Changing the battery layout 34PC - 3 banks (port, stbd, house)

[Andrew]

Over the winter, I decided to 'go for it' and make some battery configuration changes to separate the house loads from the 2 start battery banks. This has turned out to be a large project... My goals are:
- have a bank for each of port start and stbd start (using starting, high-cranking-amp batteries)
- create a 3rd battery bank for house loads (using deep cycle batteries)
- retain the existing AC & alternator charging for the start batteries
- add AC charging for the house batteries AND a way for them to charge from the engines
- retain some battery parallel options in case of emergency
- leave the generator battery alone

Here's the layout I've chosen to go with - appreciate any comments / concerns / updates. For our boating season, I've got another 4wks or so to get this together and in the water!




Here's my original thread - I appreciated all your thoughts and guidance - it informed the my plan.

(https://formulaboatsforum.com/VBFOR...separate-house-from-start-battery-bank.11617/)

 

[gustaf]

Maybe its just me but this seems overly complex and I don't know that the juice is worth the squeeze. Probably cheaper to get a Tow Boat or Sea Tow membership and give them a call should the worst case happen.

 

[Andrew]

Maybe its just me but this seems overly complex and I don't know that the juice is worth the squeeze. Probably cheaper to get a Tow Boat or Sea Tow membership and give them a call should the worst case happen.

Way, way cheaper to get Sea Tow... But there wouldn't be any fun in that?!

 

[Andrew]

Then I needed to re-do the battery panel so it would fit in the same spot. So: remove the old one, measure it up, re-design for new switch location, have it lasercut out of 3mm Al by send-cut-send, spraypaint, and get it printed. I'm thrilled with the printing - found a company that could print directly on the Al plate using dxf files for the logos and a powerpoint for the text. It looks great!

Old panel - New panel below...



I also had to make new copper bus bars to connect the various switches / breakers...
All that's left now is new battery bank cables and install...

... Well, that and installing the new batt charger...
... and the DCDC chargers...
Other than that - pretty much done...

@gustaf may yet be right...

 

[gustaf]

The panel looks very nice!! Did you make the panel and then just have it sent out for paint and printing?
Time will tell if I'm right . Hopefully you'll figure it out either way before the season starts to slip away.