OK to wire wind gen to battery switch?

[riversandbar]

I am getting ready to install a wind generator on the boat. Was talking with a guy and he suggested wiring the wind generator to the battery switch rather than the battery terminals.

This way the genny can charge either the house bank OR the starting battery by simply setting the battery switch to one or the other.

Does this seem like a good idea?

[neilpride]

By norm, wind generators are wired to the battery with a trip breaker or a fuse in the+, if is a Airmarine thing, this one have a internal regulator, others i believe need a external regulator, i dont think is a good idea in a battery swicht , if you turn the swicht to off position in the case of a Airmarine you leave the windgenerator in open circuit , if you short the regulator there is no problem, Others Windgenerators im not sure, i sugest you to follow your windgenerator instructions manual.

[riversandbar]

Thanks neil... we are strongly looking at thr Air Breeze wind generator. And of course there will be a trip breaker or fuse in the line. Not sure though how the Air Breeze will work in this situation.

[neilpride]

Run the - wire to the battery post, the + to a stop swicht , amp meter if you want and a fuse breaker or trip breaker rated at 50 amps.
If you run the + to the battery swicht , you can experience maybe pre regulation, internal regulator is very sensitive , i suspect the engine alternator is wired to this swicht to, and if you turn the swicht off the turbine be in open circuit.

I have a electrician friend here in St marteen with a collection of malfunction internal regulators ,most of this regulators fail because owners dont follow the suggested wiring installation from Air marine.
Cheers.

[Stu Jackson]

You should always use the battery switch as a "use" switch, and not a "charging" selector. Just like alternators, wind generators don't "like" to have their outputs turned off. Run the output to your house bank and get an echo charger or ACR (relay) to provide charging to your reserve bank.

[barnakiel]

But u can simply wire the - directly to common then wire the + via a 3 way switch. A 3 way switch cost is marginal and will allow you to select what is to be charged. Other charging sources panels etc can be wired in the same way.

b.

[riversandbar]

Wow Wow Wow... THANKS guys.... I was all ready to wire it up that way, cus it just seemed like a smart idea.

Soooo glad I ask for other thoughts on this. You guys are GREAT!

Gonna rethink the wiring now.