I hope this is the correct forum for questions such as these...If not please feel free to delete this post and send me to the right place. Here is my conundrum... I have two batteries (1 starting, 1 house) connected to a big, red 1, 2, both switch. This seems to work okay. I have three charging sources: AC Battery Charger, Engine Alternator and a solar panel. How is it that I combine *all three* charging sources to *both* batteries without creating a current path between the batteries? Many thanks in advance... .-=cp=-.
Too many charging devices...
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conundrum? Nope, right place to start...
Buy a battery combiner, echo charge or ACR relay, remove your alternator output from the C post of the switch and move it to the house bank, wire your solar panel to the house bank. The SP charger if it has multiple outputs can go to either just the house or to both banks, but it's simpler to just use a positive distribution post to land all your charging sources with a single wire to the house bank + post. If you don't want to move the alternator output from the the switch, then get it off the C post and simply move it to the house bank post, same electrically. This lets you turn off the switch when you're away from the boat. These are just some thoughts in answer to your question because I don't know how your boat is wired, how you use it, what your goals are, etc., and don't want to get into a long list of assumptions.
Buy a battery combiner, echo charge or ACR relay, remove your alternator output from the C post of the switch and move it to the house bank, wire your solar panel to the house bank. The SP charger if it has multiple outputs can go to either just the house or to both banks, but it's simpler to just use a positive distribution post to land all your charging sources with a single wire to the house bank + post. If you don't want to move the alternator output from the the switch, then get it off the C post and simply move it to the house bank post, same electrically. This lets you turn off the switch when you're away from the boat. These are just some thoughts in answer to your question because I don't know how your boat is wired, how you use it, what your goals are, etc., and don't want to get into a long list of assumptions.
Good arrangement, but
From your profile, CP, you've got a 21' Mac, right? If your engine alternator is actually the alternator on your outboard that is wired in common with your starter battery wires, then moving your alternator output to your house battery will remove the outboard from its starting battery. In that case, you can leave it on the starting battery, and Stu's suggestion of putting a battery combiner in between is right on.
From your profile, CP, you've got a 21' Mac, right? If your engine alternator is actually the alternator on your outboard that is wired in common with your starter battery wires, then moving your alternator output to your house battery will remove the outboard from its starting battery. In that case, you can leave it on the starting battery, and Stu's suggestion of putting a battery combiner in between is right on.
Thanks for the info...
I still have the Mac 21 - but bought a new boat last fall. The new one is a 1974 Reinell 26' - It's very well equiped, but neglected. The engine is an inboard OMC Zephyr, with a 5 amp alternator. I also have the solar panel, and a SP charger. I guess what's worrying me is the idea of combining the three charging sources won't this cause problems?? Isn't it possible that the current from the alternator could end up going through the solar panel?? Shouldn't I have diodes on the positive sides of the charging wires?? Thanks for the information about the combiner, I read up on this today, and my local West Marine has one that will work nicely. I'll put one between the batteries to charge both when motoring. Thanks again for the information. Graham
I still have the Mac 21 - but bought a new boat last fall. The new one is a 1974 Reinell 26' - It's very well equiped, but neglected. The engine is an inboard OMC Zephyr, with a 5 amp alternator. I also have the solar panel, and a SP charger. I guess what's worrying me is the idea of combining the three charging sources won't this cause problems?? Isn't it possible that the current from the alternator could end up going through the solar panel?? Shouldn't I have diodes on the positive sides of the charging wires?? Thanks for the information about the combiner, I read up on this today, and my local West Marine has one that will work nicely. I'll put one between the batteries to charge both when motoring. Thanks again for the information. Graham
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