Battery Isolator

[PaulM]

Hi All,
Has anyone used a battery isolator for a bilge pump to increase the length of time the pump can run? I was thinking of adding one for when the power fails. I would like to hear the pros and cons.

Thanks
PaulM

[David M]

A battery isolator will not make a pump run longer. A pump will run for as long as there is sufficient power left in the battery. The thing to do would be to get a battery with more amp-hours.

It is not a good thing to leave a boat without some way of recharging its batteries for the very reason you mention. Are you in such a situation?

[PaulM]

Thanks David,
The idea was to connect two batteries to one pump. I realize that a store bought isolator goes the wrong direction, but one in the other direction should make the pump function longer. During hurricanes there is no power for a considerable time.

PaulM

[btrayfors]

PaulM...

You don't need an isolator. Isolators, among other things, will cause a voltage drop (because of the diodes).

But, the main point is that you don't need one for this application.

If you're going to hook up two batteries for longer bilge-pump function, just hook them up in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative). This will double the capacity for the pump (assuming the batteries are of equal size).

Bill

[GordMay]

As Bill says ...