Seakeeper 3 Installation Manual (90378-7); S/N 3-232-4223 to Current
3.2 Electrical Equipment Power Connections
Reversing polarity on the DC power input to the Seakeeper can result in damaging the electronics in the control system.
3.2.1 High Current 12 VDC Power Source Requirements:
| Source | Battery Bank, 12 VDC, Marine, Deep Cycle |
| Voltage Range | 11 – 15 VDC |
| Continuous Current | 80 A (maximum, spool up) |
| Overcurrent Protection | 100 A (Customer Supplied) |
3.2.2 High Current 12 VDC Power Connection Instructions
- High Current 2 AWG conductors connect the Seakeeper to the DC source are supplied as length 13ft (4 m). Approximately 3 ft (1 m) is routed inside the Seakeeper frame.
- If installing cables NOT provided by Seakeeper, ensure the folowing:
- Cable lengths do not exceed 29.5 ft (9 m)
- Cable gauge is 2 AWG or larger
- Cables bound together but not coiled
- When connecting aftermarket cables to the Seakeeper motor drive, observe the following:
- Ensure terminal stacks include flat washers, split-lock washers, and hex head screws that came with the Seakeeper.
- Torque battery terminal screws to 97 in-lbs (11 Nm).
- Verify lock washers seated flat and lugs cannot rotate (See Figure 13A).
- If installing cables NOT provided by Seakeeper, ensure the folowing:
- Conductor length may be increased, but changing from 2 AWG to larger wire size does not allow longer length than 30 ft (9 m) each. The length limit is required to limit the inductance from the high current conductors.
- Use the shortest length and most direct route to the battery bank as possible.
- Bind positive (B+, red) & negative (B-, black) conductors together throughout entire length and do not coil.
- Connect positive conductor (B+, red) through dedicated over-current protection device (customer supplied) and a dedicated isolation switch (customer supplied) then directly to battery positive terminal.
- Connect negative conductor (B-, black) directly to battery negative terminal.
- The bare wire strands should extend fully into the barrel of the heavy-duty eyelet and be crimped in two places if possible then sealed with double-wall heat shrink tubing. Crimp heavy-duty terminals with Quick Cable 4245 Crimp Tool, Molex19284-0034 Crimp Tool, or equivalent using manufacturer’s instructions.
- Use heavy-duty eyelet (closed end) terminal such as Molex 19221 – Strip insulation from 2AWG conductor to the length of the terminal barrel approximately as shown.
- Insert stripped end of 2 AWG conductor fully into barrel of heavy-duty eyelet (closed end) terminal, approximately as shown.
4. Crimp with quick cable 4245 cub crimp tool or equivalent, double
crimp, as shown.
- The resultant crimp(s) should fully enclose and confine the conductor strands from all sides and withstand an aggressive manual pull test.
- Install approximately 1.5 in. (38 mm) of double wall (adhesive lined) heat shrink tubing over both the terminal barrel and the conductor insulation. Heat shrink in place until tubing conforms to barrel and conductor shape and adhesive seals the junction (See Figure 13B).
3.2.3 Low Current 12 VDC Power Source Requirements
| Source: | Battery Bank, 12 VDC, Marine Deep Cycle (Seakeeper recommends AGM batteries) |
| Voltage Range: | 11 – 15 VDC |
| Continuous Current: | 9 A |
| Overcurrent Protection: | 15 A (Customer Supplied) |
3.2.4 Low Current 12 VDC Power Connection Instructions
Reversing polarity on the DC power input to the Seakeeper can result in damaging the electronics in the control system.
- Install Seakeeper-provided Low Current DC Power Input Cable, (P/N 20248), to battery bank, per Drawing Number 90377.
- Connect control power positive conductor (B+, red) through dedicated over-current protection device (customer supplied) and a dedicated Seakeeper isolation switch (customer supplied). A 2AWG, B+ conductor (red), is capable of carrying the current for both the High Current, Low Current, and Seawater Pump from the 12VDC power supply to the dedicated battery isolation switch.
- Connect control power negative conductor (B-, black) directly to battery minus terminal or negative DC bus bar.
- Before connecting low-current control power cable to Seakeeper, check for proper voltage and polarity with a DC multimeter using Figure 14 below.
- Connect low-current control power cable to Low Current 12 VDC power input connector on the Seakeeper, Deutsch DTP04-2P connector.
3.2.5 DC Seawater Pump Power Source Requirements
| Source: | 12 VDC from the Seakeeper |
| Voltage Range: | 11 – 15 VDC |
| Current Rating: | On Demand, typically ~ 10 A |
| Overcurrent Protection | Per pump specification, max 15 A |
3.2.6 DC Seawater Pump Power Connection Instructions
DC Seawater Pump Power Input Connection:
- Install Seawater Pump 12VDC Input Cable (P/N: 30327) to Seakeeper 3 “SW Pump DC In” (as shown in Drawing No. 90377) with overcurrent protection corresponding to seawater pump selected.
- Connect the 16 AWG positive conductor (red) through dedicated overcurrent protection device (customer-supplied), maximum of 15 A, to dedicated battery isolation switch.
- Connect the 16 AWG negative conductor (black) directly to battery negative terminal or DC main negative bus bar.
- Before connecting Seawater Pump 12VDC IN cable to Seakeeper, check for proper voltage and polarity with a DC multimeter using Figure 15 below.
- Connect Seawater Pump 12VDC Cable to Seawater Pump 12 VDC In connector on the Seakeeper, Deutsch DT04-2P connector.
DC Seawater Pump Power Output Connection:
- Connect Seawater Pump 12VDC Output Cable to the Seakeeper 3 “SW Pump 12VDC Out” for DC power output to the seawater pump.
- The Seawater Pump 12VDC Output Cable is a 2 x 16AWG cable, 16 ft (5 m) length, with a size 16 female Deutsch plug.
- Pumps rated at 12 VDC, 15 A maximum, customer-supplied, must be configured with a Deutsch DT series, 2-pin receptacle to mate with the connector shown in Figure 16.
- The Seawater Pump 12VDC Output cable must be routed and installed in the vessel from the Seakeeper 3 “SW Pump12VDC Out” Deutsch connector (pins end) to the DC seawater pump cable Deutsch connector (socket end).
- Connect the Seawater Pump Output cable plug end (socket end) to the customer-supplied receptacle end (pin end). The recommended wiring is shown in Figure 17.
