How the Freedom 20 charges

[wufibugs]

Best Wiring Scheme for the Freedom 20 Inverter/charger?

Inverter/chargers take shore power and convert it to DC current to charge the batteries. However the wiring diagram for the Freedom 20 goes from its main fuse directly to the DC distribution block. I realize that the current makes its way to the battery banks, but is this really the best wiring scheme to accomplish this, particularly when I have a battery isolator?
I was thinking of taking Harry's [among others] advice and running the alternator directly to the House bank. What about somehow wiring the inverter/charger to the isolator to charge both banks when on shore power? Or is that already happening as efficiently as it could be?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Huh?

Isolator? Not a good idea. It's a voltage DROP device. Just when you need more voltage, it drops it.

We've been discussing this charging stuff here for eons.

An inverter/charger is no different than a charger when it is charging.

When you move your alternator output (AO) to the house bank, all you're doing is starting to do it right, by bypassing the C post on the 1-2-B switch. Moving it makes the switch a USE switch, instead of both a charging and use switch.

Regardless of whether it's a charger or an I/C, the concept's the same.

A combined I/C has BIG wires from the house bank to the I/C because of when it's in its I phase. This has NOTHING to do with the AO, because they are two different methods of charging and rarely are on at the same time.

A wiring diagram would help.

 

[Maine Sail]

Inverter/chargers take shore power and convert it to DC current to charge the batteries. However the wiring diagram for the Freedom 20 goes from its main fuse directly to the DC distribution block. I realize that the current makes its way to the battery banks, but is this really the best wiring scheme to accomplish this, particularly when I have a battery isolator?
I was thinking of taking Harry's [among others] advice and running the alternator directly to the House bank. What about somehow wiring the inverter/charger to the isolator to charge both banks when on shore power? Or is that already happening as efficiently as it could be?

The DC wiring for a large IC should be a direct shot to house bank. This wire will be LARGE!

Positive = Batt Pos Terminal> 7" or a Shorter Jumper Wire> 300A Class T Fuse> Inverter On/Off Switch> Inverter

Negative = House Batt Neg or Load Side of Shunt> Inverter

Chassis Ground = Inverter Chassis> Ships Ground/Earth (green wire must be within one size of DC pos & neg)

Inverter On/Off switch can be optional but I always prefer them.

NO Isolator

 

[wufibugs]

Maine, let me apologize for being dense here. Your wiring instructions are straightforward. I assume line 2 of your instructions starts at the House Bank, right? So the House Bank is wired to the Alternator and the Inverter? It is therefore charged by both though not at the same time because the Freedom shuts down its charger in the absence of shore power.
But how does the start battery get charged? I thought the isolator prevented a dead batt from discharging a good one, and with some voltage loss [same as the combiner I was wishing for, but without the loss], distributes the alternator charge to both House and Start batts.

 

[Stu Jackson]

wufi, here's my wiring diagtram with a Freedom 15, same as the 20.

Stu's Wiring Diagram http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4623.msg27335.html#msg27335

The charger output wires to and from the house bank are the same wires as the inverter wiring from the batteries to the AC system - the big ones.

Instead of thinking "house bank to..." start thinking "charging source TO the house bank."

The alternator output goes TO the house bank.

The charging from the I/C goes TO the house bank.

The only thing coming FROM the house bank is the wire to the 1-2-B switch.

 

[wufibugs]

Stu, I want to thank you for sharing your wiring diagram. My mom's been ill so it is not until now that I finally had time to review the diagram you were kind enough to send me above to make the modifications to fit my boat. First, I am using the dual boat switch setup suggested by Mainesail.
Second, your setup includes a Link 2000 shunt to which the inverter DC positive is wired. Since I don't have that, I assume my inverter DC positive is wired into the Positive Distribution Block where I had it per the Xantrex wiring instructions. Just checking to make sure I have that right. Again, thanks for your patience.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Second, your setup includes a Link 2000 shunt to which the inverter DC positive is wired. Since I don't have that, I assume my inverter DC positive is wired into the Positive Distribution Block where I had it per the Xantrex wiring instructions. Just checking to make sure I have that right.

Sorry to hear about your mother, hope she's getting better.

Re the Link wiring, kinda both a nope and a yes. The "inverter/charger" 2/0 positive wire goes to EDITED to the + post on the house bank, not to the PDP; there is another wire from the house bank positive post to the PDP. The shunt is only on the negative wiring. Look closely again, that's why it is in black. Please use I/C not only inverter or charger to avoid confusion - it's only one wire + and another wire - .

Happy New Year.