Blue Sea ACR Batttery Charge Regulator question

[Starscream]

Hi Boat,

No, not if you use and charge your batteries like that. The ACR is used to share a single charging source such as solar between two batteries.

If you charge your batteries in the BOTH position with the engine on, and have a dual bank charger, you won't need the ACR.

If you want to add solar, the ACR is a good way to share the solar charge between the batteries.

Or, if you want to leave your battery selector on one battery (not both) and still have your engine charge both banks, the ACR can do that.

I added my ACR because I added solar.

[Herschel]

So if I have the perko set to 2 when the motor is on I am only charging battery 2, or if it's set to 1 I am only charging 1 - right?

I can tell you that I always set it to "ALL" before I start the motor and I never touch the switch if the motor is running because it says to not touch it on the switch when the motor is running or something like that - I dunno - I just never touch it when under power. I'm confused because Russ said the motor is charging both batteries at the same time. I guess that's true if I am set to 'all' batteries, right? That's why I do that but maybe it's not needed??

So do I still need ACR?

"Boat", I am in the same 'boat' as you on this. If we don't have solar, I think we are OK. I do exactly what you do. I monitor the voltage in each battery periodically just to see the state of charge. I have a cigarette-lighter type outlet and a plug-in volt meter. Last I checked I am on the fifth year with my two Optima deep cycles. I do have a single battery charger hooked up to my starting battery. When plugged into shore power, it keeps the starter battery charged, and since the Perko switch is left in the "all" position, the house battery stays charged as well. I had planned to replace the single battery charger with a dual one, but this rig has done fine for years. May not be kosher, but it works. Usually, I don't keep it on shore power, and just running the engine every three weeks or so with the Perko switch in the "all" position keeps both of my batteries charged. Never failed to start.

[1st Sail]

More ? Etec's are known to have high output alternators. Does an ACR also profile the charge and float voltage for lead acid, or AGM batteries. Also does the ACR act as a charge controller thereby regulating the charge current during charging and float voltage when fully charged. We did an up river trip a few years ago and motor sailed for 8+ hours. I don't recall that OB have any ability to monitor battery charge, charge current, float voltage, or actual battery charging profiles based on battery type.

[BOAT]

More ? Etec's are known to have high output alternators. Does an ACR also profile the charge and float voltage for lead acid, or AGM batteries. Also does the ACR act as a charge controller thereby regulating the charge current during charging and float voltage when fully charged. We did an up river trip a few years ago and motor sailed for 8+ hours. I don't recall that OB have any ability to monitor battery charge, charge current, float voltage, or actual battery charging profiles based on battery type.

That was my understanding also.
I was told that if I were going to use the motor for more than 2 hours I was supposed to stop the motor and turn it off first - then turn the perko switch to battery 1 - then restart the motor and continue on my trip. When i asked about it I was told it was to protect one of the batteries. I have a separate meter for each battery and when the perko is in the ALL position and the motor is running higher than idle the voltage on the meters is 14.5 volts - sometimes higher depending on the speed of the motor. I think I have seen it as high as 14.9.

In my van there is a device called a "battery to battery" unit?? It takes power from the car alternator (13.5 volts) and bumps it up to 14.6 volts to charge my lithium ion batteries in the coach. There is also a solar charge controller that controls power to those batteries too. There is also an AC charger that turns 120V AC into 14.6 volt DC that charges the same batteries. All these devices can be charging the batteries at the same time if I am parked with the engine idling connected to shore power (sometimes I do that for 10 minutes to boost the inside Air Conditioning if it's over 110 outside). The batteries seem to do fine with all that charging equipment connected to them and the set up is as the battery manufacture wanted it so I know it's correct - everything seems to work just fine and there is no 'ACR' as far as I know. Maybe 'ACR' is built into the B2B unit and the Solar Controller and the inverter? I dunno - Battle Born the Lithium Battery maker sold me all the equipment and it's hooked up per their specs. Is there "acr" ?

Here is the cabinet where the 'stuff' is:



Here it is opened - do you guys see "ACR" in there?

[1st Sail]

Boat,
Thanks for the update. I didn't include Lithium in the questions thinking most have not adapted the technology as yet. As I'm sure you are aware Lithium charge profiles are even more demanding for precise control. AGM float voltage is more precise than lead acid but less demanding than Li. Ultimately I was planning to install an integrated power system that could utilize either shore power or genset, solar, and OB. I guess I need to read the specs on the BlueSea ACR.