Balmar 614 regulator / Balmar Alternator help

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by RalphL

I had a similar experience with a Balmar regulator and also a solar panel regulator operating at the same time. The Balmar regulator shutdown and took out the tachometer at the control panel. When I disconnected the solar panels/ regulator everything returned to normal. Looks like the Balmar is sufficiently smart/sensitive to detect another charging system.
As a fix I plan to shut-off the solar panels with a relay when motoring.

May not be relevant to the particular event on this thread but it is something to be aware of.

IIRC, Maine Sail's suggestion is to modify the charging voltage on the solar system, so that both the solar & alternator (regulator) settings are different.

Avoids the relay. KISS.

[RalphL]

KISS is fine in theory. But my solar panel regulator is not adjustable/configurable/settable other than for battery type! To me, having 2 relatively sophisticated regulators operating at the same time when they weren't designed for that type of service is not a good idea. Wish I'd thought of this at the outset.