Solenoids - Do Continuous Duty and Intermitant do the Same Thing ?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by cal40john

15 amps, which is more than enough if the start battery has only been used to start the engine.

Johnn

Yes but not enough to do the 330 amp hours of house batteries.

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes but not enough to do the 330 amp hours of house batteries.

You connect the output of the alternator to the house bank, it charges as determined by whatever regulator you currently are using, up to the full output of the alternator. The echo charger is connected to this in parallel and siphons off up to 15 amps to charge the start battery. It only charges the start battery when the voltage at the house bank is high enough that it knows the alternator is running. It stops charging the start battery when the start battery is full.

John

[capn_billl]

I use a diode bank to do the same thing. The only downside is, there is a small but significant voltage drop across the diodes. You will get a slightly higher charge connected direct or through a solenoid like yours. Replacing the solenoid with a continuos will fix your problem, ... and not introduce any new ones.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by cal40john

connect alternator to the house bank, ... The echo charger is connected to this in parallel and siphons off up to 15 amps to charge the start battery. It only charges the start battery when the voltage at the house bank is high enough that it knows the alternator is running. It stops charging the start battery when the start battery is full.

John

Ahhh, I see.
Yes, thats the ultimate.

Mostly boats work the other way around where the start battery is deemed so important it gets most of the good stuff.

Thats quite what I want.

However, thats a project for down the track. But thanks for explianing it, and for Bill bringing it up.

I put in an 85 amp Continuous today, but now I got to thinking if the windlass goes through it then I will need 200 amps... (I don't know if it does becsue the windlass can work without the engine on)
I checked the old one and it was rated 150 amps.

So back to the chandlry!!



Thanks for everyones help


Mark