Blue Sea System is the leader in battery switches for automatic charging relays (ACR). Here is a informative video by Jim at Portland Marine Electronics on how a ACR can help give you the power you need on the water.
Blue Sea System Battery Switch ACR – Portland Marine Electronics
I have this system in my 2016 Cobalt 200. Today I go to switch the battery from off to on and the switch doesn't click into place. No power to the boat. Any ideas what is wrong?
this is manual how about automatic?
amazingly clear explanation. keep up the good work (Y)
Someone told me this setup with the smart box will kill batteries left for a month
Thanks…. finely someone properly explains the function and wiring of a battery switch!
I have read your comment about blue sea products and it is not very hawaiian. What hareware do I recommend for this purpose?
Hello Jhon need to make an inquiry about the best installation of battery DM31, I have 4 auxiliary batteries and a single outboard with a 65A alternator, which would be a setup using BlueSea hareware for charging the battery starter and The 4 Optima DM31 batteries
Hi, The best guide that I have noticed was on Volt daddy (i found it on google) Probably the most useful info on batteries and this same things that have found.
Good explanation of how it works.
so why do you need the red switch when the ACR does the work? what is missing from the ACR?
VSR' are a load of crap. House battery has been connected to various loads and is now discharged to 12 V. Engine is turned on and starts the alternator. VSR senses the main starter battery and allow it to charge by itself. When the voltage is 13.8V i.e. starter battery is fully charged. The VSR connects the Auxiliary battery to the starter battery and the alternator line, so it gets charged by the alternator and the starter battery. Now at this point this is what happens. Assume each battery has an internal impedance of .002 Ohms. Starter battery fully charged to 13.8V So the voltage difference between the two batteries is about 1.8V. 1.8/(2*.002) = 450 Amps!!!!! Starter battery is being
discharged so its voltage drops and the VSR contactor opens. Starter is charged again in a matter of a couple of seconds. Voltage again drop and VSR opens the contacts. So this chattering goes on until with each pulse the Auxiliary battery is being slowly charged.
Opening a Direct current with the contacts causes it to arc. If the VSR uses transistors (a few in parallel) capable of passing this high current at least there are no contacts to arc. They build in hysteresis into the circuit. How much? 0.2V, 0.5V? If the Auxiliary has dropped to 11 V then the current is 700 Amps. Do they have current limiting? NO! Now which dumb shit designed something like this using relay contacts? And they sell them to the unsuspecting public for how much? $125 for a so called 120Amp relay which can be called on to pass 700 Amps? This is a really shameful product
Howdy, The best ideas that I have seen was on Volt daddy (i did a google) I bet its the most helpful info on batteries and this kinda that I have found.
The instructions included in the package show two fuses and a bus panel. Where are they in your video?
Would I use the 65A version of the blue sea for a 5.0L Alpha Mercruiser?
what size red wire goes from battery to switch? what size red wite goes to fuses? Where do you get the fuse?
Hey guys I have a question concerning the battery switch.. I got a 90 modal boat and it came with a battery switch , it has like this guy said switch 1 , 2 and ALL.. What i am needing to know when i run my boat do i need to run it with the Switch On 1 or ALL I have know Idea THANKS ..
too cool ….good video ….that was my nightmare exactly….looks expensive for new system though…..but for the saftey?…..IM GAME !!!!
Awesome video – I was looking for some detailed info on how this system works – great video ..
In the video, you indicate that one of the terminals on the switch connects to the engine. Is that the alternator or the starter? Is there a good instruction manual with this product?