Charging 2 battery banks from a wind Gen

[purplerobbie]

I have an air marine wind gen that came with my boat but wasnt fitted.
The wiring is a bit of a disaster anyway so i'm replacing it.

How can i attach the wind generator to both the the house and engine banks without making a connection between the two sets of batteries?

Rob

 

[philip_stevens]

For such a low current input, you need a Mosfet type splitter, like the X-Split from Driftgate 2000

 

[William_H]

If it is a relatively powerful wind gen that has a regulator to keep the output to 14 volts then it can only be connected to 2 battery banks by a voltage sensing relay. This will provide a connection to the 2 batteries in parallel so charge them both to 14 volts when charging and disconnect when not.

If it is a smaller gen where maximum voltage/current can be tolerated by battery (like a small solar panel) then 2 diodes can be fitted with the anodes connected together to the gen +ve output and the 2 cathodes (tail of the arrow or black band) go to the 2 battery positives. This provides total seperation of battery +ve s but the voltage loss of .7 volt in each diode will not be detrimental to the charging. The voltage out of the gen will be unregulated no load possibly around 18 volts which will fall to that of the battery when current flows. So a loss of .7 volt doesn't matter.

Another alternative might be to have isolation diodes from the gen to 2 regulators if the gen is so big that a regulator is required.

An average current of max 5% of amp hour capacity of the batteries is OK without a regulator. Any more can overcharge the batteries.

If you operate it without regulator you need to be sure it does not need a regulator box for other functions so you need to know the gen system.
A check with the gen manufacturers may be well worth while.

Some diodes (Schotky I think they are called) are available which have a much lower voltage drop and can be used with some success after a regulator. The drop is more like .25 volt and this while it will limit the battery charging a little may be acceptable.

good luck olewill

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have an air marine and when it was fitted to my previous boat I had it charging 2 battery banks through a diode splitter. After a short while it stopped charging. I had it checked and found no damage. I the connected it to the output of the 1-2-both switch so it would charge the active battery and had no problem. The only conclusion I could find for the non charging while connected through the splitter was that the internal regulator "locked up" as it "could not see the battery" through the diode splitter.

 

[silver-fox]

Try these people - good products backed by good tech service.

Marlec Regulators