How hard would it be to upgrade perko switch to an ACR?

[Maineiac]

I’m debating going with an ACR to make charging the extra battery easier when I’m cruising. I’m currently using a perko with dual batteries. How difficult would it be to upgrade this?

 

[Babin Farms]

If you cruise with it the the "ALL" position it doesn't charge both batteries? I have close to the same setup as you and just alternate between 1 & 2 for each outing to keep them both charged up.

 

[Maineiac]

If you cruise with it the the "ALL" position it doesn't charge both batteries? I have close to the same setup as you and just alternate between 1 & 2 for each outing to keep them both charged up.

There seems to be some confusion on that topic because I’ve heard similar things before but I was told by my dealer and others that 1+2 is only for emergency starting purposes.

 

[Babin Farms]

Read through this. It says "They allow for the use of one or more batteries in systems with one or more engines and facilitate putting batteries in parallel for emergency starting when one or both batteries are substantially discharged" and "This allows switching between the "1", the "ALL" and the "2" positions while the engine is running"
I don't see anywhere that it says that it's for emergency starting

PERKO Inc. - Catalog - Battery Switches - Medium Duty Battery Selector Switch [8501]

PERKO Figure No. 8501 Medium Duty Battery Selector Switch [8501DP, 8501, battery switch]

www.perko.com

 

[Beachbummer]

I added an ACR. I think ACR+Perko best of both worlds.

Use the ACR to bridge the batteries for charging, and run only on 1 or 2. Change every few weeks to validate all is well.

If you mess up and discharge the battery you are on, switch to the other and you are all set.

Success!

 

[HangOutdoors]

Piece of cake. I have what is linked below. You would just need a couple battery cables, short from the ACR to the switch. Make sure put the fuse recommend on small negative wire on the ACR. Shouldn't take more than an hour if you take your time. There may be an ACR you can add to the one you have though. If you buy just the ACR the price damn near the same at least the blue seas one to the Perko you have.

Amazon.com: Blue Sea Systems 7650 Add-A-Battery Kit, Beige (7650-BSS): Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com: AMRM-7611 * Blue Sea BatteryLink Automatic Charging Relay - 12V/24V DC 120A: Sports & Outdoors

 

[Beachbummer]

Yep, That's the one I used and kept my Perko 1 2 All switch. Less than $60.

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems m-Series Automatic Charging Relay - 12/24V DC / 65A, Beige (7601-BSS) : Boating Battery Chargers : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems m-Series Automatic Charging Relay - 12/24V DC / 65A, Beige (7601-BSS) : Boating Battery Chargers : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[Beachbummer]

And, the ALL option is "DANGEROUS" but not for the reasons you think. Just that it turns your setup into a single battery, so if you use it and run out of juice, you are toast, both batteries drained. You should be using 1 or 2 to start and hopefully have a fresh/charged battery ready to get you home if you fully drained one. If you drain more than half of each,, you might be able to use ALL to start when 1 or 2 alone won't, but you made a mistake to get to that state. The system cannot be made foolproof, just be sure there are no fools operating it

ACR is great, It's the same as setting the switch to ALL once the engines start to charge the batteries, and then setting it back to a single battery when you shut off.

 

[HangOutdoors]

If you wire it correctly you can isolate the batteries and remove the ACR from being used while in the off position if you choose to use an on board battery charger and want to have two dissimilar battery types and want to charge them independantly each on its own bank, which is cool.

 

[Maineiac]

Yep, That's the one I used and kept my Perko 1 2 All switch. Less than $60.

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems m-Series Automatic Charging Relay - 12/24V DC / 65A, Beige (7601-BSS) : Boating Battery Chargers : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems m-Series Automatic Charging Relay - 12/24V DC / 65A, Beige (7601-BSS) : Boating Battery Chargers : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

This is great, thanks! Would you mind snapping a picture of your setup sometime?

 

[Beachbummer]

Will do.

 

[Beachbummer]

Ground is fed from dash to ACR via the button so I can toggle it on or off if I wish.

Each of the other large leads on the ACR got direct to the positive post on each battery (Black cables marked with Red Tape)

Not pretty but it works really well.

 

[Maineiac]

Ground is fed from dash to ACR via the button so I can toggle it on or off if I wish.

Each of the other large leads on the ACR got direct to the positive post on each battery (Black cables marked with Red Tape)

Not pretty but it works really well.

Very cool, thanks!