M
Martin Cole
I recently installed an AC shorepower battery charger. It is a 10-amp three-stage charger that I intend to leave connected during the week while the boat is at the dock, in order to keep the two house batteries topped off and fully charged. The boat already has a small solar panel that provides "some" charge to keep battery 1 topped off but it doesn't really have enough charge to replenish the battery between sailing trips.My question is whether I need to install a cut-off switch on the solar panel, so that during the week it is not feeding its charge also to the batteries? I'm fairly certain that the AC charger won't cook the batteries, but will the addition of the small amount of charge from the solar panel interfere with this protection? I would like to keep the solar panel installed for what help it provides when I'm anchored out for several days.One other "complication" that may affect the answer is that I also have a dedicated starting battery. I installed a Xantrex (Heart) Echo-charger that is supposed to divert some of the charging source to top off the starter battery. This will be the only charging source for the starter battery because I did not connect it to the alternator. All the literature from the Echo-charger states that it won't interfere with normal charging of the main house batteries.I have read Don Casey's electrical book (among other info sources) and studied the manuals from all the devices. But I would appreciate any advice as to whether I have over-complicated my system or have done anything that will damage electrical components or done anything that might lead to electrical fires while I'm away from the boat.Thanks,Martin Coles/v ARES