Lion's Paw II power system consists of 2-marine batteries wired in parallel. They are managed by a power management system that charges both batteries at once and isolates the power banks when not charging--detailed in the previous update.

One battery is used to start the motor and the other, the "house" battery, power the lights, radio and the cappuccino machine.

The electrician (me) finally installed a 12-volt power outlet panel

 

This panel is wired on the HOUSE SIDE battery. It has a 15-amp internal circuit breaker (which is also the "on" and "off" switch), a 12-volt power socket and two 2.1A USB power sockets for charging phones, GPS, music speakers and so on.

[The Blue Sea Systems company had a huge fire at their manufacturing plant this year which delayed the new and improved 2019 waterproof model's shipment to me.]

The panel also has a VOLTMETER that will display the status of your house battery in volts when the switch on the panel is turned on to power the panel. The switch is water-proof and the entire panel is IP66.

I am not sure what happens when the house battery drops below a certain voltage level. Perhaps the power management system (AFT) starts triple flashing, signaling it is time to start the motor. 

The house battery fuse panel bus is located in the aft berth, to the left of the impossible battery door compartment (should modify door with velcro someday).

The main switch panel and the new house outlets are wired with separate 15A protected circuits.

The house outlet panel (pic-1) has an internal 15A internal breaker AND the 15A fuse in the aft fuse bus.

ONLY TURN THIS PANEL "ON" WHEN YOU NEED A POWER SOURCE. 

LEAVING IT "ON" WILL CAUSE PARASITIC BATTERY DRAIN--REMEMBER TO TURN "OFF" WHEN NOT IN USE. 

Bring a USB power cord.

I didn't have time to label anything but it is self-explanatory.

Vincent Penoso
2019 Cruiser Maintenance Director

In 2017 SCOW acquired Lions Paw II,  a 2003 Catalina c250 25ft Sloop with a single battery. Last summer I added a 2^nd battery, but the 2-batteries were not separated power banks for running the house circuits and the cruiser’s main power source, the outboard motor. 

LP2 had a current battery switch wired for a single battery. The switch is now wired for separate battery banks with an automatic charging relay (ACR) device similar to the one on the HIATUS; it all runs in the background. 

Here is a 2 minute video that details the new system on Lion’s Paw2: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPhD7fgYq3w  

Rebecca’s electrical system is explained in the first minute forty seconds (1:40) of the following video. Rebecca’s switch is a 1, 2, 1+2 manual system used with the SCOW odd day-even day protocol. The difference on Rebecca is one battery at a time powers BOTH the house ( radio, depth, anchor lights, cabin lights) and power to start the motor.  

If you forget to change the switch from 1+2 (both) and you ran both batteries down, you are left with pull starting the motor with no backup battery--It could happen. 

Explained  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4830QsybbM  

 

 

Figure 1-battery compartment-starboard cabin bench. Battery switch. 

We have not had a problem on Rebecca with the (1, 2, 1+2) battery switch procedure but one must remember to change the switch according to charging protocol. It is easier not to have to fiddle with it at all and have all cruisers wired the same with one less thing to deal with. 

 From the Cruiser SIF for Rebecca: 

1. a)  When starting or running engine: Switch the battery to position “1 + 2” to use and charge both batteries.  

1. b)  When under sail, at anchor or at a dock (engine not running): Switch to “1” on odd calendar days; “2” on even calendar days. Because the boats are not used daily, this ensures alternating use of the batteries as the “house” battery. Do not switch when engine is still running.  

1. c)  When boat is not in use: Turn off all electrical panel switches, then turn battery switch to “OFF.”  

Power management on Hiatus and LP2: battery charging is managed automatically and in the event you have a dead battery on one side, an indicator lamp will glow. You simply turn the switch to combine both batteries on LP2 ( YELLOW) or on Hiatus, turn the emergency parallel from RED-to GREEN ( YELLOW bottom right). 

Figure 2-LP2 Power management area (aft). House fuses (top right), Motor fuse ( top left); Battery Charger-shore power ( rectangular object.

Figure 3-LP2 battery switch. On, Off, combine both, 30A motor fuse pictured above.

Figure 4-Hiatus power management Area-Aft. 2(red) knobs in green position; YELLOW is to combine batteries.

The negative bus on LP2 was upgraded ( don’t need to know that). We are about to install a 12v power outlet and a dual USB charging station with an LED voltmeter on its own dedicated and protected 12v circuit.  This power station will enable portable electronics to be re-charged and provide a protected 12v power source for the parade of lights event in the Fall. 

Figure 5-Starboard cubby hole--shore power plug

Figure 6-Shore power plug ( Edison) for battery charging. Marine VHF plug for the handheld. Obsolete GPS auto pilot fixture.

 

BATTERY CHARGING WHILE DOCKED. You may find yourself docked for an extended period. It is probably a good idea to plug the boat in and top off the batteries, if necessary. Now you know you can. The Edison plug is located in the starboard coaming storage (cubby hole). 

Shore power battery charging is now wired correctly. When LP2 is connected to 110v ac shore power, the charger will display a green READY light and glow RED when charging.  

The ACR LED electrical status indicator light(s): -WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS---it all runs in the background. 

 

The LP electrical system considerations regarding the LED. 

• The solid light will stay on for a while after running the motor, then it will turn green and blink every 15secs in standby mode. Only get concerned with TRIPLE FLASHING. 
• The LED draws 15 milli amps.  
• I considered installing an optional switch to disable the LED and minimize battery drain during periods of low usage, but I think the same thing can be accomplished by crawling back there and turning the switch to off.  
• Battery discharge could occur but would take a long time-I think. 
• We could turn the switch to OFF, during periods of low use in the winter. 

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. 

Vincent Penoso
2019 Cruiser Maintenance Director