Best way to expand solar array, tidy up battery bank and install and invertor

[duncancw]

Hi,
My boat currently has a 90Watt solar system that provides power to the house battery. It's great for keeping the battery topped up in winter when she is ashore and during the summer it does keep my 12v fridge running most of the day (in sunny conditions). It's great for day sailing and the weekends but not great if we want to use the boat for an extended period as it doesn't generate enough power.

I've therefore purchased an additional 200watts of solar (2x100watt panels in serial). I've installed the panels and ran the cables to a new Victron SCC (100/20). The bit I'm having problems with is the connection between the new SCC and the house battery. The existing system is getting a bit messy and there are already 4 connections on the positive side of the house battery. At some point I would like to install an invertor so I would like to provision for this moving forward.

I've attached a diagram to illustrate my scenario. The new components in the gold box are what I've install so far but as you can see I've not attached them to anything yet. (I haven't actually wired the new solar panels into the SCC but the cables are in situ).

Should I get rid of the 6 way fuse box and install a Victron fused distribution board or is that overkill? or could I just install a positive busbar?

Any advise before I proceed any further would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wholybee]

So you currently have a 6 circuit fuse panel, and only one circuit on it used?

The proper way is to have a negative bus bar that everything negative goes to. The shunt would then be between the battery and negative bus bar.
There would be a fuse panel with _almost_ all positive connections to it. Additionally, there would be a fuse right at the battery between the battery and the fuse panel.
The alternator can go to the fuse panel if the panel is large enough, or more often goes direct to the battery. The positive wire from the shunt should go direct to the battery, with an inline fuse (otherwise it won't be accurate). And some people will connect a bilge pump direct to the battery, with an inline fuse.

It looks like you only have 4 devices, the shunt, the rpi, and 2 solar controllers. I would connect them to your existing fuse block, and that would still leave 2 circuits for expansion. No need to invest in an expensive Victron fuse block.

 

[duncancw]

Thanks for your response.

Yes, the current 6 circuit fuse panel only has one circuit that is being used.

Apologies, on reflection I should have drawn the high level of the system in its entirety. I have updated the diagram to reflect this and hopefully it makes it a little clearer.

I therefore have 5 devices current connected to the positive of the main house battery.

The problem is that the existing SCC is using the positive and negative inputs on that 6 way circuit fuse panel. The positive is then fused (20A) and then connects to the positive on the main house battery. The negative from the fuse panel on that circuit is then going to the other side of the shunt. I can't see how I could wire the new solar array and the shunt and rpi to that fuse panel?