Link 2000 Question

[Rick D]

I am replacing my Freedom remote with a Link 2000. Quick question: I have two banks of house batteries and a separate starting battery, connected for charging by a solenoid. Here is my issue: it appears it is impractical to have the starting battery set up on the Link as battery 2. No big deal anyway. However, as to the house banks, I have another issue. Although they are set up as two banks, I never split them; the selector is always on 'both'. They then effectively operate as one bank. If I set up the 2000 to segregate the banks into one and two, but set the switch on 'both', will I get a false time-remaining output from the display? In other words, will the monitor measure the draw as if it were against only one bank's capacity? I don’t want to switch from one bank to another for a couple of reasons. I have a headache and am over my head in this thing, so I hope the question makes sense. I think I'm going to have to hire some help for the install! Rick D.

 

[patrick]

Answer is .............

no. It really depends how you wire it though. It will not indicate as one battery because there is a shunt for each one and the meter senses only one at a time as normally installed. If you only use one shunt and put it after the negative junction of the two batteries, it will indicate that way. Why not just separate the banks and do a little math? Redundancy is safety.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why not combine the 2 house banks

Rick - ...and extend the life of your existing batteries, since you already have a separate starting battery?What's the purpose of keeping two separate house banks?Anyway, regardless of how your OUTPUT switch (1-2-B) works, what those wires are doing is taking juice out of the banks.When wired, the Link 2000 is supposed to keep track of what's coming out and going in to the banks. When the banks are combined with the switch you stand the problem of having the higher potential bank draining into the lower potential bank, which the Link won't know about.Since the Link 200 is "calibrated" to a full bank, and is measuring what's coming in and out from charging and discharging, the shunt may not be able to tell the difference between discharging and/or charging and the drain from one to another if your switch is in a both position.I'd put the house banks together and make it simple.Of course, you could simply call them in Seattle and they'd be sure to tell you what you need to know. They're very helpful.And probably better than Patrick and me in giving you detailed advice! Stu

 

[patrick]

Actually, Stu -

when wired as designed, the shunts are installed in the negative side of each batteries circuit. Thus it won't matter what position the switch is in or if one battery discharges into the other. The meter will keep track of each battery since each has its own shunt.

 

[Buck Harrison]

Rick,

Patrick is correct. I have a Link 2000(R) on my 420. I have 2 4D AGM batteries wired as 2 separate "banks" thru a "1-2-Both" battery selector switch... essentially the very same setup that you have. Surprisingly, even when the switch is in the "Both" position (as it almost always is), the Link shows slightly different readings (voltage, amp draw, amp hours used)for each battery.So, the answer to your question is ... if you use a shunt for each battery (bank) the moniter will show different readings for each bank even with the switch in the "both" position. At least, it does on my boat.And , by the way, you will love the Link 2000 once you have it... it really lets you know the true status of your batteries, how they are charging, how your alternator is putting out and so much more...

 

[Rick D]

I Think I'm Getting It

Thanks everyone. I think I'm figuring it out now. Rick D.