Installing Iota DLS 15- wiring question

[Jumpstart]

I am about to purchase an Iota DLS 15 charger with IQ4. Since I race my boat I have a very modest battery bank (House-27 , Starting 24) both deep cycle. It doesn't take much to start the Yanmar 2GMF and I have 30amp AC at my dock along with the 50' Marinco cord.

O'k- my boat electrical system knowledge is sketchy. Since the Iota has only one output do I wire the charger to my 3 way battery switch? What gauge wire should I use from the charger to the switch? I know I could get a combiner but I'm trying to keep this as low budget as possible. My batteries are under the quarter berth and the switch is on a bulkhead nearby. I have room to mount the charger on the bulkhead. Thanks for your advice in advance.

Bill

 

[Stu Jackson]

If you wire it to your 1-2-B switch, then you'd have to wire it to the Common post of the switch to charge both batteries. Down side is you'd have to leave your switch on ALL when you're away from your boat.

How is your alternator output wired? Most likely to the C post.

Options?

1. Only wire it to your house bank, since your start (reserve bank) remains full and is charged anyway when you're running your engine

2. Buy another on/off switch, wire it between your house and reserve bank, and wire the charger to the house bank. Turn off the 1-2-B when you leave the boat, but turn this one ON when you leave.

3. Buy an echo charger, not a combiner. EC's limit the charge current to an already full reserve bank to 15 A, and avoid the overcharging possible with a combiner.

I'd vote for #1 given your description and $ limits. It's a management issue. KISS

 

[Chuckbear]

Bill, We have an Iota 45 wired to the house bank and an Xantrex Echo charger from the house bank to the starting battery on our Ford Lehman 120. It has been a great combination and working well for the last year and a half. I posted the info on our site here,
http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2009/02/batteries-and-battery-chargers-for-boat.html
We also added a second charger as a back up and to charge a second bank when it is installed. Good luck. Chuck

 

[Jumpstart]

Samlex as an option?

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'm also considering a Samlex charger/converter. The 15amp mode has 3 outputs which would allow me to charge both batteries. Anybody have any experience with the Samlex chargers. At $125 for 15amp model the price seems good.l

 

[Stu Jackson]

Only if it's a true three stage charger, or else you're gonna be ruining your expensive batteries.

Since your original post said you were going with a single output charger, that's what Chuck & I respondend to. You now have another option: alternator to switch for charging both (or either of ) the banks with the motor, and a multiple output shorepower charger.

With your modest loads, you could also literally forget about the shorepower charger and buy a reasonably sized solar panel and connect it to your house bank and be done with it. An 11 to 25 watt panel should do you just fine but with your small house bank you might need a controller.

 

[Chuckbear]

I can't imagine spending $125.00 for an off brand charger instead of the inexpensive cost of the Iota and the efficiencies of the Iota. Chuck

 

[arf145]

I've had an Iota/Xantrex Echocharge combo for the last year--very happy with it. My setup is charger to house/starter bank, Echo to backup battery.

 

[Jumpstart]

Good point on the Samlex. Of course I have never heard of Iota until recently. Just checking. I'm going with plan A as suggested by Stu. Connecting Iota to house battery. If starting battery becomes an issue then I will spring for the echo charger. Thanks for help in making my decision.