A bigger boat needs more than a starting battery: a house battery bank to run the fridge, lights and electronics, and ways to keep it charged, from the engine's alternator, shore power or a generator. These videos are from fitting out Renko, my steel trawler.
PHOTO Dangar Marine Boat Guide
Alternator installation and fuel supply fix
Open ›Replacing a corroded alternator on a Detroit diesel after the engine bay flooded. I line up the pulley, wire it straight to the battery and bypass the fuel filters until new ones arrive.
Installing battery chargers
Open ›Mains-powered chargers let the batteries charge from shore power or a generator. I mount two triple-output chargers in the engine bay with the cooling fins vertical, and set the battery type for each bank.
Monitoring a boat's battery banks
Open ›A battery monitor works like a fuel gauge for the house bank, showing state of charge and health. I wire the shunt into the negative lead, add the fuse and mount the display in view.
Wiring an inverter and fridge
Open ›I wire a 24V inverter for 240V power on board and run new wiring to the fridge. I check its standby current, then load test it while watching voltage drop and terminal heat.
Upgrading to lithium (LiFePO4) house batteries
Open ›If your AGM house batteries run short of power at night, I show how to test them with a multimeter, then fit lithium (LiFePO4) and change the shore charger and solar settings to suit.
Merch
PayPal
Amazon