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From: Steven Dubnoff (no email)
Date: Wed Mar 01 2006 - 00:08:21 EST
>However on the particular subject of drawing a 12 volt load from a 24 volt
>battery bank, contrary to other posts there is in fact a way to do exactly
>this.
Since I was the "other poster," I should probably respond to this
message. The exchange was
>Does anyone know if there is a way to connect a 12V load "equally"
>to two batterys in a 24V series system?
My response was:
There isn't and it is generally a bad idea. A much better idea is a
24 to 12 volt converter.
>>>
The question was about "equally", and the specs for the Vanmar
"equalizers" advertise a range between .1 volts and .5 volts at full
load. Now, half a volt is a very big difference in battery
voltage. A converter, in contrast, draws from the 24 volt supply and
guarantees that the batteries have the same voltage at any
load. That is a good thing.
A well built equalizer is a switching power supply with 99%
efficiency. It will deliver solid, well regulated 13.6 volts from
any reasonable input voltage. Plus, if the $500 prices quoted on
equalizers are to be believed, you can buy two 30 amp converters for
the same price. Put one in the pilothouse and another in the engine
room. Run thin 24 volt wiring to the converter and less fat 12 volt
wiring to your 12 volt electronics --- save money and copper all around.
However, I run my entire boat on one 30 amp converter. Raytheon
electronics do not care about their input voltage. It is only vhf's
and a few other odd things that require 12 volts.
I may be dense, but I cannot see a good argument for choosing an
"equalizer" over a battery converter.
Best,
Steve
PS For a good thread on this subject in rec.boats.electronics, see:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?K4A0619BC
Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
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