Len we have the GXtouch 50 (the predecessor to the Ekranos) and it is rock solid
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On Apr 27, 2025, at 5:48?AM, Len Bertaux via groups.io <lbertaux@...> wrote:
Brian I understand your budgetary pain! One more heads up, the VE direct connector on my Ekrano display are problematic as they don¡¯t have a secure connection and are prone to come out. Leaving your display inexplicably missing those components. Pay attention to them on your Cerbo. Best of luck in completing what will surely be a happy upgrade. Len Bertaux Walkabout S38mkii Prides Crossing MA On Apr 27, 2025, at 8:39?AM, Jim Starkey <jim@...> wrote:
? Good choices across the board!
On Sun, Apr 27, 2025 at 8:21?AM Nauset Beach via <nausetbeach= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks Allison, Jim and Dave.? In large part to you, Len B, Pete W, Jordan and many others who have blazed this charging upgrade and LFP change trail [add in too many hours on YouTube watching Wakespeed installation seminars and many other reviews of the various components] that I have arrived at this point.? Many thanks to all who have discussed their different systems and considerations for upgrading the electrical,? battery charging, and solar panel systems.? The participants in this group, and the archives of their past postings, are invaluable resources for the rest of us.? ? I now have an ARCO 225A alternator [with a Balmar pulley set for a J10 belt] ARCO Zeus regulator with both alternator and battery temperature sensors, and a Balmar AMP 12 installed.? The cables to the main bus bars were upgraded to 4/0.? The cables to the 5 LA batteries remained 2/0, but will be changed to 4/0 when the LFPs are installed in the next couple of weeks, hopefully prior to launch. They will be of the same length.? The bus bars themselves may need to be changed for the higher current potential ¨C a question for the electrician, and anyone who may have some thoughts / comments.? The boat came with Class T fuses at the batteries, but think they will have to be changed to higher amperage.? Also have a Cerbo GX and Touch 70 and Smart Shunt installed.? Solbian panels for the bimini [272W total] and 2 VE Smart Solar controllers [for port and starboard] arrived Friday; the panels and bimini canvas are at the canvas shop.? The MultiPlus arrived Saturday morning, though the Orion seems to be MIA at the moment; sent an email to PKYS about that.? All equipment is / will be connected to the Cerbo with VE Direct wires.? ? The alternator output, solar controllers and MultiPlus will go to the LFP house bank, and the start battery will be charged from the LFP via the 30A Orion.? With Dave L.¡¯s suggestion of the battery switch yesterday morning, at some point when the dust settles I will install that so can have some rudimentary power for navigation, nav lights, VHF from the start battery should the BMS shut everything down.? To charge the start battery directly would require changing the charge parameters on the ARCO Zeus to LA from LFP and additional wiring / switching, but have not started to think about the details for that yet. ? ? This has not been a DIY install ¨C definitely do not have the skill set for that.? I did speak with an underwriter at my insurance company and they are reluctantly covering LFP installs, though do require the installation be done by a qualified [undefined] marine electrician, and documented in writing and photos by same.? If they are not happy with the information they receive they may require an inspection by an ABYC certified electrician.? Allison suggested getting a wiring diagram drawn up as that may help with insurance [and for the record of what was done] and I have asked the electrician to do so. ? ? And you are very right, Mr. Starkey, this has not been an inexpensive drop-in project.? This has snowballed from the beginning when relatively inexpensive solar panels would not fit on the bimini without crossing the center frame support.? Rod Collins and several others warned not to do that, and Ocean Planet said they would not honor a warranty claim if the Solbians were across a support frame.? The only stock panels I could find that would fit my bimini configuration with split backstays were Solbians.? Great quality equipment all around [I hope] but the numbers on the register kept growing as I loosely tried to track expenditures.? To say the 2025 boat budget has been obliterated is an understatement.? ? Brian ? ? Brian, how big is your alternator if it¡¯s oversized you might want to upsize the the cabling on the hot and the ground. Also, do you have an external regulator if you don¡¯t you should consider putting one in the system to take advantage of the epochs. ? ? Thanks Dave ¨C that is very helpful.? Had one of those switches on my old boat replacing the original 1/both/2 switches.? Will wait on this until after the LFP are in and connected to make it a cleaner install, but will let the electrician know to save any of the what will be surplus 2/0 battery cables there now which possibly can be repurposed for the start battery connection.? The LFP will be getting new 4/0 cable due to the higher current potential.? Am replacing 5 x Grp31 LA batteries, so some weight saving and storage space recovered in the process ? Brian Escapade? S426 CT / LIS ? ? ? Fair Haven, NY/Lake Ontario ? Blue Sea switch 6011 is the switch to use. It controls 2 circuits and allows for emergency combining. To allow for back up power using the start/reserve battery the main battery is shut off and the 6011 switched to combined. Likewise the House battery can be used to start the engine by turning off the Start battery and switching to the combined.? Once the Orion charger is installed, there is no need to ?have an AC charger for the Start battery. The Orion will draw from the house batteries. On shore power, the voltage on the DC+ bus will be high enough to engage the Orion which will charge (or more likely go into float) for the start battery. Some of this is on MarineHowTo.com
? If anyone is interested, Epoch LFP batteries are now 15% off through Sunday, April 27.? Several on the list were considering making the change, including myself.? I have ordered batteries, a new MultiPlus II and an Orion 12/12-30A to charge the start battery from the LFP house bank.? I had planned to make the LFP change next winter, or later, but current events accelerated that decision.?? I believe [have not confirmed] my start battery is isolated from the house bank with its own on/off switch in the cockpit locker right above the battery.? It is charged via a 20+ yo PathMaker.? Have people wired a manually switched method of connecting the start battery to the house load to have at least nominal house power if there is a total house battery / BMS failure?? ?Or is this an unwarranted concern???
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Allison
S426 Kingfisher
SF Bay/Pacifc Northwest
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Allison
S426 Kingfisher
SF Bay/Pacifc Northwest
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