.
Great video. Perhaps utilize some plastic caps from bottles to cover your battery terminals.
Thank you, that may work.
Nice job
Thanks!
Great video! What positive wire did you connect to the 12 o’clock position on the switch? Looks to be routed to the boat.
Thank you for the complement! Yes on my the 12 o'clock does to the house (boat), what is important is that the connections are numbered, so if you put the engine battery on #2, then you put the engine on #2. I hope I cleared that up.
U did an awesome job & we're actually coping u to add an extra battery to our pontoon. Would u share with us what size wiring u used & where u purchased ur 60amp & 1amp fuses & bus bar? Thanks so much & happy boating!
Thank you very much! I used 4 & 5 gauge for the cables, the siring for the 1 amp fuse is 14 gauge. The system has wire gauge recommendations, but I went a little bigger. I added a link above to the 1 amp fuses, and the 60 amp fuses. I got the bus bar on Amazon too, but the one I got is not currently available. Just search for bus bars and you'll be able to find one. This is a great upgrade, good luck and I hope you enjoy it. If you have any other questions, just ask.
Thanks for the vid. Do you need to ground from neg bus? Or does the neg from engine into bus provide this?
The neg from the engine and being attached to the negs on the batteries provides the grounds. You do need a ground to the house power too.
Awesome, fantastic, quality, well shot and narrated video!!!
What, if any, method of shore/garage/driveway charging do you use?
I’ve seen the Blue Seas Mini ADD-A-BATTERY PLUS 7655 which combines a built in 10A smart charger and the ACR (Automatic Charging Relay), but it’s considerably more costly (~$245 vs ~$130).
My concern is how long will it take at cruising speed to recharge my two batteries (a 750Ah deep cycle and a 500Ah cranking) with my boat motor’s 60A alternator? Said another way, if I only run 20 min to where I anchor and another 20 min back to the dock is that enough time to recharge the batteries with the boat motor? I’m trying to figure out if I need to attach a charger back at the dock so I’m ready to go next time?
Hence my question, What if any, method of charging from shore/garage/driveway do you use ?
Thanks again for this very useful post!
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words. I found that my house battery (deep cycle) needed more than just my alternator when I do a lot of trips where I do not run the big motor much. I added a small removable solar panel that I use to keep the house battery up when it is sitting in the driveway.
Thanks for the video. I'm installing another battery on my ski boat that has a powerful stereo will this system work for me? I would like to exactly mimic your system.
Yes, this setup would work for you. Thanks for watching and I hope it helps you.
This is awesome! I was thinking of ways to manually select batteries and thinking of a creative way to share a charge... The magical black box is the answer. Super cool and doesn't require much thought. My only problem is my trolling motor is a 24v and everthing else is 12. Maybe this can still work for me? I am honestly not sure. Obviously it wouldn't be quite as plug and play but who knows.
My 24v trolling motor has it's own two dedicated batteries.
Great video! I will try to duplicate what you did! Just one question, where did you attach the ground engine cable? To the negative bus? Thank you.
Yes, it is connected to the negative bus.
Awesome!
Thank you!
That’s freaking cool bro!! Just sub
Thank you, I really appreciate it!
A&J Outdoors I’m use this when I get my boat. I saved it
@@CastNBlast Very cool!
Yes you need short protection of the battery post. Blue sea sells rubber battery post covers. You need them on positive and negative. Your throttle cables are directly over the negative terminal and vibration as they rub against the battery can cause chaffing and shorting so protect is a good idea. A dielectric grease is an insulator and is not conductive. When it finds its way between terminals it creates electrical resistance and resistance under load can create fires. Your concern is corrosion protection so use a product like corrosionx. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your input.
Nice upgrade I need to install a batter switch and kind of do what you did with another circuit for the electronics and accessories
Thank you, it’s really not that bad.
Unless you have alot of sensitive electronics, lights, an amplified stero system, and all kinds of pumps. This is really overkill! I am only saying that because most people do not have the knowledge the tools and all the little extras like all the connectors, shrink tubing, crimper for the heavy gauge power wires, and do not forget you should always use tinned copper wire! The cost for all the correct supplies will add up really quick!
I have been boating for over 30 years! I have a 23Ft cuddy W/A 4.3L I/O I dock it in salt water in NJ all summer every summer for the last 25 years and I have never been stuck with dead batteries!
When making battery cables, what do you recommend for crimping on connectors? Should they be double crimped or hex crimped?
Scott, for the cable connectors I didn't have a crimping tool large enough to crimp them so I had to use my bench vice. Then, they got a coating of liquid tape. Hope that helps.
Awsome. Will try the same thing. Just so tight under center console
The good thing about this is that you do not have to mount everything close together like I did, that's just what worked best for my setup. Using different lengths of wire, you can put stuff where it fits for your application. Good luck!
@@AJOutdoors1 thank you Sir.
Awesome video!!! Thank you for this it was exactly what i was looking for.. ill be doing this same set up in a few days. What gauge wire did you use for your positive and negative connections?
Thanks for the kind comment, I appreciate it. I used 4 gauge but you could use 6, 4 was overkill.
Thank you for the reply! I’ve got another question, did your accessory wire originally come in to your battery compartment or did you make a new desiccated accessory cable ?
It originally came in. So I had 2 positive wires come in, one for motor one for accessories (house)
Thanks for the video … I’m looking to install one of these mini add a battery systems fro Blue Sea also. Question is though I have a 90hp Etec motor the alternator out put is 81 amps total with 25amps dedicated (I think that means 25 amps dedicated to charging the battery) is the mini system suitable for my boat? Thanks in advance 👍
Yeah if it's 25 Amp, the mini is good.
Thanks for the video! What brand is that negative bus bar?
That is a good question, nowhere on it or on the order is there a brand name... Does say made in USA. Amazon currently showing it out of stock, but it comes and goes. Description: (Black) 3/8" 4 stud Power Distribution Block - BusBar - With Cover.
Hello, Great video!. I am wanting to do the same on my boat.
I have a Victron maitenance charger that normally connects to the battery terminals that i plug in when i get home and i know the boat won't get used. In this setup do you think i should connect the charger's positive to the 'Engine In' on the relay and the negative to a negative on one of the battery termnals?
Thanks
I sometimes use a mobile battery tender on the house battery when the boat is not in use for a while. I attach it directly to the battery post.
Do you have a close up view of your negative buss bar with the cover off, showing the wires coming in?
Sorry, just what you see in the video. But, it is pretty simple, you can attached the negative wires to any of the studs on the buss bar.
Thank you for posting this. I have been racking my brain why with my two batt set up both of my batt are draining when just running acc. And then ho to start and both Batts are low charge. Now I know thanks again.
I’m glad this helped you.
So the 60 amp fuses are hooked up to the ACR, then the other end of each fuse is connected to the positive terminal of each the house and engine batteries correct? So, if I wanted to run a stereo amp I’d connect power to house battery, but would I run the ground to the house battery terminal or the negative bus bar?
You are correct on the fuse placement. If you connect the amp directly to the battery, you are by-passing the system completely and will have constant power to the amp even when the switch is turned to off. I would connect the power to the house fuse panel and the negative to the bus bar.
Awesome video! I will install this in summer. Didn’t get one thing, do you have to put the ignition on to start the lamps? I thought that was the whole thing when I turn the motor of that I can use the hose battery
No, you don't need the ignition on to run the lights.
Great video mate! Very informative. I will use rhe same setup myself on my boat, I just one question, where did you put the fuses on the system?
So the 2 60 amp mount right there on the board. The individual fuses (to house and engine) stay the same. The engine fuse is on the engine in its original location and the fuse for the “house” power line is a inline fuse that I didn’t have to replace.
Great video. So both "engine" cable running out of the battery switch (1:52) And the "engine" cable that runs from the fuse/ ACR Line connect to the + of the starting battery? Then actual engine cable and house battery hots attach to the 2 additional switch posts? Do you have a single bus terminal for the engine ground wire, ACR ground wire starting and house battery grounds and house fuse box ground? It would be great to see how everything is grounded . Thanks!
Ah so you use the bus bar clearly shown throughout video to ground all those items. Haha I think I get it now thanks!
LOL I was just preparing a long detailed reply, but yeah, they run to the negative bus bar. Thank you for watching.
Nicely done ✅ .. Question!! Now when you have the house Battery and your using the lights do you have to switch it to 1or 2 or do you just leave it on “ON” .. I’m trying to do this same thing to a boat so the bilge pump just runs off one battery and doesn’t steal from the engine battery when the boat docked up ..
This switch does not have 1 or 2, only On, Off, Both, and both is only used in emergency to start the motor. For an automatic bilge pump you would either have to leave the switch in On, or you could directly wire the pump to the battery so it would always work if the bilge filled with water.
The bilge pump should be direct and not switched. However another circuit with a switch can be routed to the pump to turn it on manually (in addition to the former direct circuit).
@@chuckcurtin I only ask because my Boss wanted me to wire up his Bilge pump to a second Batt and Not be tied into him engine starting Batt.. but he wanted it to be able to still charge when the engine is on but when its off he doesn't want it to pull off the Engine batt. I told him I can put a shut off switch but u have to remember to put it back on before you start your engine so it can charge but never do it why the engine is on you'll get a voltage spike.. he didn't want it he wants to shut the key off and walk away LOL I told him your Boat ignition is not setup like that but he seems to think so .. I asked my Neighbor because he has a Big ass sailboat and he started to laugh at me and said well he shouldn't own a boat then if he cant shut off the battery .. he told me wire up some Solar panels to the Bildge batt... I have a Batt Shut off on my Whaler I just shut the key off and cut the engine Batt but I guess I'm not as Lazy as he is lol .. RITCH people I tell you! lol well if you know of a way let me know ! thanks
Are the Circuit breakers bi-directional or do you need to hook up the ACR to the BAT Terminal on the Breaker?
Hey Grant, I’m not sure I understand your question. The fuses are between the ACR and the batteries.
Hello friend l enjoyed watching your video l did the same to my boat thank you for sharing it with us. Question: Is it normal that after l turn off the battery switch the green solid light on the acr remains on all the time and doesn't go away? I would really appreciate your answer.
Good question, and my answer is I'm not sure. I no longer have the boat I installed this on, or I would check mine out. Your best bet is to contact Blue Seas.
Can you use two 24 Volt Dc batteries on this system? Good video
only if your system (house and motor) are setup for 24 volt vs. 12 volt. Thank you.
Yeah great add on there . Just don't forget to check the water/fluid level or you end up with dead batteries cause they look it all out.
Ok thanks!
Hey great video, where did you get the plastic plate?
Thank you. It's called king starboard, I got it on Amazon.
Nice video. where did you buy the white board? thanks
Search for HDPE plastic sheets on amazon.
So where do your accessory harness wires plug into this system? I just ordered the blue seas switch kit and need to get the 60amp fuses and wires, etc. how much was the wire roughly? And do you think two 60 amps is necessary instead of one?
So the accessory harness (call it house in the video) will attach to the switch. You will need two 60amp fuse because you need one between the ACR and each battery. This will make more sense one you get the kit and see their instructions. It has been a few years since I did this install, I don’t recall the cost of the wiring. Thank you for watching, and I hope it helps you.
Does it matter which way you hook up the ACR to the circuit breakers?
Like line or load or can it go either way?
It should work either way.
From manual the diagram, connect the Ignition signal from the key switch, do we have to connect?
That is optional, I did not connect it and I have had no issues.
Did you make all your cables? If so about how much wire does it take? Do you have a link?
I ordered some pre-made 18 inch cables but I had to cut them to the sizes I needed, so I had to add a new end on them. Make sure you use "tinned" copper wiring. Here is a link to one of the ones I ordered:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JGJGCWQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Have an update on how it’s working for you? Just purchased the bigger version of this and was wondering how to tell if it’s working. I guess I have to have to motor on to have heather voltage at 13+ for it to kick on.
Still working fine. I really didn't test anything, just saw that over time it was working fine. If you have a multimeter you can test it I guess.
I have Johnson Oceanrunner 200 hp 2-Stroke. How do I choose how much amps the circuit breaker should be??
If you have the owners manual for the motor, look in the specs and it will list the amperage of the alternator. If you don't have the manual, you'll have to find the serial number on the motor and look it up online.
What was the thickness you used on the HDPE sheet? 1/2"?
Yes, it is 1/2". Thank you for watching.
I'm wondering if the liquid tape interferes with the electrical current when coating connections or do you coat parts after install?
Coat it after connecting. But it is optional. While it will help protect from corrosion, it is a pain to remove if you have to change anything.