Argofet battery charging splitter

[Billjratt]

Professional sparks is fitting an Argofet (Victron) splitter to replace a normal diode splitter in my boat, which also has a smart controller fitted.
This is the first time I have come across this type of splitter, and Googling for info only causes confusion:
I know they are transistors rather than diodes, and can see there is an "energise" connection (and a signal ground) which I assumed would be the gate to turn on the FETs, but the documentation seems to indicate that this is an optional terminal which can be used to energise the alternator field (in a six-diode configuration I assume).
Has anyone out there the definative answer, and, is there a feel for how reliable they are as compared with normal diode splitters.
I can see the advantage of the decreased voltage drop, but that doesn't matter to me as the battery-sensed smart controller takes care of that.
I would have thought the gate should be permanently internally pulled "up" or used a a soft start if needed.
Any of your experience would be appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation,

 

[savageseadog]

I can't give a definitive answer on reliability other than to say it will be less reliable than using diodes and less than a direct battery connection. How much less reliable will depend on spec and quality of the devices used, working current, temperature and age of device. In all it will probably be perfectly reliable for many years.

 

[pvb]

I know they are transistors rather than diodes, and can see there is an "energise" connection (and a signal ground) which I assumed would be the gate to turn on the FETs, but the documentation seems to indicate that this is an optional terminal which can be used to energise the alternator field (in a six-diode configuration I assume).

As the Argofet documentation explains, the "energise" connection can be optionally used in cases where the alternator needs voltage on the B+ terminal in order to start charging. If yours doesn't, there's no need to connect it.

Although your "smart" controller will compensate for diode voltage losses, it's still lost energy and so the lower-loss solution has some advantages.

But I'm surprised your professional sparks couldn't answer your questions.

 

[Billjratt]

My sparks has been shut down for the extended Christmas/New Year break ( I tried calling ).

So I thought I would ask you guys, but I quess (with respect) you're both hypothesising and don't have first-hand experience of the product.
My sparks knows the alternator is a nine-diode job, so why would he wire the energise tag?

Anyone out there got/had ArgoFET fitted? or part of the design team?

This is not a desperate emergency request, I just like to understand all the systems I have on my boat, and for reasons outwith the scope of this thread, I am not installing the equipment myself.

Again, thanks in anticipation,

 

[pvb]

So I thought I would ask you guys, but I quess (with respect) you're both hypothesising and don't have first-hand experience of the product.
My sparks knows the alternator is a nine-diode job, so why would he wire the energise tag?

I guess it would be wrong to hypothesise about your sparks' reasons. However, maybe he doesn't understand; maybe he's just following the Argofet wiring diagram without thinking.

 

[ianj99]

I prefer a more robust solution.

I've fitted a Tyco hermetically sealed 100amp contactor from RSwww.com

The relay coil is driven from the aux alternator output so only closes when the alternator is energised by the Sterling Digital regulator.

The engine battery is directly connected to the alternator (via 60amp CB) and the boat battery via the contactor (& 60amp cb). The regulator senses the boat battery volts.

Its worked perfectly for 2years so far and no semiconductors blowing to worry about (apart from the alternator diodes!)

Ian

 

[Billjratt]

I prefer a more robust solution.

I've fitted a Tyco hermetically sealed 100amp contactor from RSwww.com

The relay coil is driven from the aux alternator output so only closes when the alternator is energised by the Sterling Digital regulator.

The engine battery is directly connected to the alternator (via 60amp CB) and the boat battery via the contactor (& 60amp cb). The regulator senses the boat battery volts.

Its worked perfectly for 2years so far and no semiconductors blowing to worry about (apart from the alternator diodes!)

Ian

Maybe, but that wasn't the question.

I just get the feeling the ArgoFET could be a recently introduced product and wondered if anyone else had come across it.

 

[pvb]

I just get the feeling the ArgoFET could be a recently introduced product ...

The dimensioned drawing on Victron's website is dated 2007, so it's not very new.

 

[Billjratt]

Thanks, didn't notice that! Perhaps sales are slow.
Hope to contact my sparks now that the hols are over.
Meanwhile no-one on here is talking, which, with such a large pool of readers, is odd.

 

[davidwf]

Maybe, but that wasn't the question.

I just get the feeling the ArgoFET could be a recently introduced product and wondered if anyone else had come across it.

I fitted one about 4 years ago, sold boat after two but it was working fine and to my mind was a better solution than a voltage sensitive relay. The additional contact is to energise the Alternator if the alternator needs it.

At first I messed up and fitted one without the output to energise the Alternator and hence got no output, Power Store exchanged it for one with the output and it worked flawlessly.

Would have no worries about having one fitted, new Boat (Beneteau) has a FET splitter fitted as standard, cannot remember make though.

 

[halcyon]

Maybe, but that wasn't the question.

I just get the feeling the ArgoFET could be a recently introduced product and wondered if anyone else had come across it.

FET splitters are not new, I looked at introducing one in the mid 1990's, and most manufacturers have had them in there range since 2000/2005. FET's like diodes splitters suffer from voltage feed back to machine sensed alternators, so have a feed back option. Though a FET does have a flywheel diode, this means you can turn on/off power from alternator to battery, but there is a perminant feed from battery to alternator, but cannot be used as a sense voltage due to diode volt drop giving a false voltage.

Brian

 

[Billjratt]

Hmm. Not really sure what you're saying Halcyon, but it's no great problem as we are not machine sensing in this instance.
Spoke to my sparks, who says the energise terminal IS the FET gate and will bring the splitter into play once the alterntor field voltage rises. That's what I had surmised, (otherwise why have a ground reference?) but the docs(and DavidWF) don't agree.
I guess I'll leave this debate until the boat is back in the water after engine re-assembly, then I can test the theories by pulling the plug with the smartcontroller disengaged.

Thanks for your time, CU later.