Need Help

[Gallowayx5]

New to sailing looking for some help.

Scenario: I have three batteries (parallel connection) for the "house" connected to an inverter/charge. I also have a battery connected to another charger for the "motor/cranking". Looking for the best way to connect the batteries to the alternator for charging while motoring.

[Pete7]

Something like a VSR would do nicely. We have one that connects when the engine is running (over 13.7v) and cuts out (below 12.8v) when the engine stops. There is a slight delay in the VSR cutting out as the batteries hold a surface charge and the voltage up for a little while but that is fine.

This link is for a UK manufacturer but there will be the equivalent near you.

Battery Management

A VSR can also be combined with battery switches in a neat module if you need it which is what we did when the rotary 1/2/off switch failed though age.

Power Store&

Pete

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Gallowayx5.

Xantrex Echo~Charge ➥ http://www.xantrex.com/power-product...y-charger.aspx

Battery Isolators ➥ http://www.colehersee.com/home/grid/cat/211/

[Stu Jackson]

Since the alternator is a single output, the challenge is to find a way to charge the reserve (or start) bank. The easiest way is to do two things: remove the alternator output (AO) from the switch and connect it to the house bank, then get an echo charger to top off your reserve bank.

Like this:

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams

This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring: The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)
1/BOTH/2/OFF Switches Thoughts & Musings - SailboatOwners.com