Back story;
I just bought this boat. It is in Nova Scotia and I am getting it ready to sail it back to Cape Cod.
It had an obsolete electrical system and I am re-wiring the entire vessel before I cross the Bay Of Fundy.
Most of the electrical needs can be met with 12 volts, except the engine starter motor. The 855 cubic inch diesel requires a 24 volt starter. I had the 12 volt alternator rebuilt and bought a new 24 volt alternater to charge the starting batteries.
My question is, instead of 2 battery banks, one 12 volt bank consisting of (2) 8 d batteries in parallel. and one 24 volt bank consisting of 2-8ds in series, should I return the 24 volt alternator, replace it with a 12, run 2 12 volt banks and then combine them to 24 volt, just for starting? This would give me a spare battey bank for electronics, instead of 24 useless volts just sitting there most of the time, plus alternator redundancy.
My only issue is my lack of understanding of battery banks. When I tie the two packs together to achieve 24 volts for the starter, what prevents all the circuits from suddenly becoming 24 volts?
Would I need a contacter or soliniod to make this work? Diodes?
I am using swithes like this, http://www.jmsonline.net/hd-selector-switch-350a-cont.htm?gclid=CLuflpzPmrECFUlN4Aod5XpYdA and should be able to use this switch to join the two banks
for 24 volts.
I know the first way I designed it will work, but with a lot less options.
Any input is greatly apreciated. Thanks
I just bought this boat. It is in Nova Scotia and I am getting it ready to sail it back to Cape Cod.
It had an obsolete electrical system and I am re-wiring the entire vessel before I cross the Bay Of Fundy.
Most of the electrical needs can be met with 12 volts, except the engine starter motor. The 855 cubic inch diesel requires a 24 volt starter. I had the 12 volt alternator rebuilt and bought a new 24 volt alternater to charge the starting batteries.
My question is, instead of 2 battery banks, one 12 volt bank consisting of (2) 8 d batteries in parallel. and one 24 volt bank consisting of 2-8ds in series, should I return the 24 volt alternator, replace it with a 12, run 2 12 volt banks and then combine them to 24 volt, just for starting? This would give me a spare battey bank for electronics, instead of 24 useless volts just sitting there most of the time, plus alternator redundancy.
My only issue is my lack of understanding of battery banks. When I tie the two packs together to achieve 24 volts for the starter, what prevents all the circuits from suddenly becoming 24 volts?
Would I need a contacter or soliniod to make this work? Diodes?
I am using swithes like this, http://www.jmsonline.net/hd-selector-switch-350a-cont.htm?gclid=CLuflpzPmrECFUlN4Aod5XpYdA and should be able to use this switch to join the two banks
for 24 volts.
I know the first way I designed it will work, but with a lot less options.
Any input is greatly apreciated. Thanks