Newmar ERC-12-15 Emergency Relay

The ERC-12-15 Emergency Relay is an essential device for marine and boating enthusiasts, ensuring uninterrupted power to your critical communications and navigation equipment even during unexpected power outages. Designed for reliability in harsh marine environments, this relay seamlessly switches to a backup battery, keeping your systems operational when you need them the most.

Reliable Backup Power for Your Vessel

When AC power is lost or fails, the ERC-12-15 automatically provides immediate backup power to your essential marine equipment. This ensures that your communication systems, GPS, and other vital electronics remain functional, maintaining safety and connectivity on the water.

Smart Charging Functionality

In addition to emergency power switching, the ERC-12-15 acts as a trickle charger for your backup battery. It maintains the battery at full voltage by directing a small portion of the power supply’s output to the battery, ensuring it’s always ready for use. Note that the battery float voltage is maintained at 0.7 volts lower than the power supply voltage.

Important Considerations

Extended Power Loss: If the power supply is down for an extended period, the backup battery may become significantly discharged while powering your marine radio or other equipment. In such cases, the ERC-12-15’s trickle charge rate might be insufficient to fully restore the battery quickly. A supplemental charger may be required to recharge the battery to full capacity.

Easy Installation

Installing the ERC-12-15 is straightforward, allowing you to mount it close to the battery for optimal performance. Follow these steps for a secure and safe installation:

1. Select a location near the battery, ensuring it is away from areas where accidental contact or shorting of terminals is unlikely.
2. Mount the ERC-12-15 vertically, horizontally, or upside-down as needed. Its orientation does not affect its operation.
3. Use two #10 sheet metal or wood screws for mounting. It can be securely mounted on a metal surface since the inputs and outputs are isolated from the mounting bracket.

Safety Tip: Do not mount the ERC-12-15 in an unventilated enclosure with the battery. Avoid areas where battery gases or other potentially explosive gases may be present to prevent hazards.

Proper Wiring for Optimal Performance

Ensure reliable performance by following these wiring guidelines:

• Keep wiring runs as direct as possible to minimize voltage drops.
• Check that battery posts are free from corrosion before connecting.
• Select the appropriate wire gauge based on the total wire length:

Use the provided crimp ring lug connectors to secure the wiring to the ERC-12-15. For models ERC-12-15 and ERC-24-15, make sure to reinstall the yellow plastic terminal covers after wiring to prevent accidental shorting.

Technical Specifications

• Input Range: 10.0-14.5 VDC (12V)
• Relay Rating: 10 amps continuous & 15 amps intermittent
• Float Trickle Charge (Typical): 0.1 amps
• Dimensions: 5-1/8" x 2-7/8" x 2-3/8"
• Weight: 0.5 lbs.

For more detailed information, refer to the Owner's Manual (PDF).

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