What happens when I have multiple charge sources charging a single battery bank
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 5/2/2017 to
Battery Chargers
What happens when I have multiple charge sources charging a single battery bank? I get this question asked almost every day. "I have a battery charger, an alternator, and solar panels charging the same battery. Does it get overcharged?" Here are some thoughts on the subject.....
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Off Grid Solar House
Posted by From the Victron Energy Blog on 2/15/2017 to
Projects
This is the story of the final installation of Victron equipment on this off-grid solar house, this house has a twist though, it is made of straw bales......
Altmount installation on a Universal M35
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/1/2016 to
Alternators
Here is a photo and description of the installation of an Altmount kit on a Universal M35 on a Nonsuch 30
Help with interpreting Amp Hour Readings
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/14/2016 to
Battery Monitoring
I'm getting weird reading from my Victron BMV amp hour meter. The readings don't seem to relate to what I think is happening. HELP !
Dont do this
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 6/12/2016 to
Electrical Standards
Its a total No-No to connect AC Neutral to Ground on board a boat. One boat did by accident, see what happened.......
ABYC standard for ELCI's explained
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/12/2015 to
ELCI's
We all know that electricity and water don't mix. What we may not be aware of is how many drownings occur every year because of electrical current in the water. The new ABYC standard requiring ELCI circuit breakers on shore power service to boats is an attempt to reduce the amount of stray electrical current in the water - read below for an explanation of what this is all about.
USCG Boatbuilders Handbook goes online
Posted by Administrator on 9/12/2015 to
News
The USCG Boatbuilders handbook is now online for free........![]()
Custom sub-panel for Amel 54
Posted by Administrator on 9/12/2015 to
Circuit Breaker Panels
This is just a small sub-panel on this French built saiboat. Part of the panel is 12 volt and part is 24 volt
New Victron Energy Bluetooth Dongle now available
Posted by Administrator on 8/21/2015 to
News
A Bluetooth dongle is now available so that you can read data from your Victron Energy BMV energy Monitor or MPPT Solar Charge Controller on an iPhone, iPad or Android Devices
Voltage drop tables
Posted by Administrator on 7/15/2015 to
Electrical Standards
I am always referring to these tables so I thought I would put them in my blog where they will be easier to find
Sizing wire for AC circuits
Posted by Administrator on 7/8/2015 to
Electrical Standards
This post gives a few pointers for sizing wire in AC Circuits
A comparison of ANL and MEGA fuses
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 6/19/2015 to
Circuit Protection
ANL and MEGA fuses are similar high amperage DC fuses but there are some big differences. Here is a comparison.....
Ampacity Tables
Posted by Administrator on 5/31/2015 to
Electrical Standards
I end up looking up this table so often I decided to post it on my blog
Serpentine kit installation on a Yanmar 4JH4-HTE
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 4/13/2015 to
Alternators
This was my first time installing one of the Balmar Serpentine kits and I was a bit apprehensive. Although I had read the instructions several times it still isn't quite the same as actually doing it. Read how it all turned out.........
How do you size a battery charger for a sailboat
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 4/3/2015 to
Battery Chargers
What are the factors that go in to deciding how big a battery charger to install on a sailboat?
What is the Start Isolation feature of an ACR for?
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 4/3/2015 to
Battery Combiners
The start isolation feature of Blue Sea Systems ACR's is even incorporated into the name of the device. It is an optional feature with a very specific application......
Victron Energy more than doubles its warranty period
Posted by Administrator on 2/23/2015 to
News
Victron Energy more than doubles its warranty period, now five years for all products except batteries
Alternator upgrade case study
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 2/10/2015 to
Alternators
Question: I need to replace my alternator for a Yanmar 3YM30 /2006. It is a Hitachi 60amp and I am thinking in replacing it with a higher amp output. I might then need to replace perhaps the pulleys for the water pump and the crank shaft and then of course consider a serpentine or other type of belts. Would appreciate your suggestions?. Thanks.
Isolation Transformer or Galvanic Isolator - which is preferable?
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/24/2014 to
Corrosion
A discussion on the relative merits of transformers and galvanic isolators
Battery layout for twin engine boats
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/16/2014 to
Batteries (Conventional)
There are many ways to do a battery layout for multi-engine boats, here is one simple layout using remote switches.
What does an alternator regulator do and how does it work?
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 5/1/2014 to
Alternators
What does an alternator regulator do and how does it work? An alternator regulator supplies current to the rotating part of the alternator. The rotating part is called the rotor, and when current is applied to it it becomes an electromagnet. Its rotation generates an alternating current in the fixed windings of the alternator, called the stator. The regulator acts as a control mechanism for this process
Small sailboat custom panel that incorporates some existing equipment
Posted by Administrator on 3/26/2014 to
Circuit Breaker Panels
This small sailboat got a custom 360 Panel from Blue Sea Systems that was required to incorporate an existing Blue Sea Systems digital meter and another brand digital meter
Help - my batteries are getting HOT!
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 1/24/2014 to
Battery Chargers
Help! My Batteries are getting hot! What should I do?
New Victron Energy iPhone App
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 1/17/2014 to
Battery Monitoring
Victron Energy now have a new iPhone app to help interpret the blinking lights on a Multi-Plus or Quattro inverter/charger
Circuit Breakers vs Fuses
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 1/13/2014 to
Circuit Protection
Circuit Breakers vs Fuses, the Presidential Debate. Who to vote for? This short article will look at this debate in the context of two very similar switch panels by Blue Sea Systems. The Blue Sea Systems 4306 WeatherDeck switch panel with fuses is almost identical to the 4376 switch panel with circuit breakers. Which should you choose?
Peter Kennedy has been in business since 1991 designing, installing and servicing marine electrical systems. The purpose of this blog is to offer support to both professional installers and do-it-yourself boat owners who wish to undertake this work themselves.
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