R27 Classic, 4 batteries

[Toki]

I have a 2016 R27 classic. It has 4 batteries. In the forward port lazarrette there are 4 battery switches: start, house, windlass/thrusters and parallel. In the aft port lazarrette where the batteries are there's another battery switch labelled "Inverter". This brings up a whole host of questions:

Is one battery really dedicated to inverter only?

When "Parallel" is switched on, do all 4 batteries go into parallel, or just 3 or 2 of them? Which 2 or 3?

Up at the DC panel at the helm there's a battery gauge with a switch for battery 1, 2 or 3. Which 3 of the 4 batteries are these?

On shore power, does the charger charge all 4 batteries?

Under engine power, does the alternator charge all 4 batteries?

Thanks!

 

[bluestreak]

Toki,
I am really interested to hear the responses since we have the same boat.
I have found a source for the answers.
We bought our boat used and the stack of paperwork that came with it is too generic and doesn't answer the questions.
Bill

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I have a 2016 R27 classic. It has 4 batteries.

When "Parallel" is switched on, do all 4 batteries go into parallel, or just 3 or 2 of them? Which 2 or 3?

Up at the DC panel at the helm there's a battery gauge with a switch for battery 1, 2 or 3. Which 3 of the 4 batteries are these?

On shore power, does the charger charge all 4 batteries?

Under engine power, does the alternator charge all 4 batteries?

Thanks!

My R27 is a 2012 so I’ll tell you how my boat works. I do not have a battery switch labeled “inverter”, but otherwise they should be similar.

The parallel switch connects the House battery power to the Engine battery. My R27 manual says use for emergency only

The 3-position switch at the helm DC power panel displays voltage this way 1) Engine battery 2) House batteries 3) Thruster battery

On shore power or engine alternator power, all four batteries should receive charging current. The A/C Main and Battery Charger switches on the A/C panel at the helm must be on for the battery charger to function while on shore power. If you have a solar panel, it charges the house and engine batteries, but at different rates depending how controller DIP switches are set.

 

[Matty]

You will find the seminar referenced below, put on by Ranger tugs, on YouTube.

"The first webinar will take place this Thursday 4/2/20 at 10:00am PST using the Zoom platform. This week’s topic will be, Power Management - An entry-level look at onboard electrical systems. Our customer service team will walk you through everything you need to know to manage power on your boat."

Also, while not exactly the same you will find a manual for a 2018 OB R27 by going to the Forum index and choosing Technical Bulletins. see page 19.

Both of these will help you better understand the electrical systems. On most models the house battery is a bank of two batteries. Starter is another and Thruster is yet another.

 

[BradOwens]

As for the "Inverter" switch, both house batteries should connect to the inverter when that switch is on. Our R29 has one start battery, one thruster battery, and four house batteries wired together to form a house bank, but it sounds like most models use two for the house bank.

 

[Toki]

Thanks everyone, this is starting to make sense.

So two batteries are in parallel as "House", one battery as "Engine" and one battery dedicated to "Windlass/thrusters".

Then that "Inverter" battery switch comes off both house batteries and just disconnects the inverter.

And the "Parallel" switch connects both house batteries and the engine battery together.

And that 3 position selector switch at the DC panel at the helm looks at voltage of both house batteries in one position, the Engine battery in another position, and the windlass/thruster battery in the third position.

Does this all sound about right?

 

[Red Raven]

Thanks everyone, this is starting to make sense.

So two batteries are in parallel as "House", one battery as "Engine" and one battery dedicated to "Windlass/thrusters".

Then that "Inverter" battery switch comes off both house batteries and just disconnects the inverter.

And the "Parallel" switch connects both house batteries and the engine battery together.

And that 3 position selector switch at the DC panel at the helm looks at voltage of both house batteries in one position, the Engine battery in another position, and the windlass/thruster battery in the third position.

Does this all sound about right?

Perfect! 😀

Curt

 

[rpmerrill]

All good questions.

You should also have 2 ACR's (Automatic Charge Relays mine are from Blue Sea)

They detect a voltage between the House and Engine, and House and Thruster.
When the House has achieved more voltage than the Engine (or Thruster) the relay closes the connection and feeds charging power to those two guys. There is a little green LED on the ACR that lights up when the ACR is closed. Hard to see in bright daylight. (I forget the voltage threshold required.)

Then during operation (battery charger off and loads on the House batteries) the ACR's detect that and go open. This protects the Engine and Thruster batteries from being discharged. But if the House loads are low enough and the solar panel is putting out, the ACR's will detect that and send some excess charging to the Engine and Thruster.

Also, as I understand it, if the engine is running and it is charging its own battery, that ACR will work in reverse and direct excess charging capacity backwards to the House bank. Then, once the House comes to the right voltage, the ACR going to the Thruster battery will close and allow excess power to the Thruster. Blue Sea Systems has a lot of literature on-line to explain.