Blue Seas ACR failure?

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DanMedeiros

DanMedeiros

10 Year
Joined
Jun 4, 2015
Threads
42
Messages
643
Location
Reno ,NV
Hi everyone,

I have been in touch with blue seas customer service but I thought I would also try here and see if anyone has encountered this issue.

I have a blue seas ACR on my dual battery system. It's the big 500amp version with the remote switch part # 7622). ML-ACR Automatic Charging Relay with Manual Control - 12V DC 500A - Blue Sea Systems

I am getting an error message of two flashes wait two flashes on the switch. According to the instructions this means that their is a mechanical failure with the ACR. This doesn't seem like the issue because I can manually connect and disconnect that batteries using the yellow switch directly on the ACR. My remote switch will also manually connect the batteries but not disconnect them. Weird!

I checked all my wiring and it all looks fine without pulling all the crimp connectors apart. I re-tightened all the grounds. It was all working just fine and then just stopped yesterday. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!
 
Mine did this once but the issue was the alternator regulator going awry, the VSR was fine. Changed the VR in the alternator and it was fine for a day or two then played up again. The VR was a cheapo Chinese unit and all that was available at the time, For quickness changed the alternator for a new unit about 8 months back and the problem was gone and zero issues since.

Have you done any wiring of late? Fitted any new accessories? Check alternator output after running a short while.

regards

Dave
 
I had a similar issue and it turned out to be my wiring. I upgraded to higher grade cable and have been fine ever since.
 
Figured it out! Problem went away when I connected the ACR ground directly to the aux battery. Before it was ground to the fender at the same place as the aux battery. It worked for 3 months. Kinda weird that it would just start acting up. No corrosion on the ring terminal
 
Just got around to wiring my switch after installing the ACR many years ago. Am not using the: brown, green, or orange wires from the ACR. I have the dreaded dual LED blinks when the switch is in the "auto" and "on" positions. The yellow knob on top of the unit works as advertised and is in the remote position with the button in the up position.

Will try running the ground straight to the battery to see if that's the issue. UPDATE: relocating the ground to either battery still didn't solve anything. Also sent an email to BlueSea to see what they say.

Switch in the OFF position:
#8 12.6v
#2 0
#3 12.6v
#7 11.3v

The switch in the AUTO position:
#8 12.6v
#2 4.3v
#3 12.6v
#7 11.3v. (fluctuates as LED blinks)

The switch in the ON position:
#8 12.6v
#2 12.6v
#3 12.6v
#7 11.3v (fluctuates as LED blinks)
 
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Mine is still acting a bit weird on occasion. If my batteries are fully charged when I turn off the truck it won't disconnect because the batteries are full. However upon starting back up I get the blinking light error and it doesn't connect. It's easy to bypass by popping the hood and resetting the switch but it is annoying. Really interested to hear what blue seas says. The switch is currently grounded to the body under my center console. I guess I could run a ground all the way back to aux battery
 
@DanMedeiros mine is also grounded under the console, circa 5 -6 years, no issue, I get the ocassional long delay before engaging automatically, normally if the car has stood for a few days or or so, seems quite normal.

Regards

Dave
 
Mine started doing the exact same thing, mine is not grounded to the battery but I will re-locate the ground lead tonight and see what happens!
 
its supposed to flash on startup. its isolating the batteries because one is discharging (because of startup). mine does the same thing but I have the 120a. the led will stay illuminated for a few when you shut it down...
 
danthman114 said:
its supposed to flash on startup. its isolating the batteries because one is discharging (because of startup). mine does the same thing but I have the 120a. the led will stay illuminated for a few when you shut it down...
Click to expand...
The message we are getting is the "Mechanical Failure" double blink in the instructions. The actual ACR is fine but something is up with the ground to the remote switch
 
It's sealed. This is the 2nd unit I have used. Blue Seas sent me a new one the first time this issue cropped up. I also changed the switch. I love the quality and amp rating of the switch but this issue is super annoying.
 
DanMedeiros said:
It's sealed. This is the 2nd unit I have used. Blue Seas sent me a new one the first time this issue cropped up. I also changed the switch. I love the quality and amp rating of the switch but this issue is super annoying.
Click to expand...
if the same issue is coming up more than once I would be looking at the wiring. try soldering the all the terminals after you crimp. is that relay fused as well? not the fuses for the batteries, but a small fuse for powering the relay itself?
 
Yes, it's all fused. I used anchor connectors and wiring. All heat shrinked with dielectric grease shot into the connector. Must be something I am missing as this is considered a pretty robust product. I have used them before on boats I worked on
 
LED INDICATION

ACR STATE OR CONDITION

Remote Switch Set to "AUTO" or no Remote Switch Installed

LEDs OFF

Batteries are isolated

LEDs ON

Batteries are combined

LEDs slow steady blink, ON-OFF

Start or Engine Isolation is causing batteries to be isolated

LEDs quick steady blink, ON-OFF

Undervoltage lockout--either battery is below 9.6V@12V DC


operation or 19.2V@24V DC operation.

Overvoltage lockout--either battery is above 16.2V@12V DC


operation or 32.4V@24V DC operation.

Remote Switch Set to OVERRIDE "ON" or "OFF"—Automatic operation is suspended for 10 minutes after remote switch is returned to "AUTO"

LEDs double blink,


Blink-Blink-Pause, Repeat

Manual override--check ACR for switch states OR


ACR mechanical failure
 
Greetings fellow ACR users. I'm on the fence with switching out my National Luna Dual batt system to the Blueseas ACR system.

I Know this thread is at least a few years old. Just wondering if you resolved the issue? I remember reading on another thread which I can't seem to re-locate about the possibility of failure due to heat issues?
 
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