Self energizing alternator - ACR – Batt. Isolator?

[86Hat41]

Self energizing alternator - ACR – Batt. Isolator?

For some reason my boat with twin 671’s, only came equipped with 2 batteries (8D’s). My project before the season starts was to install a 3rd bank specifically for my electronics for obvious reasons.

Through the advice of several marine techs the ACR was mentioned as well as a battery isolator. I chose the battery isolator because it is solid state and doesn’t really have any history of failing where ACR has more to it and from what I can tell hasn’t been in the industry as long.

So I installed a Promariner battery isolator and I believe it caused my alternator to fail. I brought the alternator to an alternator shop and he said the rotor was bad and I am currently waiting to hear back about a replacement.

At the alternator shop I found out that my Leece Neville alternator is “self energizing” which the Promariner website clearly states is not recommended for use with their isolators. (I was previously told incorrectly that my alternator is not self energizing).

So – 3 questions so I don’t ruin another alternator-

1) Does anyone know of a battery isolator that is ok to use with a self-energizing alternator? (sure power, Marinco – Guest?)

2) Is the Blue Seas ACR ok to use with a Leece Neville self energizing alternator (their website doesn’t say)?


3) and finally the ACR’s instructions say “
• Under voltage lockout—will not close when the lower battery is below 9.5V” …what’s that mean?

 

[bobk]

Re: Self energizing alternator - ACR – Batt. Isolator?

I'm not the expert on electrical matters, but when I was installing a house bank/inverter charger and wanted to keep house bank charged as we cruise, my research let me to a Yandina battery combiner. Works fine with my 6V92 keeping up with a refrigerator freezer and smaller cooler on the back deck as well as anything else going on. Yandina told me that an isolator looses a volt or so while a combiner doesn't. My batteries are combined directly as opposed to at the alternator. Eight years and thousands of hours later and there have been no issues.

Bobk

 

[Boatsb]

Re: Self energizing alternator - ACR – Batt. Isolator?

Why add a third bank. My 1966 41c with a 10k radar runs on 2 8d Batts just like yours. I have never had an issue with the setup and have a 12 to 24 v converter for the radar plus all the 12 v house loads running from that bank.

 

[86Hat41]

Re: Self energizing alternator - ACR – Batt. Isolator?

I need a third bank because all of my electronics freak out everytime I start the port engine and I'm tired of sending them out for repair because of it. Boat is 12V not 24.