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Having selected the voltage, the next phase in the design of the electrical system is to determine the requirements for the DC battery primary system – the [[HouseBank|house bank]].
== Charging Systems ==
=== Alternator ===
Each engine (if there is more than one) will have a high-capacity dual-output alternator and multistage regulator, with separate charging circuits for the starter and house batteries. A backup manual switch and regulator are provided. The regulator must be suited to the type of battery: Flooded cells require an equalization charge after the main charge; whereas gel and AGM cells usually do not. Typical vendors are: [http://www.amplepower.com/ Ample Power], [http://www.balmar.net/ Balmar], [http://www.hehrpowersystems.com/ Hehr Power Systems], [http://www.jackrabbitmarine.com/ JackRabbit Marine] and [http://www.salt-systems.com/ Sea Air Land Technologies, Inc.]
If the boat will be unattended for periods at least one engine must autostart on a schedule to keep the batteries charged.
=== Trickle Charge System ===
In case the main charging system fails while the boat is unattended, a DC trickle-charge system can be provided. Trickle charging is also a good idea because there are usually parasitic loads on a battery system that will slowly discharge it. Deep discharge batteries do not want to be trickle charged at a high rate: 3% is recommended. Thus a boat with a house bank of 1000 AH requires a trickle charge of 30 AH.
Wind turbines and solar panels are ideal for a trickle-charge system; although they are not suited as a main power source. Unfortunately, as a main power source, each of them has a significant performance drawback in the context of a small- to medium-size boat. They simply need too much real estate.
=== Shore Power Charger ===
See [[ACSecondarySystems#Inverter/Charger]].
== Distribution ==
=== Controller ===
The controller for engine charging and inverter/charger is a single point of failure, so a back-up controller or a bypass system should be provided.
=== Distribution Panel ===
For easy access the AC/DC distribution panel is located in the pilothouse. Remote latching relays disconnect the batteries in the event of an electrical fire.
[[Category:ElectricalPrimarySupply]]
== References ==
[[Category:BatteriesPrimary]]