Paralleling Battery Banks

[Hyprdrv]

Thank you sir!

Steve

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

Steve,

The Echo is a one way, directional device. It is designed to charge from a larger bank, to a smaller bank at up to 15A. It is a voltage follower so what the house bank see's is what the other bank will see, voltage wise, minus a slight voltage drop across the device. It is also voltage limited on the output side to 14.4V even if the other side is sending it 14.8V

I quit recommending the Echo charger, for starter banks that are wired just for start.

For one reason, I have seen many a starter bank with these pushing water, bc the house bank can be charging along above 14.4 for many hrs. A fully charged start bank with no loads continuing to be charged at 14.4 for hrs on end is really bad, all it does is generate heat.

I have changed my recommendation to Balmar Digital Duo-Charge. It's not much more money, and the price difference will be amortized in battery savings.

Lloyd

[Hyprdrv]

Lloyd,
I've got that small Parasitic load (gage), it will discharge the battery 30/40% over a weeks time, is this enough to warrant the Echo? I've already purchased it.

Thanks,
Steve

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by Hyprdrv

Lloyd,
I've got that small Parasitic load (gage), it will discharge the battery 30/40% over a weeks time, is this enough to warrant the Echo? I've already purchased it.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve what "gage" is it, what is the amp draw, how big is the start bat?

If you use the Echo, and your start bat is small, and you have a big house bank that receives long charge sessions. Then I would probably wire a switch into the Echo.

This will allow you to turn off the Echo during long house bank charging, and then turn it back on when you get to float stage.

I find many of my customers either would forget to turn it on or off. Many might just take it one ear, only to pass it out the other ear.

My biggest hurdle is convincing the customer that bat banks are just unforgiving of mistake or neglect.

Lloyd

[Noname]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Some of those yards may employ electricians, charging for their advice.

Here, you have electricians & engineers offering their advice, for FREE.

That free professional advice gets tested/challenged by other knowledgeable people, also for free.
This free discussion/debate often lead to a synthesis much more valuable than any single expert's (commercial) opinion.

The CruisersForum is blessed with many knowledgeable contributors, making it an excellent source of valuable information.

Thanks Gord,
That was my point. I was on the forum to both learn and offer advice if I felt I was knowledgeable enough to do so. I am for the most part a DIYer and need all the help I can get, generally on these forums. I still can't uncover the question FlyingCloud was asking. Maybe I can't read.....