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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Thu Dec 01 2005 - 09:14:37 EST
writes:
The best arrangement is a separate charger source for each of the house
and start bank.
Comment: That's the ideal solution for a variety of reasons. Not to mention
charge redundncy. However, in a single engine boat, you may want to charge
multiple banks from one alternator...(or use two alternators on one engine).
A charger/alternator directly connected to the most heavily discharged bank,
usually the house bank and then connected via the isolator/combiner to the
less discharged bank, as a starting battery, works well.
A combiner (with relays) has virtually no voltage drop;an isolator involves
diode losses of about 0.5 volt. So the isolator requires a regulator with a
separate sense wire directly connected to the battery toget a correct voltage
reading (after the isolator). If your alternators have internal regulation,
you'll want the combiner.
In theory, the isolator with diodes is simpler than a combiner. An isolator
has no moving parts. But isolators are not as versatile...
An advantage of the Xantrex Pathfinder combiner is that you can manually set
cut in and cut out voltages (via knob adjustments) and manually combine banks
via a separate switch...
You may also wish to consider installing the device of your choice so as to
charge all batteries from either engine..in case you lose an alternator on one
engine...
A final point I'm not positive about: A combiner is a two way current
device...it will pass current either way when manually activated. The diode isolator
may only pass current in one direction-it's been a while since I studied the
schematics....Arild??? This might limit flexibility depending on your
application...
Try the Xantrex (or equivalent) website, see if you can find the Pathfinder
installation diagrams....they'll give you solid ideas....
Rob Brueckner
1972 Hatteras Yachtfisherman
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