Need advise electric bowthruster

[Marc Rainaldo]

Hello all, I really need some advice about 2 options for bringing power to my bowthruster that I gonna install in about two weeks on our 500DA.

Bowthruster: Sidepower SE120/215T 24V

Option 1: installation of 2 230Ah batteries next to the bowthruster.
Batteries will be charged by mastervolt charger (located in cockpit hatch)
2 16mm2 cables from charger to batteries.

Option 2: 2 95mm2 cables from battery bank engine (24V) (located in engine room) direct to bowthruster.

Ofcourse on both options a 600Ah switch and fuse.

Downside option 1: a lot of extra weight In front. Need to bring 2 16mm2 cables from cockpit hatch to thruster.
Downside option 2: need to bring 2 heavy cables to the thruster from battery bank engine room.

Extra question: is 95mm2 enough for 15 meter lenght?

I think I prefer to go for option 2 but when I talk to others i get many advices for option 1 but never get a satisfeid answer why.

What do you guys think and how is this installed on your boats?

 

[Skip Boyer]

We have cables run to battery bank in engine room. Our 500 is 1998 model. Same power plants. Not sure if 1994 is same but i dont think i could fit two large batterys comfortably in the compartment with the tunnel. If they would fit it would really be a tight fit. I would also be concerned with 1) heat build up in that tight of a space from charging and 2) the possibility of anything going wrong electrically at the foot of my bed. If however you do decide to go with batteries forward i would not be concerned with adding the weight up front. We carry 500 feet (750lbs @ 1.5 lbs per foot ?)anchor chain further forward and higher with no noticeable affect on ride or performance.

 

[Marc Rainaldo]

We have cables run to battery bank in engine room. Our 500 is 1998 model. Same power plants. Not sure if 1994 is same but i dont think i could fit two large batterys comfortably in the compartment with the tunnel. If they would fit it would really be a tight fit. I would also be concerned with 1) heat build up in that tight of a space from charging and 2) the possibility of anything going wrong electrically at the foot of my bed. If however you do decide to go with batteries forward i would not be concerned with adding the weight up front. We carry 500 feet (750lbs @ 1.5 lbs per foot ?)anchor chain further forward and higher with no noticeable affect on ride or performance.

I agree with you about things that you don’t want that could happen at the foot of your bed.

What I am thinking of the root of the cables:
Behind the galley is a nice but very hard to reach option.
Routing the cables to the shower sump is easier. From the shower sump to the tunnel compartment is very easy. I put the cables true a pvc pipe over the watertank and done.

Any thoughts about tickness 95mm2 cables?

 

[BlueYonder]

The installation manual should give you the proper cable size based on distance from the battery to the thruster and back to the battery.

https://public.sleipner.no/documents/2651/download/

 

[The Bill Collector]

I had our thruster installed and there are 2 AGM batteries installed next to it. There are 2 very thick cables running to the ER and connecting to a battery combiner that is connected to the 4 main batteries... I have never run out of thrust.

 

[Marc Rainaldo]

The installation manual should give you the proper cable size based on distance from the battery to the thruster and back to the battery.

https://public.sleipner.no/documents/2651/download/

Yesss, my mother used to told me always read the manual...
I guess she told that to much to me lol.