Bow thruster not producing much thrust

$59 is quite a bargain for an AC charger, but I am seeing the same roughly $250 for a Blue Sea ACR, a Victron DC to DC charger, or a simple AC charger. We have both the engine alternator and the inverter/charger feeding the house bank with old L-Series automatic charging relays keeping main engine and generator start batteries charged.

Not surprisingly, Blue Sea recommends automatic charging relays and Victron recommends DC to DC chargers. The consensus here seems to be AC chargers. What is the best way to keep a bow thruster battery charged? Does it come down to preference?

It comes down to location, preference and usage. In my case AC was already available. DC was a long ways away. Generator usage or dock power happens daily so AC had no short comings.

A boat that never visits shore power, uses solar over generator would prefer a DC method.

Because my house is 12v and thruster is 24v a DC to DC charger would make the most sense if I were to install a DC method.

I might still do that. For now I wanted to be out of the yard and functional. I may or may not be done with this project.

tiltrider1 said:

A boat that never visits shore power, uses solar over generator would prefer a DC method.

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I don't currently go many days without connecting to shore power, but I aspire to go much longer between connections. My sense is that DC is the way to go for me.

HeadedToTexas said:

My sense is that DC is the way to go for me.

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You have a robust 12v feed now to the thruster. It seems like a no-brainer to me to repurpose that line to supply power to a DC charger.

O C Diver said:

Lot to be said for a battery at the bow thruster.

Even more to be said for a 24 volt motor and 2 smaller batteries in series at the bow thruster.

Ted

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My belief is that in the power range being discussed the performance difference between a 12v and 24v system will be negligible if the same pair of batteries is used and the cable run is short.

I get the need for higher voltage to support more powerful motors, but unless going bigger than 95kgf there is no requirement for more than 12v, and marginal benefits to going to 24v IMO.

What am I missing? I have a 24v stern thruster and a 12v bow thruster, both the same power and both with identical pairs of dedicated starting batteries. Both work perfectly.

Jeff F said:

My belief is that in the power range being discussed the performance difference between a 12v and 24v system will be negligible if the same pair of batteries is used and the cable run is short.

I get the need for higher voltage to support more powerful motors, but unless going bigger than 95kgf there is no requirement for more than 12v, and marginal benefits to going to 24v IMO.

What am I missing? I have a 24v stern thruster and a 12v bow thruster, both the same power and both with identical pairs of dedicated starting batteries. Both work perfectly.

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IMO, an electrical circuit voltage drop is the sum of all its parts. My system went from 350 to 175 amps (12 VDC to 24 VDC). I seriously doubt that the two batteries is post #86 would spin the specific motor as well in parallel as opposed to other in series. From my inspection of the 12 volt and 24 volt motors, there was no difference except the actual windings. Between the brushes, solenoid contacts, electrical connections and everything else, I've got to believe 175 amps has less resistance going through the circuit than 350 amps.

Ted

O C Diver said:

Between the brushes, solenoid contacts, electrical connections and everything else, I've got to believe 175 amps has less resistance going through the circuit than 350 amps.

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Agreed. 24v is better, all things being equal. But I don't have reason to think that increased resistance plays a material role in thruster performance or longevity, assuming the motors are appropriately designed and engineered.

I seriously doubt that the two batteries is post #86 would spin the specific motor as well in parallel as opposed to other in series.

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I'm picking on you in part because you have well thought out decisions, but also because we use the same batteries and (I think) have the same thruster, except that mine is 12v. I haven't had reason to complain in 4 years of regular usage, but have little to compare to.

When it comes to power delivery, I can't see why drawing Xkw from a pair of batteries is any different whether they're wired in series or parallel. Apart from cabling loss it's all the same to the batteries, right?

Jeff F said:

Agreed. 24v is better, all things being equal. But I don't have reason to think that increased resistance plays a material role in thruster performance or longevity, assuming the motors are appropriately designed and engineered.



I'm picking on you in part because you have well thought out decisions, but also because we use the same batteries and (I think) have the same thruster, except that mine is 12v. I haven't had reason to complain in 4 years of regular usage, but have little to compare to.

When it comes to power delivery, I can't see why drawing Xkw from a pair of batteries is any different whether they're wired in series or parallel. Apart from cabling loss it's all the same to the batteries, right?

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As no two batteries are exactly the same, one battery will experience higher amperage draw than the other. Failures on individual batteries within a bank while not common ,do happen. My guess (while I have no proof) is that at the half life point for starting batteries in parallel, there is a decided CCA (cold cranking amperage) difference between the two. In series, the amperage is more balanced.

You will notice that I specifically stated "starting batteries" as thrusters mimic the the draw of engine starting not low amperage draw over hours. In the picture posted in post #86, those original batteries lasted 8 years of heavy cruising. I attribute that life to in series batteries, lower amperage draw, and complete recharging after use.

Ted