Echo Charger

[Don S/V ILLusion]

There is another part to the section of the CFR above which was omitted:
"(b) Each ungrounded output conductor from an alternator or generator, except for self-limiting alternators or generators, must have a circuit breaker or fuse that has a current rating that does not exceed 120 percent of the maximum rated current of the alternator or generator at 60 °C."

anyone who has ever shorted across the output of the alternator knows they are typically not self-limiting.

 

[capdance]

why bother

The TrueCharge units used to come with a remote panel. All tWhe remote panels said was a mimic of the panel right on the unit. If it was showing actual voltage, digital, it was a battery monitor, a completely different animal.



They can, never could. The way they work, once past the bulk charge state, is essentially based on battery acceptance. See: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4787.0.html Batteries that are full, like an emergency reserve bank, can get overcharged due to repeated bulk/acceptance stages or extended engine running when charging sources are being controlled by the depleted house banks. You may also be interested in this: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4352.0.html



Then he's dumb.:naughty: AGMs and Optimas are two different types of batteries. See the West Marine Advisors, like this http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/BatteryCharging.htm and http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...1/-1/10001/SelectingaMarineStorageBattery.htm. See also: http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19287

Opinions: please remember I asked you to check FACTS, not only my opinions or those of others on this thread which I've noted may not be quite correct. That's why I provide links to reputable sources. Yes, some of them I've written (which could make them less than reputable ) but are based on the facts that I've learned from those very sources and culled them into simple English as much as I could after 25 years of boating electrical experience. Believe me or not, your choice, but when you do your homework let me know how far off we were.

You would also do well in searching on this board for echo chargers, combiners and alternators, since many of us have written about this in great detail earlier and there is a wealth of information right at your fingertips. You have some very good basic questions that may become clearer to you as you dig into the references and wiring diagrams.

Why bother with any of these contraptions, when you can have a manual battery switch, the alternators regulator will regulate the current. If you want something useful and cost effective check out alternator controls. Much less to go wrong. Keep it SIMPLE stupid.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The Auto Mac & "Alternator Controls"

Why bother with any of these contraptions, when you can have a manual battery switch, the alternators regulator will regulate the current. If you want something useful and cost effective check out alternator controls. Much less to go wrong. Keep it SIMPLE stupid.

Capdance,

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, it's about as vague as it can get!

What does check out alternator controls mean???

Do you mean Spa Creek AutoMac controls? If so, I'd love to tell you why I took mine out, and it had worked for us for almost 8 years.

It's called new technology, that works. These "voltage regulators" which were really amperage regulators, were simple rheostats that boosted the amperage output of internally regulated alternators, andf they worked well. In 1986!!!

I learned how to use our AutoMac, which came with our boat, and anyone who is interested can search right here on "Auto Mac" or "AutoMac" -- some with the space between the words, some not. Aslo search here and read some more about my expereinces with our AutoMac: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/board,11.0.html Use the search function upper right.

It was a great product for internally regulated alternators to get the maximum out of them, and covered in Calder's book (regardless of what Ron says about people who write books, notwithstanding his pending apology to Peggie). They've since either been replaced by external regulators which plug into the plug-and-play new alternators, or by straight internal regulation which Maine Sail prefers. Either way, they don't make them anymore, or someone does in small volumes. The skipper running them needs to know how batteries work, which is generally NOT the case, with all due respect, to the folks asking questions about battery and boat electrical systems on this and other 'boards.

Is this what you mean? If not, what? Please.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Use of a Heart Link 20 Battery Monitor

So I have now been persuaded by this lengthy thread to change things around so that my starter battery, fed only by a house battery actuated echo charger, is otherwise 100% separate from all other circuits on the boat.

I have a Heart Link 20 battery monitor already installed that monitors both the house and starter battery charge state.... but I don't know how it is wired. I believe that it is connected directly to the batteries that it monitors, and thus works quite independently from all charging circuits.

If this is the case, when I disconnect the starter battery from both the alternator and the smart charger, and replace these charge sources with the echo charger, will this battery monitor continue to report on the start battery charge state in the normal way?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Link 20 Manual Source

So I have now been persuaded by this lengthy thread to change things around so that my starter battery, fed only by a house battery actuated echo charger, is otherwise 100% separate from all other circuits on the boat.

Very good, thanks so much for the question, which precipitated this fun discussion.

I have a Heart Link 20 battery monitor already installed that monitors both the house and starter battery charge state.... but I don't know how it is wired. I believe that it is connected directly to the batteries that it monitors, and thus works quite independently from all charging circuits.

What you do,and for everyone else who has this problem, whenever you can't find this kinda information, is to go the website of the manufacturer, in this Xantrex, and poke around. While I generally dislike doing someone's homework for them naughty, for you, it's a pleasure.

There's so much information out there, and almost all reputable manufacturers have this information on their websites, even for some discontinued equipment.

Go here: http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/97/p/docs/pt/7/product.asp

If this is the case, when I disconnect the starter battery from both the alternator and the smart charger, and replace these charge sources with the echo charger, will this battery monitor continue to report on the start battery charge state in the normal way?

Yes it will, if your wire it properly. All it's doing, regardless of charge sources, is telling you what goes and and what comes out from the batteries. IIRC, wasn't it you who asked about Kink 20s awhile ago? If not, do a search on Link 20 on this MB and you'll find lots of discussion on that particular monitor. Many posts are VERY important. Search "for exact phrase" and click both the title and message boxes.