New battery bank and alternator wiring

[michaelmrc]

Just putting in a new battery bank for a friend put 6 interstate 6v golf cart batteries in a series parallel setup boat has a 100amp alternator and had an old alpha regulator that we upgraded to the balmar ars5. The alternator output line goes to the start battery I want to change it to the house bank but the boat has a heart 2000 watt inverter 100 amp charger all built in. It has a heart pathway that connects the start and house banks together. does anyone know if I can put the alt output to the house bank or does it need to stay on the start. Thanks

[djmarchand]

I believe that inverter has an echo charger output that can be used to charge a second bank. It is current limited to 15 amps. So it is designed to connect the alternators output to the house bank which is connected to the inverter. Then the echo charger charges the starting battery.

David

[DeepFrz]

I have never heard of the "Heart Pathway" (in this context) but if it automatically connects the house bank and the start battery when the voltage is at a charge level then it is okay to run the alternator output directly to the house bank. You will have to run the sense wire from the house bank to the regulator. You may also have to reverse the leads on the "pathway" but I really don't know about that.

[michaelmrc]

I just found a manual online for it. It's formerly heart pathway then xantrex got it and called it the path maker. manual say alternator output can go to either bank the path maker senses current on either bank. Guess it works like an echo charger but unlike echo this says it will pass up to 100amps.

[Sailorman Ed]

Thanks, I have the same set-up but with 2 starting batteries (2 engines).
So I have 2 alternators. I assume I can only connect to one alternator?
Or add a switch to select alternator?
Ed

[michaelmrc]

Depends on the model the path maker 3 allows 2 alts and 3 banks

[Redcoat]

If you have changed to a higher output charging system the wire to your start solenoid is most likely to small. I would run a 6 wire right to my house bank. And run your battery select on both. Also you will not have to worry about " make or break" again

[michaelmrc]

Ran 2gu wire direct to house bank. No starter involved. I know overkill but I had it.also added a 2ga ground to the alternator

[Stu Jackson]

The Pathway, IIRC, was an older version of a charging relay, these days called a combiner. Andina Marie would know for sure.

Run the AO to the house bank. The ARS5 doesn't have a dedicated battery sense input, but find it and also run it to the house bank or else you'll find voltage drop between the AO and house bank input.

The Freedom has nothing to do with it. It's most likely an older Freedom 'cuz of the Pathfinder, only the relatively newer Freedoms came with built in echo chargers.

[smac999]

Originally Posted by michaelmrc

Ran 2gu wire direct to house bank. No starter involved. I know overkill but I had it.also added a 2ga ground to the alternator

not overkill if that alt is 10' away from the house bank then 2awg is the correct size. if you are 15'+ away it should have been bigger.

fuse the alt wire at the house battery with a 150a fuse. the bluesea mrbf fuses are handy for this.

as mentioned above make sure the balmar voltage sense wire goes to the house bank too. otherwise the alt will do weird things before the pathfinder clicks in.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by smac999

as mentioned above make sure the balmar voltage sense wire goes to the house bank too. otherwise the alt will do weird things before the pathfinder clicks in.

I would add that both the regulator B+ and the regulator neg/B- both need to go to the house bank battery terminals. Voltage is sensed across regulator B+ & B- and by doing only B+ to batt you only get half the drop accounted for...

[michaelmrc]

Thanks everyone house bank is only 4th away close run. So your saying I should take the position &negative reg leads off the back off the alternator and run them to the house bank. Is this correct.

[Redcoat]

Neg- to the block. Or whatever dedicated ground you have.

[michaelmrc]

The current alt output wire does go directly to the start bat now and the regular 12v supply is connected here. I if I change the output over to the house bank the region will still be directly connected not sure where the voltage drop would come in here. It's only a 4ft run with 2ga cable.

[Redcoat]

It all goes to the same place. You should have no problems. Just eliminate the red wire to the solenoid on your starter from the altenator.