What is the load output used for on certain Victron MPPT charge controllers
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 4/4/2018 to
Solar
The smaller Victron MPPT Charge Controllers have a load output separate from the battery connection. This article explains what it is used for.
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Blue Sea Systems custom panel: What will it look like when installed?
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 3/1/2018 to
Circuit Breaker Panels
The custom panel program from Blue Sea Systems lets you design your own panel online and produces an image of what it will look like. Its not quite the same as seeing it installed of course. Here is how one panel turned out. 
IP Ratings explained
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 2/27/2018 to
Electrical Standards
Many of the items we sell have an IP Rating. Here is an explanation of what they mean.
How to setup a return at PKYS
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/20/2017 to
PKYS online store
You can set up a product return at PKYS by logging in to your account
Adding an alternator to your lithium battery setup
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/19/2017 to
Alternators
A discussion on the best way to incorporate an alternator into a Lithium-Ion battery setup
Sizing your Lithium Ion Battery bank
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 12/13/2017 to
Batteries (Lithium Ion)
A discussion on how to select a suitable size battery bank when contemplating an upgrade to Lithium Ion Batteries
Victron Software is All Open Source
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 11/2/2017 to
Software
You can write your own software for Victron Energy products or you can write your own interaction with them. Here is an interesting example....
Charger Settings for AGM Batteries
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 10/19/2017 to
Battery Chargers
What are the recommended charge settings for AGM batteries. We looked it up for you.............
Custom panel rear view
Posted by Peter Kennedy on 7/10/2017 to
Circuit Breaker Panels
This is an actual panel built to order for a customer and it is going in a specialized off road vehicle.
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.....
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.
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.........
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......
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
Older Posts
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?
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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