BSS Compliance

[robtheplod]

Hi All!

 

I hope someone can help me... I'm looking at BSS compliance ready for next year and I'm not sure on an item!

 

Just for background, I have two alternators - one leisure and the other starter, going to applicable batteries. I have solar and mains battery charger which goes to the leisure side of things only, so these get juice without me doing anything. When i did my wiring, I thought it would be a good idea to be able to bridge the batteries so that my starter battery can also get this solar/mains charger power (plus my bow thruster battery that's also on the starter circuit). This is for storage when i'm away from the boat so is temporary in my eyes. I did this using a fused cable and insulated crocodile clip.

 

I notice on BSS 3.4.1 it says: Applicability – ‘crocodile’ type clips are not acceptable as battery connections for permanently installed cables. 

 

Which has got me thinking.... its not 'permanently' connected, although one end is bolted to the leisure + terminal. I'm now thinking maybe i need to use a crocodile at both ends and remove when not in use or look at a VSR setup - I've not done this currently as not sure how having the two alternators would impact it  when the engine is running and both alternators are working - seems to muddy the waters?  Could a VSR work here?

 

your views would be appreciated! 

[Alan de Enfield]

Crocodile clips = BSS fail.

 

Remove it or wire it up properly.

 

Common sense really - if the croc-clip falls off or gets knocked off it is a live wire flopping about in a steel boat.

 

Flash-bang !

[Tony Brooks]

For your stated purpose I would fit another corck clip like the one you have and take it away when not in use or the BSS is being undertaken. After all it will then only be a jump lead that unless connected the BSS has nothing to say about. if you are worried about the scenario Alan sites, fit a fuse in the cable and if by chance one did fall off and short out the fuse would blow. For your purposes a midi fuse should do.

 

You could permanently wire it to the batteries and fit a properly mounted battery master switch, then unless you turned the switch on the alternators could not interact.

 

The worst that could happen with using a VSR is that when the charging current starts to drop one alternator MIGHT (not will) shut itself down, but the batteries would be limiting the charging current by then, so it may not make much difference to the charging.

 

 

 

[robtheplod]

thanks for the speedy replies... the lead is already fused as i was thinking about if it jumped off for some reason etc. I'm thinking keeping it simple and go switch maybe rather than venture into VSR...... thank you both!!

[BEngo]

Manual switch is OK till the day you forget to switch off and flatten ypur start battery.  With two alternators I would at least look at an ordinary, suitably sized, relay, powered by the "ignition switch" so that it shuts off automatically when you turn the engine off

[Tony Brooks]

17 minutes ago, BEngo said:

Manual switch is OK till the day you forget to switch off and flatten ypur start battery.  With two alternators I would at least look at an ordinary, suitably sized, relay, powered by the "ignition switch" so that it shuts off automatically when you turn the engine off

 

I like that idea, an energise to open/break one, and I think a 10 amp one would be fine for the stated purpose. 20 amp ones or more seem readily available.

[robtheplod]

ah ok, so something like this?

 

Durite Mini Break & Make Relay 12V 30A - Type B | 12 Volt Planet

[ditchcrawler]

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Crocodile clips = BSS fail.

 

Remove it or wire it up properly.

 

Common sense really - if the croc-clip falls off or gets knocked off it is a live wire flopping about in a steel boat.

 

Flash-bang !

Had a friend, bit older than me always connected his solar with crock clips, I did warn him but he was an Electrical Engineer and said he was aware they were there and it wouldn't be a problems. He did admit to me sometime later I was right and he did have bit of a sparking session 

[Tony Brooks]

38 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

ah ok, so something like this?

 

Durite Mini Break & Make Relay 12V 30A - Type B | 12 Volt Planet

 

Just so no one thinks we are talking about split charge relays - for his stated purpose, solar and mains charger output only.

[David Mack]

I would use a VSR. It's the fit-and-forget solution. And it has the big advantage over the alternatives that the solar will keep your start and bow thruster batteries topped up while you are away, as well as the domestics.

 

Note - this assumes all your batteries are lead acid. You need to look at different solutions if you have lithium domestics and lead acid starter/bow thruster batteries.

[robtheplod]

37 minutes ago, David Mack said:

I would use a VSR. It's the fit-and-forget solution. And it has the big advantage over the alternatives that the solar will keep your start and bow thruster batteries topped up while you are away, as well as the domestics.

 

Note - this assumes all your batteries are lead acid. You need to look at different solutions if you have lithium domestics and lead acid starter/bow thruster batteries.

Not sure on the effectiveness of the VSR as i have two alternators?   when cruising, both sides of the VSR will be high - im not sure if it will be open or closed in this scenario?  all batteries are plain old LA

[Tony Brooks]

19 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

Not sure on the effectiveness of the VSR as i have two alternators?   when cruising, both sides of the VSR will be high - im not sure if it will be open or closed in this scenario?  all batteries are plain old LA

 

but they have a separate earth connection which must be connected to the voltage sensing/coil circuit inside it, I would say be it a monodirectional  or a bidirectional VSR the sensing circuit should operate at the voltage threshold. I think it just takes the voltage form one r both inputs and closes the relay at the threshold.

 

In my view Bengo's solution is arguably the best for your specific needs.

Edited March 2 by Tony Brooks