This is all about 32 volt boat battery electrics on boats. The easy question is it must be better than 24 volt boat battery systems. The answer is yes and no. Higher voltages are more efficient however that being said, 24 volt battery systems are also consistent and have commonality with commercial vessels and the trucking industries. As I said earlier when talking about 12 volt boat battery systems on boats, back in 2002 I wrote several magazine articles about the various boat voltages and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each one. Give the rapid and fast moving changes going on now with electric vehicles and electric boats, along with the evolution of many different battery technologies and changing boat power demands I will do a review, not only of 12 volts, but 24 volts, 32 volts, 36 volts and now the rapidly growing 48 volt boat battery systems. It can get somewhat confusing with so many differing voltages? Having worked on a few different boats even I get challenged sometimes. You will also see 36 volt boat battery systems mentioned but these are primarily used for trolling motors where it is commonly used. That is another subject altogether. The rationale for using this voltage are very sound and are similar to the reasons for 24 volts and 48 volts. It is all about electrical efficiency.
Occasionally I run across an older vessel using 32 volt boat battery system. Some forward looking boat manufacturers did install them, and that is Hatteras vessels and it made good sense at the time and still does although I don't think they install this voltage any longer. Usually this was found on many of the older Hatteras boats, and some other much older vessels from the 1940’s and 1950’s and even up into the 1960’s, builders were still installing the 32 volt system. Golf carts and electric bikes are also still using 32 volt battery systems as it is a practical and more efficient voltage. The 32 volt boat battery voltage has been around for a very long time and was also used extensively in many remote homestead power systems. To get this voltage, it is derived from using 4 x 8 volt batteries to get 32 volts when the batteries are connected in series. It may surprise you that 8 volt batteries are still available and used within golf cart electrical systems. For that reason, you can still buy new batteries including Lithium-ion types and also battery chargers to suit these battery types. Thank goodness people love golf if you have a 32 volt boat battery system. For more answers and advice check out the Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible.
Marine Electrical Electronics BibleThese are still available as are alternators, starters and other equipment but becoming increasingly scarce now as other voltages take over. You still require a DC to DC converter to operate many 12 volt electronic devices and these are commonly still available. Many battery charger manufacturers also make 32 volt battery bank rated units. The nominal charging rate is typically between 36-38 volts.
The initial reasons behind the 32 volt boat battery system were the same as that for 24 volt boat electrical systems. This was primarily to obtain the advantage of a significant reduction in cable cross sectional areas and a subsequent reduction in voltage drop. Higher voltages require smaller cable sizes as the current is also reduced. The big disadvantages of 32 volt boat battery systems are the complete lack of equipment suitable for use although battery chargers are available. Some equipment have power supplies that can input this but not many, always check when purchasing devices. Many who do have these systems have managed to keep them operational and reliable. In most cases a 32 volt to 12 volt DC to DC converter is required for anything such as 12 volt equipment and that includes marine electronics and various other marine electrical equipment. So look after your 32 volt battery systems and boat electrics are around.