ELECTRICS UPGRADE, PART III
Smart Regulator
Batt Alt
temp temp
IGN
Batt
sens
Distribution Panel
-ve Field +ve Lamp Warning Light
which it parallels all the batteries together
for charging. This way you won’t lose
Fuse
voltage as you do through diodes. The
Fuse
same function can also be carried out
simply by using a multi-terminal rotary
Positive
Ignition Switch Bus Bar
switch, but forgetting to leave the switch
in the correct position might leave all the
batteries joined together, discharging the
Isolator
Switch
start, as well as the service batteries.
Diode Splitter
Isolator
Battery Monitor
Switch
Monitor
15.6Amp
Shunt
Monitoring your
boat’s electrical
Starter
Solenoid
Fuse
Fuse
energy reserves
F
B+
With owners increasingly fitting power-
+
+
Starter
Starter
Service
hungry electrical goodies to their boats
Motor
Battery
Batteries
there is now a growing need to install a
device that will keep the skipper more
Alternator
accurately informed of the condition of
the batteries and of the boat’s real-time Negative Bus Bar
energy consumption.
Other than using a hydrometer to check
the specific gravity of each cell, which is
an accurate, but messy way of determining
Is fitting a smart regulator a DIY job?
charge status, there are essentially two
other methods of keeping tabs on your
power system.
The first, and cheapest method entails
fitting an ammeter and then trying to keep T
hat depends on just how competent/
confident you are with DC electrics.
While most boat owners understand
a tally on how much current has been the basics of DC circuitry, many get a
used – and for how long. When aided by little baffled when it comes to alternators
a voltmeter, which offers a rough guide to and regulators.
the state of charge, the method works, but Smart regulators usually come with good
it can be tedious and not very accurate, installation instructions and often you can
usually allowing the batteries to be contact the supplier’s technical dept for
discharged deeper than they should ever additional advice. I’ve installed many of
be and rarely charged back up to their these devices, which is generally a relatively
full capacity. simple job – provided you have the
Modern alternator modified by a professional. If
technology you try yourself and get it wrong there’s
has taken us a very good chance you’ll wreck your
beyond this alternator, or at least destroy the
rather primitive internal diodes.
level by Make sure that you take a note of how wire with where it comes from and goes to, both
introducing the everything was before you start, so in before and after you carry out the installation and
battery capacity the worse case scenario you can at least then finally draw up a new circuit diagram for
monitor. These return to how you were. Label up every future reference.
very clever
devices are capable
of doing all the sums
on our behalf and offer
sophisticated indicators showing the
Contacts
percentage charge and the time remaining
at present consumption, as well as the
Merlin equipment ltd 01202 697979 driftgate 2000 01480 470400
more run-of-the-mill battery voltage and
www.merlinequipment.com www.dg2k.co.uk
current readouts.
sterling power products 01905 771771 energy solutions 01634 290772
Monitors are also available that will
www.sterling-power.com www.energy-solutions.co.uk
supervise one, two or three independent
Mastervolt
www.mastervolt.com for Victron energy UK 07917 881434
banks, in either 12V or 24V installations.
local dealer
www.victronenergy.com
■
September 09 Sailing Today 119
ST149 Practical_Electrics
RTG.in117 117 17/7/09 15:22:56
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