Burger 80 - Work in Progress

So, again I'll try to be clear...the engines and alternators should be linked to dedicated batteries directly through disconnect switches and not directly interact with the panel.

Your panel has a separate feed to house batteries, and it should have an incoming primary breaker, either in line or on the panel. You will want to have a set of batteries for your house systems, and a set of starting batteries for each engine.

If you want to dress your starter and alternators later, you can power these Detroits with 3 x 12v batteries in series to make 36 volts. This will work for the Detroits as a temporary solution to be able to avoid investing in the big 8 volt batteries. The house batteries are feeding your DC breaker set. It's possible that the two halves of that DC set can be separated in the backbone of the panel as to be able to feed them with separate voltages. In a sense the port half could be fed with 24 and the starboard half fed with the 32 v to allow you to transition you batteries and systems.

I don't do that. I purchased some simple small breaker panels like Blue Seas, and I located them in a safe place nearby the panel. I set them up as temp 24v panels off my new 24v batteries, and then merged them into the main panel when the time was right...when there were enough circuits to abandon the 32v altogether.

I never used 32v. I used 36v and 24v. In the end I simply removed a battery from the 36v bank to make it a 24v bank, and I used the spare battery to bolster my thruster bank by connecting 4 batteries into a parallel 24v setup for more push. Yeah, in the end I would have gone hydraulic on the bow as a component of my Naiad overhaul. One day I might choose to shift my bow thruster to the stern and replace the bow system with that hydraulic unit. But not soon...I'm good.

Agreed, all of this. I replaced my overall panel, and I left it in the ER as the wire lengths were proper, and I have my Atlas system in there...so I really kind of need to go there to transfer power or swap gennies or whatever...I installed a camera onto my panel so that I can see the systems clearly from either helm or remotely through Gost as well. That lets me see them from my couch, or even from a plane...

Main thing to keep in mind is that the Detroits are pleased with 36v, so that transition can happen in time if needed. Migrate from the 32v. That will allow you access to more options for more devices running in the 12 and 24v families.

Correct. But during the interim I installed a couple of 12v 3 bank chargers for each 36v, and I used those at the dock. I ran like that for perhaps 3 years before finally getting around to the exchange...then I asked myself why I hadn't done it sooner, as it was really simple and painless. Now with the two new Northern Lights aboard, we created quite a bit of space outboard of the mains and beneath the new gennies...everything is neat and tidy now. Glad to have those old Westerbekes out. I'm all set to get back to the Exumas, maybe even further south this year.

Just be patient with the project, and do it right. You won't regret if you do...

Keep in mind, the 32 volts replaced with 36 volts for the engines allows you to have the voltage you need now as well as to later remove a battery and create an extra set when you reduce the banks to 24 volts. No wasted batteries, and you simply need 31 series batteries to handle the task. I used 12 volt 31M Odyssey batteries, and I'm getting about 7 to 8 years out of them. In total there are 14 aboard serving 12v nav, 24v house, 24v thruster, gennies, and mains. All interchangeable, easily. Keep it simple...and sealed....and no lithium.

Yes, the need for "some" 12v electronics led me to simply establishing a dedicated 12v systems for electronics only, and I run everything off that panel fed by two 12's in parallel.

12v LED lighting typically dims better than 24v systems, and it provides a much better selection of lighting options including the temperature of the light as well as the wattage. I run my lighting off 24v, but I step each circuit down with a small transformer at each panel.

I almost bought this boat a couple of years ago. The non turbo'ed 12/71's are great and long running. The Interior was interesting . Im sure you will change that. I ended up passing on it but only because I found another one I liked better. Love the Old Burgers. Nothing like them.

I don’t want to hijack the thread, but it is pertinent to the discussion on the voltage and electronics. My Hatteras is all 24V. All of the electronics at both helms are obviously 12V. Right now on my 24V breaker panel I have one breaker that powers the Newmar converter which in turn turns on and powers all of my navigation and communication equipment. That seemed to be a giant achilles’ heel so I purchased a second converter and have it sitting as a spare in the event the current in the converter goes down. All of the Garmin, Fusion and Icom equipment is 12V only. Is there a better way to do this?

Mine set up the same with one under the bridge console and another in the ER but not yet explored what the one in ER powers. One boat I didn't purchase when shopping had a 12 v. battery under the console. With 2 sets of 12 v. batteries providing the 24 volt panels, why can't one of the 12 v. batteries feed a small panel for electronics to eliminate the electronics converter ?

Yes, you can choose to tap 12v off the house setup, but the sensitivity of the electronics to electrical noise and voltage drops drove me to setting up a parallel set of 12 volt batteries isolated to the nav alone. That being said, a step down transformer is going to live longer, typically, than a boost transformer. So if you have the backup in hand, maybe just stay the course?

My Burger records show that she is hull #319C originally built as Antilles. Does that sound right?

need the USCG number for me to check, but I don’t see Antilles in or around 73. Tae Foy? Her lines are right to have been 72’ at birth.

I actually have a very lengthy historical database of all of their boats. It’s not quite complete or perfect, but extensive.