We've purchased our
boat... 15 years ago? Has a house bank (3x230Ah deep discharge FLA) and a starting
battery. Both banks are totally independent. The starting
battery is charged by a small
alternator. The house bank is charged by
solar and by two additional alternators.
The
boat came with an isolating switch connected to the house bank. Something I never understood. In 15 years we never touched that switch. There is also a combiner, something I never used. I believe that the combiner worked with the regulators that were there when we bought the boat, something we've trashed and replaced with a
Balmar Dual.
I am very tempted to ditch both. That would simplify the
wiring. And if I remember properly, I read somewhere that it is preferable to run your house bank as is it were a
single battery (do not use/recharge one differently from the others).
Before I do that, I'll consult with a
marine electrician. But there are several knowledgeable people here, so let me ask if there's any benefit in keeping isolator/combiner.