Battery management

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Grumpybear

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I'm thinking of fitting a gizmo to improve battery charging from the alternator. I have a MD2030B with standard alternator which charges a 85 Ah starter battery and a pair of 115 Ah domestic batteries. When on shore supply the Newmar 3 stage charger charges the two banks individually and this is what I want to achieve with the alternator, together with improved charging performance. The boat is a Jeanneau SO36.2 with the usual isolation arrangement of individual bank live isolators and a common return isolator.

Which system does the panel recommend?

Thanks in anticipation
 
I have a similar battery set up, but with an Adverc thing.
see www.adverc.co.uk

I never give it a thaught, no need to switch things over/on/off etc. Whether under engine or shore power, it just does away. It charges up the starter battery first, then rapid charges the house batteries until they are full, then trickle charges them. very good thing.
 
I have a Sterling Alternator booster (& Sterling "Intelligent Mains Charger), system works well. Several on here dont like Strling products but mine are fine. Only difficulty was fitting the extra wire on the alternator -access problem on alternator. Has the option to be turned off which I do if faced with a very long motor passage 'cos think it might be too good and over cook the batteries.
 
If you can afford it I would go with one of the advanced chargers from either Sterling or Adverc. I thought about it, but then went for the cheaper option of a split charge diode. While this works ok, it only puts in about max 5amps into 2 120Aph batteries, plus max 5 amps into the starter from a 70amp alternator. Fine for normal running as the chart plotter, radar + VHF use about 5 amps, but on hindsight I wish I had fitter an intelligent unit.

S.
 
No problem with others' recommendations, and there are many manufacturers with good kit - particularly on smart regulators. One point: both VSR and smart regulator are useful. They can be added separately, and each will do it's respective job successfully, but fitting both is best. Don't get diverted (hasn't happened so far on this thread) into an either/or argument.

Unless you already have one, in which case there are techniques to get round the problems, I would suggest avoiding diode splitters.
 
I, too, suggest the Merlin source. My setup is similar to yours and required the alternator to be rewired as part of the installation. This was not an easy DIY job, and some of the alternative systems make rather light of this. I had it installed professionally. Glad I did.

The difference in battery delivery is susbstantial: from 45 secs from startup the batteries are being beefed; the readout on the charger shows exactly how it's doing!

Depending on the age of your batteries and therefore the charging resistance that builds in them over time, you may want to bring forward a new set of at least the service batteries. On this issue, there is much talk of how to select your batteries - gel, sealed etc. I went into this and ended up buying a couple of wet heavyweights, actually in a store in Holland. And at a price that made sense. We've just completed a third full season of cruising on them and they're looking good. I also leave them on permanent trickle charge over the winter.

Moral - put sensible dosh into the battery charging system, and save money on the battery hardware itself! IMHO

PWG
 
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