Does wire length have much impact on electrical loss over the distance? I am ready to add my bank of house batteries and am considering putting this bank up in the fore berth area on the port side to balance out the other battery / engine list to aft and starboard. Also, can you efficiently implement different types of battery banks (cell vs gel, etc) on the same boat and do so using same charging mecahnism (or varied charging if within reasonable cost).
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Longer runs require larger cables.
Darren: If you check a site like Ancor or West Marine, they have charts that will give you the voltage drop based on the round trip of your circuit. Be sure to maintain the correct wire size to prevent low voltage or possible damage to your equipment.
Darren: If you check a site like Ancor or West Marine, they have charts that will give you the voltage drop based on the round trip of your circuit. Be sure to maintain the correct wire size to prevent low voltage or possible damage to your equipment.
Do not mix.
The recommendation is to not mix types, nor models within types, nor ages within types. The age within types is typically ignored, how many people want to buy four new house batteries because they fried one? I have a new AGM starter battery and three Gels for the house. The two banks are isolated except for a combiner. The three Gels are not of the same vintage and I have had no problems.
The recommendation is to not mix types, nor models within types, nor ages within types. The age within types is typically ignored, how many people want to buy four new house batteries because they fried one? I have a new AGM starter battery and three Gels for the house. The two banks are isolated except for a combiner. The three Gels are not of the same vintage and I have had no problems.
wire size by circuit length guide
Both West and BoatUS catalogs have a guide that lists percent voltage loss versus length of run. I just redid and moved my batteries and used the largest gauge I could. For the wires that link the golf cart batteries into 1 bank, I used 2/0 (double ought). For the rest - 2 gauge. Don't mix gel with flooded, etc. The way the modern battery chargers work, you want to go with all of 1 variety. As I mentioned, I went to flooded golf carts batteries.... you get more amp hours for your money.
Both West and BoatUS catalogs have a guide that lists percent voltage loss versus length of run. I just redid and moved my batteries and used the largest gauge I could. For the wires that link the golf cart batteries into 1 bank, I used 2/0 (double ought). For the rest - 2 gauge. Don't mix gel with flooded, etc. The way the modern battery chargers work, you want to go with all of 1 variety. As I mentioned, I went to flooded golf carts batteries.... you get more amp hours for your money.
Batteries in Bow = Long Run
Blue Sea Technical: http://www.bluesea.com/tech.htm Power loss is directly proportional to conductor length (round trip). This Blue Sea section has lots of good, free, information and there are no banner adds! The "Circuit Protection" section should give you a kick-start on your project and it also has a wire-sizing chart. For a better performing boat try to keep weight out of the ends, especially the bow. If one must put it in one of the ends, the stern with it's wider beam, has more bouyancy capability and can take more heavy gear.
Blue Sea Technical: http://www.bluesea.com/tech.htm Power loss is directly proportional to conductor length (round trip). This Blue Sea section has lots of good, free, information and there are no banner adds! The "Circuit Protection" section should give you a kick-start on your project and it also has a wire-sizing chart. For a better performing boat try to keep weight out of the ends, especially the bow. If one must put it in one of the ends, the stern with it's wider beam, has more bouyancy capability and can take more heavy gear.
Precise calculation:
#10 wire has ~ 1 Ohm per 1000 feet #8 wire has ~0.65 Ohm per 1000 feet #2 wire used on starting motor has 0.16 Ohms per 1000 feet Current(I) x Wire Resistance(R)=Volt (Voltage drop.) Current(I) x Current(I) x Wire Resistance(R)=Watt (Power lost in the wire.) Calculate the possible max current at any given moment in the system and determiane how much voltage drop is allowed for most voltage sensitive equipment in that system then you will have idea what gauge wire should be used. One can always use over size wire but they are expensive and difficult to run and make connection.
#10 wire has ~ 1 Ohm per 1000 feet #8 wire has ~0.65 Ohm per 1000 feet #2 wire used on starting motor has 0.16 Ohms per 1000 feet Current(I) x Wire Resistance(R)=Volt (Voltage drop.) Current(I) x Current(I) x Wire Resistance(R)=Watt (Power lost in the wire.) Calculate the possible max current at any given moment in the system and determiane how much voltage drop is allowed for most voltage sensitive equipment in that system then you will have idea what gauge wire should be used. One can always use over size wire but they are expensive and difficult to run and make connection.
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