Cyrix 80A 12V battery combiner (separator)

[mick]

Thanks to all who enlightened me in an earlier post (The naming of parts). After some research, I think the above looks about right for me. Does anyone know this unit? Any good? Also, can I use it in conjunction with my 1,2,Both battery switch?

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Cyrix 80A 12V battery combiner

[/ QUOTE ] A link would have been nice to save Googling for it [/grump mode]

Its a VSR then. This is the suggested wiring diagram that I found

to which you would want to add isolator switches.

I cannot see the point of trying to use the old 1,2 off both switch, it is simpler if you follow the above suggestion leading to a starter battery and a services battery that can be commoned if required. It will mean separating the supply to all the domestics from the engine electrics and feeding it from the services battery.

After only a few moments thought I have not come up with a sensible circuit that uses the old switch. Perhaps someone else will.

 

[mick]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Cyrix 80A 12V battery combiner

[/ QUOTE ] A link would have been nice to save Googling for it [/grump mode]


I cannot see the point of trying to use the old 1,2 off both switch, it is simpler if you follow the above suggestion leading to a starter battery and a services battery that can be commoned if required. It will mean separating the supply to all the domestics from the engine electrics and feeding it from the services battery.

After only a few moments thought I have not come up with a sensible circuit that uses the old switch. Perhaps someone else will.

[/ QUOTE ]


Thanks, Vic. I don't know how to do a link - sorry. I want to change as little as I can, hence the wish to retain my battery switch.

 

[halcyon]

Is this what you want to do ?

Allows auto operation, and manual back-up. as well as starting the engine from the service bank. You will need to fit a switch in the neg to the unit as it does not have auto power down I think, if not it will be live with the batteries turned of.

Brian

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know how to do a link - sorry. I want to change as little as I can

[/ QUOTE ] Yes i realise you want to change the minimum and i understand that you would want to retain the existing switch, but remember they are notoriously unreliable, unless you have a really good quality one

A link in its simplest form means just typing or copying and pasting the url like this http://www.chandleryworld.co.uk/acatalog/Battery_Combiners.html It automatically appears as a clickable link

Use URL in the instant mark up box to do this sort of thing click here

But you can do silly things as well if you want. Click on this picture
<span style="color:white"> .............................................. </span>

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Is this what you want to do ?

[/ QUOTE ] Sorry Brian I don't really follow that. I would not know if it would if it was what I wanted to do.
It appears (to me) from your diagram that you can be charging either battery as the primary one via the change over switch and the vsr will operate will operate to connect the other one. Is that correct. Can't be surely with the gadget Mick has in mind?
I do not understand why you have the orange wire going to the starter button.

You don't show the alternator!

Your circuit allows the engine to be started from the service battery or the starter battery but it does not allow the domestics to be run from the starter battery if needed.

I still cannot visualise any sensible circuit that uses a vsr and the 1,2 both off switch.

At least the nearest I have come is to leave engine and domestic circuits connected together as they will be at present and still use the switch to select which battery is in service (for both functions) but to take the alternator output directly to No1 battery, connect the vsr up to both batteries and to an optional "combining" switch as shown (badly) on their diagram. The down side of this is that there is no isolation between the batteries and alternator (at least No 1 battery and alternator).

 

[halcyon]

From above post Mick only wants to change minimum parts. This layout allows to use his selected relay, keep his 12 & both switch, and only needing to buy a single isloator.
The engine ( and alternator ) runs from postion 1, but can be used on 2 to start from service battery, or both to charge service bank if VSR fails. The service is supplied from the service bank, reserving the other battery for engine use only. If you can supply service from the engine battery you do not need to fit a VSR, just keep the 12 & both switch. I think the above is close to Mick's requirement.

The diagram is our simple very basic system, that is bi-drectional. This allows the solar panel on the service battery to charge the engine battery at high voltage levels. The down side is that the relay can be engaged when the owner starts the engine, the orange wire monitors the engine start and drops out the relay. This avoids load on the charge circuit, and spikes on the service side.

Brian

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
the orange wire monitors the engine start and drops out the relay.

[/ QUOTE ] Thanks.

The orange wire then applies to the device you supply not the one Mick is looking at. That also appears to distinguish between primary and secondary battery requiring the supply from the alternator to go to the right one (primary) always.

Just realised that the optional combining swich will not necessary, the "both" position takes care of that !

I dont like your suggestion but i dont like mine either.
Bin the 12off both switch and fit separate isolators and a combining switch is the way to go I reckon. The device mike is looking at is neat in that it only needs a light switch to do the combining rather than a heavy duty one .