Too many wires

[indytoatl]

I bought this Blue Sea ACR to connect two batteries but the instructions
are vague at best.


I have one large cable coming from the alternator and four small cables all connected
to the positive terminal of the battery.


The instructions don't say anything about where to relocate the large alternator cable in
this picture. I figured out where the radio, bilge and accessories go. Has anyone ever
installed one of these switches with my set up?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

The large Starter Cable will be moved to Switch Terminal 1L. (Load)
The Other Red Wires Related to the Engine (Alternator) will also move to Switch terminals 1L.
The Other Red Wires NOT Related to the Engine (Radio, Acc.) will move to Switch terminals 2L.
The Red Wire with the Fuse inline that goes to the Bilge Pump, is NOT moved and Stays on the Battery Post.

A new 2ga Jumper will be added from this Battery POS(Red) To switch terminal 1B (Batt)
A new 2ga jumper will be added from the other Battery POS(Red) To Switch Terminal 2B.

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

That diagram if just for display, the instructions should have been inside the package. If not Click Here

You also don't need to have a separate wire from the alternator. Why is yours separate? What engine? If an IO, the alternator charge wire should go directly to the starter.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

I suspect, "the large Alternator cable in this picture", is referring to the Cable to the STARTER, Not the ALT.

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

I suspect, "the large Alternator cable in this picture", is referring to the Cable to the STARTER, Not the ALT.

Look at his second image. The wire going to the top of the picture from the positive terminal. The one with a cover on it. It may go to the alternator.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

I thought that also. Reading the post....

I have one large cable coming from the alternator and four small cables all connected to the positive terminal of the battery.

If I count out "Four Small Cables" the only one Remaining is the Large Starter Cable Going DOWN.
Three have in-line fuses. (Bilge Pump and Aftermarket Add-Ons?)
The Medium Sized Red going UP, is likely is the feed to the House Fuse Panel. My guess.

We won't know until the [OP] returns.

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

I did't count the "small wires" :embarassed: :facepalm:

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

I thought that also. Reading the post....



If I count out "Four Small Cables" the only one Remaining is the Large Starter Cable Going DOWN.
Three have in-line fuses. (Bilge Pump and Aftermarket Add-Ons?)
The Medium Sized Red going UP, is likely is the feed to the House Fuse Panel. My guess.

We won't know until the [OP] returns.

Ok, I traced the wires and here is what I found


I have a Rinker 192 bowrider with 4.3L Mercruiser engine. So my noob question is this;
How does the alternator charge the battery if its not connected to the positive terminal?

Here is my new set up if I have it right

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

The Alternator cable is connected to the Battery POS at the Starter.

Did You Mean "STARTER" In the Picture?

The "STATER" Actually STATOR is something different.

Otherwise, minus a couple of Fuses, your new drawing looks Good.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

Did You Mean "STARTER" In the Picture?

Yes I meant starter. Thanks for the good eye.

I thought about the wiring again and I have a question.
Why should I move the starter cable? If I do need to move
it, how do I down convert that huge cable to something that
will fit on the switch terminal?
Seems like downsizing would compromise the connection integrity.

If someone has pictures of there setup I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

You can leave the starter Cable on the battery but then the switch will not turn it OFF.

You will still need to ADD Another Full Size Battery Cable from the Battery to the Switch for the BOTH function to work.
It is possible that you will need to REPLACE that otherwise perfectly good cable to make everything fit.
Moving the Cable makes it a little neater also.

You will NOT be Downsizing the cables. There will be 4 LARGE Battery Cables to the switch. It Gets Crowded!

That $100 ACR Kit Plus the Battery and all the extra Battery Cables and Fuses are going to run you close to $300 by the time you are done.
Welcome to B.O.A.T.s!

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

Not sure what you mean, all battery switches, even a 4 position (1-2-Both-Off) switch has four big cables going to it, but only 3 terminals. The ACR and the Bluesea 3 position (Off-On-Combine) switch has 4 terminals, 1 for each cable.

The wire coming from the alternator from the factory goes to the main battery terminal on the starter solenoid, it's just how it done.
The charging current goes from the alternator to the battery from the through the main battery cable. Different wiring for an isolator, but you are not going to be using an isolator, you are going to use an ACR. Far better system than the old methods of spending a lot of time changing the switch.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

Can you check out my new drawing and tell me where 3a and 6a
should connect in the picture?

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

In your drawing the alternator 3A goes to the 6A terminal (orange wire in my drawing) you do not have a special ground wire from the alternator and starter going to the negative battery terminal. There is a ground stud or bolt on the block that has the black battery cable from the negative terminal attached to it. The alternator and starter are both grounded to the block.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

In your drawing the alternator 3A goes to the 6A terminal (orange wire in my drawing) you do not have a special ground wire from the alternator and starter going to the negative battery terminal. There is a ground stud or bolt on the block that has the black battery cable from the negative terminal attached to it. The alternator and starter are both grounded to the block.


View attachment 194981

Wow! Don that's an amazing diagram. Did you create that in visio?
I talked with the techs at Blue Sea and here is some notable thngs
they told me:

1). If the positive terminals going to the ACR A and B studs are less than
7 inches in lenght, no fuse(s) is required.

2). The negative cable from the batteries to ground should be the same
size as the positive

3). If your boat is left unattended or trailered often you should flip the
switch connections upside down so that the ACR itself doesn't drain your
battery.

4). If the house battery becomes completely discharged you should not turn
the switch to the "combined" position until the boat engine is running or
the house battery will drain the start battery.


5). Once the house battery has less than 7% charge left the ACR will shut itself
off.

6). Always install the fuse on the negative ACR terminal regardless of lenght.

Thanks for everyone's help, you guys rock! I will post final pictures when its done.

 

[Don S]

Re: Too many wires

3). If your boat is left unattended or trailered often you should flip the
switch connections upside down so that the ACR itself doesn't drain your
battery.

I don't understand that statement at all? Flip what switch connections (Upside down ??????)

I doubt anyone will ever wire in an ACR and have the wires 7" or less, that's why I put the fuses in.

I use Adobe Illustrator for the drawings. Then I can just change anything I want any time withing a few minutes.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Too many wires

3). If your boat is left unattended or trailered often you should flip the
switch connections upside down so that the ACR itself doesn't drain your
battery.

You can set the switch to OFF if you desire.
If you do not expect to operate the boat for Months, also disconnect the Ground lead from the ACR to eliminate the small monitoring current it draws.

4). If the house battery becomes completely discharged you should not turn
the switch to the "combined" position until the boat engine is running or
the house battery will drain the start battery.

The Only reason to ever select "Combine" is if the Start Battery is dead and you need the House Battery to start the engine.
The ACR will Automatically "Combine" the two batteries as soon as the engine is running and the Start Battery reaches more than 13 volts.
Switching to "Combine" should be an extremely rare event.
The whole point of the ACR system is to NEVER have to switch anything.

5). Once the house battery has less than 7% charge left the ACR will shut itself
off.

Once the engine is Shut OFF, and the Battery Voltage settles to below 13 volts a few minutes later,
The ACR will open to Isolate the House Battery from the Start Battery.
The ACR measures voltage, and has no idea how much charge is remaining in either battery.

6). Always install the fuse on the negative ACR terminal regardless of length.

The purpose of the unusual fuse in a ground lead is in the rare event that the electronics of the ACR were to short out; That small ground wire would flame up and melt long before the 50+ amp fuses in the battery leads would ever blow.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

I don't understand that statement at all? Flip what switch connections (Upside down ??????)

Looking at your diagram you would flip the load and batt side of the switch. That way when you turn
the switch to the off position it disconnects the ACR also.

 

[indytoatl]

Re: Too many wires

Thanks Uncle Willie and Don S!!!