Charger for bow thruster battery-gctid802505

[gazza25]

Hi can anyone assist me in how to hook up my battery charger to bow thruster battery. I have a good quality marine battery charger fitted to my 3055. I am thinking to attach smaller wires to the windlass from my new battery to charge it when the charger is switch on which I do everytime I leave the boat. Would that be ok or is there any other point for charging?

[higgins_jr]

Gazza, I'm not exactly sure from your description as to what you're trying to do. Are you trying to use the bow trustee battery to also drive the windlass?? That's a separate discussion.

How many charging points are there on your existing charger. It may be a case that if you have a spare slot, you just run a new lead to the new battery. If you're max'd out already, then you may need a separate new charger for the new battery.

Just another query as well. Is the boat located in Oz ex the USA running 115v with a step down transformer? Or is it a 230v boat? The reason for asking is if the former, and you need another 115 charger, then you'll need to get it from the US. A local 230v charger won't work on a 115v stepdown boat.

Hope this assists. Cheers

[2850Bounty]

Simple solution:

Increase the capacity of your HLBB (house load battery bank).

Run the appropriate size cabling forward (from the HLBB via the MBSS) for both the Windlass and the Bow Thruster.

Install a good VSR or ACR.

Manage your SLBB and HLBB correctly, and you will not have any issues.

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[mr.bent]

I have installed a CTEK D250S Dual dc to dc charger, this start charging my bow thruster battery when my start batteri charges and boost the voltage to 14,5 Volt.

If you install it near your bow thruster battery there will be no voltage drop and your battery is charged fully, furthermore it shuts down the connection if the start battery drops near 12 Volt so you don't drain it.

Another benefit is that you can connect a solar panel to it as well.

[gazza25]

Hi I have a separate battery in the bow MF type which is connected to the thruster, I have checked the connections to the windlass and when battery charger is on the current to the windlass is raised. I was thinking of attaching wires to those pointys back to the forward battery to charge it. It is about 10 meters from my house bank so not practicle to run new wire. I also have a redarch smart start switch already fitted near house bank.

[boatworkfl]

If you want to keep the 2 banks separate you need a second charger, that being said, you can have a battery switch between the anchor battery and the house/starting batteries.

When at the dock have the switch on all, while running have the switch on all, when anchoring have the anchor battery separate from the house.

Very simple. if you have a generator be sure you keep the generator battery separate from everything except when running in or out of port or to a fishing location.

[gazza25]

Can I run wires from the windlass to the separate battery to charge? or do I need to fit a VSR to the windlass positive lead and the other to the battery posative

[boatworkfl]

"gazza25" post=802585 wrote:
Can I run wires from the windlass to the separate battery to charge? or do I need to fit a VSR to the windlass positive lead and the other to the battery posative

You can buy a separate battery charger when at port, or on the generator, otherwise I put all the batteries on engine charge unless I am at anchor or fishing.

[higgins_jr]

Gazza, I see if I can get an answer from a friend. I put in a separate forward bow thruster battery that I also use for the windlass. But I use the prior windlass power circuit to charge the forward battery with a new charger I placed in the back of the boat. This second charger (115v charger) also charges the rear genset battery. If it is possible, it won't be a thin charger wire, it'll need to be thick, given the amps it'll draw in reverse to drive both thruster and windlass.

Cheers

[higgins_jr]

Gazza, I'd ask a professional regarding the specifics to your boat. I think their needs to be separation and another charger. While there is a charge at the windlass because it's in the circuit, if you do put a link from the windlass to the battery, I'm uncertain of the implication of power going the other way when you turn things on as well as wire sizes, fuses etc.

Let us know the outcome. Cheers

[mr.bent]

Gazza, I think you should look closer at the CTEK 250 as this unit does all you are asking for, it┬┤s not possible to run 10 m wires as the power drop is to big, you need very big cables to maintain a sufficient voltage.

The CTEK on the other hand boost your voltage so you can charge your battery fully

[2850Bounty]

Back to my post #3.

My Port engine has it's own dedicated cranking bank.

My Stdb engine cranks from my large HLBB along with my BlueSea 7622 ML bringing in the Port side bank during cranking.

My 900W Windlass is also powered from the HLBB.

No issues thus far.

If I did have a Bow Thruster, I would still power both from my large HLBB and would not need to concern myself with additional batteries, nor additional charging circuits!

KIS..... keep it simple!

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