I would love to have you see my magic boat... I'm a skilled guy on land and these videos really give me insight to reality of marine electrical systems. Great Cotent!!!
Good work Jeff, question about a combined charger/inverter like victron multiplus. Inverter/charger share the wire to the batteries. You always proclame that it should be unswitched. Would it in this case of charger inverter not be ok to install a service switch to be sure inverter is offline?
Love your videos, Jeff. Living in Singapore now, I feel like I'm back at one of your seminars in Vancouver! Quick question: You mention a minimum charge rate of 10% of battery bank size. Does this include solar charging and DC-DC charging? I have 600 ah lithium bank, being charged by a 30-amp DC-DC charger from my start bat and 800 watts of solar. Any suggestions?
Hi Wayne, you do what you can with solar. The 10% rule for charging deep cycle lead acid batteries is hard to achieve with solar, make sure your charger and alternator meets that minimum charge rate.
Jeff, as newcomers, if you have 600ah liFepo4 as Wayne.. would he need a to just add another 30amp charger to make the system more correct.. Does this 10% charge rule change if you have different type like gel or LiFepo4 or apply for all
Jeff: Great presentation. Question based on the material--You talk about using battery isolaters with an alternator to charge two separate banks. You also touched on charge regulators for high-output alternators. However, how do you combine that technology with a larger, say Firefly house bank, and a lead acid starting battery in a separate bank? Do you need two regulators?
Good question. You can only have one external regulator per alternator. Hence, all your batteries connected to a battery isolator connected to a alternator should be the same chemistry.
Please help me here: I've researched (hopefully sufficiently) and arrived at the following conclusions: 1. An AC 3 phase wind turbine is easier (required cable size - could use ordinary cord to the rectifier, conduit size etc.) to use, but is it practical for a boat? 2. If 1. above is correct, how come there are so many DC wind turbines available?
Love the videos I think I have everyone of them, I am currently updating my electrical system on my 2008 Fountaine Pajot Mahe Cat, all my wiring is copper not tined, was there a year when using tined wire started? I would like to see a video on Cats as far as connecting two alternators to the rest of the systems, my boat has one alternator connected to the start battery and the other alternator connected to the house bank, was this done to keep it simple?
Hi Susan, thanks for watching our content. 1) Unfortunately too many boat builders still save wiring costs by going with welding cable or untinned wiring to save costs 2) Good video suggestion, will keep this in mind for a future video.
Great info thank you. Can you tell me more about the inverter only neutral bus and would I need that for an onboard gender as well? Are the wiring schematics you can direct me too please? Tia
All loads that are powered by an inverter need to be connected to a neutral bus only connected to the AC output of the inverter. All conceptual diagrams are on PYS website.
Great content again , I got two questions. What happens if your alternator is running and the fuse is blown at the battery side? Does that mean you are gonna blow your alternator? If so, should you size the fuse to protect to line? The other question is why is the starter line is not fused at all? Is it because of the risk to blow it so often because of the high cca values? What if you fuse the starter line bigger than the cca's of that starter? Ok then there is no point fuseing the line at all. i guess i answered my second question. But still I want a professional opinion. Thank you !!
Hi Deniz, yep if the fuse on your alternator blows your alternator will always so have catastrophic damage. When we size a alternator wire and fuse we give ourselves at least to 125%. For instance if the alternator is max 100 amps, will make sure the alternator wire can handle 125 amps and the fuse is 125 amps.Fusing started circuits is tricky because you might accidently blow a fuse if the battery voltage is low or the engine is hard to start. That's why the code doesn't require the starter circuit to be fused.
Hey Jeff I want to get your opinion. On a bass boat does this sound right for my flow/install? 12V - 50Amp break - cutoff - 30Amp fuse block(most fuses on there would be 5 Amp or less) - in line fuse near accessory - accessory. 8awg to the block then 14awg for rest. 19 foot boat. Just want opinion I know this probably doesn't give you everything but I think it's enough. Thanks brother.
Quick question on having multiple solar controllers in parallel: How do you avoid one controller switching to float too early and leaving all the work to other controller / panel? I have 2 Victron controllers in Parallel and I notice that one of the controllers always goes into float quite earlier than the other.
Simply, you can't. There is no centralized decision making. All controllers are voltage regulating their output and while on float or absorption some of the controllers might be no output and others controllers with full output.
Hi Jorge, good question as relays are quite convenient. Unfortunately don't know the answer. I'd guess that relays are hard to understand if your not familiar to them.
@@PacificYachtSystems Thank you very much Mr. Cotes. I thought it was some kind of regulation that prohibited them. I think that relays avoid unnecessary heat sources and therefore minimize fire sources, especially in areas of electrical controls that are generally confined in ships. Thanks again for your reply.
Which is the best (and cheapest) solution for setup the alternator if you have LifePO4 House bank 24V for services and a Lead Acid bank 12V for engine and Thruster/Windlass? Do it's better to connect the alternator to 12V Lead-acid first then to use a DC to DC charger for the 24V house (in that case how to charge the Lead Acid when the engine is off and solar panels are charging?) or is better to connect the alternator to the 24V Lifepo4 bank and then charge the 12V lead-acid battery trough the Dc to DC charger?
Another excellent video, Jeff. Thank you. Let me ask a question. I’ve 2 100Ah lithium batteries hooked up to solar. I have and would like to connect a 235Ah AGM to connect to an isolator. In your video, connecting batteries should be of same Ah. Are these two different types of batteries which are roughly the same size ok to connect to the isolator? The wire runs are 3 meters. I’m engineless. These will be only house batteries.
I like and enjoy every one of your videos I've watched so far. However, around 1:40:00 you describe battery voltage as a 'difference'. I would argue that you should (could) explain it as a 'potential', and that we use the ground, or negative, as the reference point.. Just my opinion. Thank you for sharing all your marine knowledge with us.
Hello Jeff, thank you so much for sharing all you knowledge with us. Have you ever think about make a online training or course for beginners? The way you explain everything is great.
I would love to have you see my magic boat... I'm a skilled guy on land and these videos really give me insight to reality of marine electrical systems. Great Cotent!!!
Thank you Jeff for your passion, that you share it with us and that you let us share your enormous knowledge.
Thanks Berny Ert.
pp
One of the clearest information videos on marine electrics I’ve seen. Understood most of it first time round.
Thanks Iain.
such a good video! I should have watched it a while ago, before starting some of my electrical work...
It's a journey, as long as we learn along the way.
Good work Jeff, question about a combined charger/inverter like victron multiplus. Inverter/charger share the wire to the batteries. You always proclame that it should be unswitched. Would it in this case of charger inverter not be ok to install a service switch to be sure inverter is offline?
The inverter/charger connection via a fuse and switch needs to be unswitched distribution (i.e. a direct battery connection).
Love your videos, Jeff. Living in Singapore now, I feel like I'm back at one of your seminars in Vancouver! Quick question: You mention a minimum charge rate of 10% of battery bank size. Does this include solar charging and DC-DC charging? I have 600 ah lithium bank, being charged by a 30-amp DC-DC charger from my start bat and 800 watts of solar. Any suggestions?
Hi Wayne, you do what you can with solar. The 10% rule for charging deep cycle lead acid batteries is hard to achieve with solar, make sure your charger and alternator meets that minimum charge rate.
Jeff, as newcomers, if you have 600ah liFepo4 as Wayne.. would he need a to just add another 30amp charger to make the system more correct..
Does this 10% charge rule change if you have different type like gel or LiFepo4 or apply for all
I subscribed from this presentation. I have a 36' Davidson and I needed this! ⛵
Thanks Jacob, glad it's helpful.
Hello Jeff my name is Andrew I'm from Greece I'm electrician on boats and a big fan of you. Which book of Nigel will help me more. What's your opinion
Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Handbook, latest edition.
Jeff: Great presentation. Question based on the material--You talk about using battery isolaters with an alternator to charge two separate banks. You also touched on charge regulators for high-output alternators. However, how do you combine that technology with a larger, say Firefly house bank, and a lead acid starting battery in a separate bank? Do you need two regulators?
Good question. You can only have one external regulator per alternator. Hence, all your batteries connected to a battery isolator connected to a alternator should be the same chemistry.
Thank you for the presentation, and repeating questions.
Our pleasure!
Please help me here: I've researched (hopefully sufficiently) and arrived at the following conclusions:
1. An AC 3 phase wind turbine is easier (required cable size - could use ordinary cord to the rectifier, conduit size etc.) to use, but is it practical for a boat?
2. If 1. above is correct, how come there are so many DC wind turbines available?
Love the videos I think I have everyone of them, I am currently updating my electrical system on my 2008 Fountaine Pajot Mahe Cat, all my wiring is copper not tined, was there a year when using tined wire started? I would like to see a video on Cats as far as connecting two alternators to the rest of the systems, my boat has one alternator connected to the start battery and the other alternator connected to the house bank, was this done to keep it simple?
Hi Susan, thanks for watching our content. 1) Unfortunately too many boat builders still save wiring costs by going with welding cable or untinned wiring to save costs 2) Good video suggestion, will keep this in mind for a future video.
So you are recommending a battery isolator over a combiner for charging a house bank (3 group27) and a cranking battery?
Pros and cons to each, we use both equally often. Sorry i wish there was one clear cut winner over the other, but it's not like that.
@@PacificYachtSystems Haha. Who ever said boating was easy! (Where have I heard that before...?)
Great info thank you. Can you tell me more about the inverter only neutral bus and would I need that for an onboard gender as well? Are the wiring schematics you can direct me too please? Tia
All loads that are powered by an inverter need to be connected to a neutral bus only connected to the AC output of the inverter. All conceptual diagrams are on PYS website.
Amazing videos Jeff. Very, very insightful. Appreciate them.
Glad you like them!
Great content again ,
I got two questions. What happens if your alternator is running and the fuse is blown at the battery side? Does that mean you are gonna blow your alternator? If so, should you size the fuse to protect to line?
The other question is why is the starter line is not fused at all? Is it because of the risk to blow it so often because of the high cca values? What if you fuse the starter line bigger than the cca's of that starter? Ok then there is no point fuseing the line at all. i guess i answered my second question. But still I want a professional opinion.
Thank you !!
Hi Deniz, yep if the fuse on your alternator blows your alternator will always so have catastrophic damage. When we size a alternator wire and fuse we give ourselves at least to 125%. For instance if the alternator is max 100 amps, will make sure the alternator wire can handle 125 amps and the fuse is 125 amps.Fusing started circuits is tricky because you might accidently blow a fuse if the battery voltage is low or the engine is hard to start. That's why the code doesn't require the starter circuit to be fused.
Hey Jeff I want to get your opinion. On a bass boat does this sound right for my flow/install? 12V - 50Amp break - cutoff - 30Amp fuse block(most fuses on there would be 5 Amp or less) - in line fuse near accessory - accessory. 8awg to the block then 14awg for rest. 19 foot boat. Just want opinion I know this probably doesn't give you everything but I think it's enough. Thanks brother.
Hi SoCal, sounds like you are going in the correct direction.
Quick question on having multiple solar controllers in parallel: How do you avoid one controller switching to float too early and leaving all the work to other controller / panel? I have 2 Victron controllers in Parallel and I notice that one of the controllers always goes into float quite earlier than the other.
Simply, you can't. There is no centralized decision making. All controllers are voltage regulating their output and while on float or absorption some of the controllers might be no output and others controllers with full output.
@@PacificYachtSystems thank you for the reply! And for sharing the knowledge.
Hi Mr. Cotes: Good evening.
I have a little question. Why is it that in marine electrical systems, relays are not used?
Hi Jorge, good question as relays are quite convenient. Unfortunately don't know the answer. I'd guess that relays are hard to understand if your not familiar to them.
@@PacificYachtSystems Thank you very much Mr. Cotes. I thought it was some kind of regulation that prohibited them. I think that relays avoid unnecessary heat sources and therefore minimize fire sources, especially in areas of electrical controls that are generally confined in ships. Thanks again for your reply.
Which is the best (and cheapest) solution for setup the alternator if you have LifePO4 House bank 24V for services and a Lead Acid bank 12V for engine and Thruster/Windlass? Do it's better to connect the alternator to 12V Lead-acid first then to use a DC to DC charger for the 24V house (in that case how to charge the Lead Acid when the engine is off and solar panels are charging?) or is better to connect the alternator to the 24V Lifepo4 bank and then charge the 12V lead-acid battery trough the Dc to DC charger?
I'd recommend a DC to DC charger for this purpose.
@@PacificYachtSystems Thank you!
A good subject to review: boat grounding AC/DC; different DC Voltages; separately derived systems.
Good idea Josi
Great advice and presentation jeff
Glad you enjoyed it
Another excellent video, Jeff. Thank you. Let me ask a question. I’ve 2 100Ah lithium batteries hooked up to solar. I have and would like to connect a 235Ah AGM to connect to an isolator. In your video, connecting batteries should be of same Ah. Are these two different types of batteries which are roughly the same size ok to connect to the isolator? The wire runs are 3 meters. I’m engineless. These will be only house batteries.
I like and enjoy every one of your videos I've watched so far. However, around 1:40:00 you describe battery voltage as a 'difference'. I would argue that you should (could) explain it as a 'potential', and that we use the ground, or negative, as the reference point.. Just my opinion. Thank you for sharing all your marine knowledge with us.
Hi Steve, thanks for sharing. Will clarify in further presentations.
It's the potential difference from one contact point to the other ????
Thanks for the video again Jeff! Just wondering on the planning side, are there any easy to use computer programs to diagram a full circuit on?
Hi Ray, we use Microsoft visio or autocad.
SmartDraw is also pretty great.
Hello Jeff, thank you so much for sharing all you knowledge with us. Have you ever think about make a online training or course for beginners? The way you explain everything is great.
Working on it! Thanks for the vote of confidence, means a lot.