ACR Relay
- Thread starter Ed Schenck
- Start date
New Setup
The ACR is brand new, so is the start battery (the one that went almost dead (would not crank engine) after one month) and Blue Sea battery switch is new. Yes the shore charger was "on" the whole time while the start battery went almost dead. It was installed by Seaview Marine in Bellingham, by their "best" electrician. I spent quite a bit of money to get the charging system rewired so all charging sources were to the house bank (both shore charger and alternator). The net result (after their work) is the alternator's charging performance did not improve as promised, and now the shore charger did not keep the start battery charged. I would have been better to stay with the combiner (and system that I had and saved the over $2,000) that I had. I have reattached the second lead on the Xantrex shore charger to the start battery and that has resulted in the start battery being able to very effectively crank the engine and start. I know this is not what Blue Sea recommends and I am asking for suggestions to "get it right".
Thanks again for your help and suggestions ,
Tom
The ACR is brand new, so is the start battery (the one that went almost dead (would not crank engine) after one month) and Blue Sea battery switch is new. Yes the shore charger was "on" the whole time while the start battery went almost dead. It was installed by Seaview Marine in Bellingham, by their "best" electrician. I spent quite a bit of money to get the charging system rewired so all charging sources were to the house bank (both shore charger and alternator). The net result (after their work) is the alternator's charging performance did not improve as promised, and now the shore charger did not keep the start battery charged. I would have been better to stay with the combiner (and system that I had and saved the over $2,000) that I had. I have reattached the second lead on the Xantrex shore charger to the start battery and that has resulted in the start battery being able to very effectively crank the engine and start. I know this is not what Blue Sea recommends and I am asking for suggestions to "get it right".
Thanks again for your help and suggestions ,
Tom
By alternator's charging performance do you mean faster charging?
All charging to house bank and an ACR or Echo to the start battery is a better system but it won't be faster, just more hands off and not dependent on your manual input.
I think it could be wired wrong or the ACR is defective - or a bad connection to start battery possibly.
All charging to house bank and an ACR or Echo to the start battery is a better system but it won't be faster, just more hands off and not dependent on your manual input.
I think it could be wired wrong or the ACR is defective - or a bad connection to start battery possibly.
Mitiempo,
This all started because my 55 amp internally regulated alternator that came with my Volvo MD 2040 engine only puts about 15 to 20 amps into the house bank (450 Ahr) when the bank is reading (through my Link 10) 70% charged. I discussed this with Seaview's electrical tech and he assured me that I would obtain much better charging from the alternator with this change which required new larger wiring from the alternator to the house bank, the new ACR, switch, and the wiring of the shore charger only to the house bank. A dockmate at my marina, ( a Canadian marine electrician who cannot work in the US - boat moored in US) thinks the shore charger should charge both the house and start bank regardless of the new ACR setup. Based on his advice, I have reconnected the shore charger to the start battery (as well as the house bank) and that has "recharged the start battery. Anyway, as I previously stated, the "new system" does not result in any improvement with the alternator (I was down at 65% charge this summer and still the reading into the house bank was only 18 amps with engine at cruising RPM and only having been running for about 10 minutes) and the brand new start battery went close to dead after sitting at our home dock for about a month with the shore charger on.
I have to agree, something is not correctly wired.
Thanks,
Tom
The only change you listed that would in my opinion improve the alternator's output is the heavier wiring on the alternator output. Did they actually take the alternator off and bench test it? I would have after confirming its output on a bank down to 70% or less.
When running the engine, which goes to house bank only, what is the voltage at the start bank? In other words does the ACR work properly with the alternator? I would first measure the start battery voltage, right at the posts, and then start the engine and measure again at about 1500 rpm.
The ACR should close when the voltage of the alt output rises to 13.6 volts for 30 seconds or 13 volts for 90 seconds.
When running the engine, which goes to house bank only, what is the voltage at the start bank? In other words does the ACR work properly with the alternator? I would first measure the start battery voltage, right at the posts, and then start the engine and measure again at about 1500 rpm.
The ACR should close when the voltage of the alt output rises to 13.6 volts for 30 seconds or 13 volts for 90 seconds.