MrWizard
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you could seperate the batteries and use a designated charger for the genset
But I would rather have 3 house batteries spreading the load requirements than just 2,
I think designating one battery as genset only is a waste of the extra capacity
if you really worried about running the batteries so low you can't start the generator invest in a portable jump start box to be used on the genset or vehicle that needs a helping hand getting started
* This post was
edited 03/28/12 06:08pm by MrWizard *
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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GOOD GRIEF!!
Use a bi-directional smart solenoid (battery combiner) and forget about all the other nonsense. You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. The Sure Power, or Blue Seas units are reliable and foolproof.
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RoyB
King George, VA
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X2 on mexbungalows comment... The big problem with the high current diode separators is the hugh voltage drop associated with the diodes. It will be 0.7 VDC (Almost a whole volt) and this doesnt like to be used around smart-mode charging techniques where the differerence between 14.4VDC and 13.6vdc smart modes is very important. When the extra 0.7VDC is taken away by the voltage drop of the high current diodes may make a totally different smart-mode charging scheme. (One that doesnt work very good)
When the smart solenoid senses the truck start battery is being charged by 14.0VDC the smart-solenoid will close the two circuits together and also charge the connected battery. When the connected battery is charged to same state as the truck start battery then the smart solenoid will disconnect the two batteries. The truck start battery is never in the battery drain loop to get disharged by the drain on the second battery. The second battery is only connected to the truck start battery whenever it is being charged by the alternator. (Or something to that effect - what do I know about all this stuff - I'm just a dirt farmer from the Illnois Corn Fields).
The smart-solenoid combiners are actually cheaper than the battery diode separators as well.
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bkirkpatrick
Brea / Orange County, CA
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mexbungalows wrote:GOOD GRIEF!!
Use a bi-directional smart solenoid (battery combiner) and forget about all the other nonsense. You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. The Sure Power, or Blue Seas units are reliable and foolproof.
What is the difference between the ones you are talking about and this (Solarforce Battery Isolator). One says "Isolator" and one says "Combiner" but from what I have read, they seem to both do the same thing. Allow current into another battery (or bank) electronically. Thanks, Brendan.
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allen rvtech
chilliwack bc
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all onan generators have a charge circuit in the b windings,even the old emeralds had this option,the stator is wired for quads ,t's,and b windings.its a stand alone system.read your manuals on the onan.its just a trickle charge.hope this helps
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smkettner
Southern California
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Isolator usually has a power source terminal and output terminals for 2 to 4 battery banks. Example would be alternator connects to the power source and flows to the batteries but the batteries are isolated from each other such that current will not flow back to each other. The batteries are always isolated.
Combiner generally senses charging voltage on the primary battery and sends current to the secondary battery for as long as charging voltage is present. So it combines the batteries when appropriate.
Sunforce says isolator but it seems to be what I call a combiner.
Sunforce webpage
Sunforce "combiner" manual
Looks like this will do exactly as you expect. Manual has wire diagram.
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Buffalobilly
Holiday Island, AR
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I use 1 of these to keep my starting batter charged Echo charger
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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BI-DIRECTIONAL means the unit will work and pass power no matter which side (pole) is being charged. Your recommendation does not say a word about this.
ISOLATOR is synonymous with separation via RECTIFIERS. A trouble plagued buggy whip technology that is now obsolete. Use the word separator or combiner to avoid confusion.
Echo chargers used to trickle charge. Do you want a trickle charger? I prefer the separator to pass power to the full capability of the alternator.
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bkirkpatrick
Brea / Orange County, CA
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No trickle, full charge across the board.
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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bkirkpatrick,
That's great news. I remember dealing with an "Echo Charger" 15 years ago that permitted a 10 amp feedthrough. Yuk! Thanks for the correction!
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