Small boat battery wiring help

[George H260]

Working on a H260 DC wiring project. Moving origiinal battery and adding an additional battery. Don Casey's book was very helpful. But I wonder if I've overlooked something? Would appreciate help in critiquing my wiring diagram that is posted a this link.http://members.aol.com/gkobernus/H260_battery_wiring.jpgFeel free to contact me at gkobernus[atsignhere]chartermi.net

 

[Ed Schenck]

Too simplified I think.

George, I think your diagram is too simplified for anyone to offer much assistance. You show the charger feeding both batteries so why the combiner? You do not show how the battery switch is wired into the circuit. And #6 wire seems small to me. Here is one chart:SystemVoltage Amps < 5 Ft 5-10 Ft12 Volt 0-60 8 AWG 4 AWG 12 Volt 60-100 6 AWG 4 AWG 12 Volt 100-150 4 AWG 2 AWG I have a very simple setup myself. Battery #1(an AGM starter) to switch position #1. Batteries 2-4(house Gels) go to switch position #2. The inverter/charger goes to one of the three Gels. A combiner between the house bank and the starter battery keeps the AGM topped off(I never use it). All the battery grounds are in parallel and go to the engine. The output of the battery switch goes to a post on the starter. A #6 red wire goes from that post to the electrical panel. When I open the boat I switch to position #2 and it stays there for all uses including starting. There are much more elaborate wiring plans. See the one in the West Marine catalog. Many owners have multiple battery switches. The main reason is to protect the alternator in case someone switches the battery switch to OFF while the engine is running. See Related Link for a good diagram. Good luck.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Yup, too simple

Talking wiring is like talking, well, child birth or even, *x. (OK, SEX). The fuse at the engine must be to the alternator, right? You wouldn't have one on the starter, and not that small. Also our system is very simple. One switch, one bank, no combiners, one inverter/charger and one alternator charge circuit. The Balmar alternator is wired with a voltage sense of the output post so you can accidentally shut off the engine from the batteries. Oh, they are Golf Carts.