Isolator project

onislandtime

Whats your recommendation on a Isolator for a Rinker342?

Handymans342

Doesnt it have one already?

onislandtime

No just a battery charger. Its an 04

Liberty44140

Are you sure? They all came with one dating back well before 04. 

Michael T

If you are talking a simple battery isolator ( 1 or 2 or 1+2) then I like Marinco, Perko or Blue sea. If you are talking about a safety galvanic isolator then my only recommendation would be: the Pro Mariner ProSafe FS (fail safe) Models. The Pro Safe FS 30 is for single shore power cord applications and sells for about $300 or the Pro Safe FS 60 for dual shore power applications (A/C + Shore Power) that sells for about $400. This is what Rinker shipped O.E.M. from the factory with my 2013 Rinker EC 310 and my 2014 Rinker EC 360. I read-up on them and they are, imo, the best available.

Handymans342

Well if my boat was built for Europe why wasnt it 220V?

onislandtime

The only reason I say it doesn't, my house batteries die on long trips while cruising (new batteries). I have to turn on the generator to prevent my electronics from draining the batteries. I gave the symptoms to a mechanic and he said "put a isolator in". I will take a picture of the box that I think is just a battery charger.

Stodge

My 2002 has a factory isolator.  My 1997 280 had one as well.  Can't charge 3 banks of batteries with 2 alternators without one.  

The isolator is a box with several screw posts.  Heavy, usually red, wires with caps will be attached to it.  Should be at least 5 posts, 2 for input and 3 for output.

You may have a bad isolator.  Easy test, check the voltage at the house batteries with the engines off and again with them on.

Cableguy Greg

It is probably a blue box with heat sink fins on it to help keep it cool. Like Stodge stated above, it will have terminal posts with some heavy gauge wires on it. More than likely, it has gone bad.

onislandtime

I will be down there Friday and will take a picture.  Is the isolator separate from the battery charger??

Stodge

Yes.  The charger in my 2002 342 is on the firewall near the port side.  It has a fan on top and meter.  It has a wire from shorepower.  

An isolator looks like this: 

onislandtime

I have a charger just like that. Where would the isolator be located?

Stodge

I want to say mine is on the same firewall, but closer to the middle.  The threaded parts in the pic above would have wires connected and rubber boots covering them as they are all carrying positive DC voltage.

Liberty44140

On my 2006 342 I have simmilar concerns as to whether or not my batteries are still correctly hooked up to the charger/isolator/alternators so I plan to review in the spring. I've been saving this thread as I think its a good thread with great pics of the charger and isolator:

http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/849/battery-charging

onislandtime

I do not have an isolator mounted where you have indicated yours is. I would have seen that block mounted on the firewall as much as I am in the engine bay.

Liberty44140

Maybe they took it out then. I've seen these online used for around $40. The make and model is in the pic on the link I posted. Not sure about new ones. From a proper wiring perspective I found these online. They leave out the charger but it looks to be a nice visual aid for how a twin engine boat with two engine batteries and a "house" battery(s) and an isolator should be laid out. Are one or both of these how our boats should be laid out? 

onislandtime

I have 4 batteries

Liberty44140

me too, 4 batteries would be the same. Battery 1 is an engine, battery 2 is another engine. Batteries 3 and 4 are run in parallel as house. So while we see the house as having two physical batteries, from a system/mapping standpoint in these drawings 2 house batteries in parallel is the same as 1 battery, the "house" battery. Someone please correct me if I am wrong as I am posting this to learn just as much as help. 

Cableguy Greg

You probably have 3 banks of batteries. one starting battery for the port engine, one starting battery for the starboard engine, and two deep cycle batteries wired in parallel for the house circuit. If that is the case, you need a 2 alternator, 3 battery bank setup. On the top diagram above, the Aux battery is your house with two batteries connected together in parallel.

onislandtime

This is what I have

Liberty44140

Ahh, indeed your isolator was removed. You can see where it once was. 

Handymans342

Yeas thats crazy.

Cableguy Greg

The isolator was removed. It was to the right of the battery charger.

onislandtime

Why would you remove something like that lol I guess theu had their reasons.

Handymans342

Maybe they should be replaced after so many years?

onislandtime

Is this a major job to add one?

Handymans342

No, easy if you read schematic

onislandtime

I have read "Moby ****"!

reneechris14

You'll have a whale of a time

Handymans342

Liberty44140 said:

Maybe they took it out then. I've seen these online used for around $40. The make and model is in the pic on the link I posted. Not sure about new ones. From a proper wiring perspective I found these online. They leave out the charger but it looks to be a nice visual aid for how a twin engine boat with two engine batteries and a "house" battery(s) and an isolator should be laid out. Are one or both of these how our boats should be laid out? 

Do you have a 2 alt, 4 battery schematic?

frenchship

Have a look at this technology.

Blue Sea System Battery Switch ACR - Portland Marine Electronics