On Board charging system question

[rudolph_hart]

When the on board shore-power battery charging unit failed a couple of years ago, I replaced it with a Dolphin unit from Merlin, and simply connected the existing input and output wiring to it.

It now appears that the boat's original wiring to the on board charger serves only the two domestic batteries - not the engine starting battery.

Is there a good reason for this?

The Dolphin unit has two outputs (for two battery banks). Is there any reason why I should not wire the engine starting battery to the second output?

 

[fireball]

None that I can think of ... if your two domestic batteries are connected in parallel then they will be charged by one output of the dolphin unit. The second output should be able to charge the engine battery ...

 

[alan]

Maybe you should check the manual first. The manual for my charger (not Dolphin) states which output should be for the engine battery and which for the domestic. ..................... don't know why!!!!

Alan.

 

[MoodySabre]

Perhaps it prioritises the starter battery.

 

[alan]

Could be!!

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
The Dolphin unit has two outputs (for two battery banks

[/ QUOTE ] The instructions do indicate which ouput should be used for the services battery and which for the starter battery.

If you have mislaid, lost or thrown away the instructions they can be down loaded from Powerstore

 

[rudolph_hart]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

After discussing the matter with experts in my local 'centre of excellence' (Blue Boar - Harness Bar), it seems I may have to dig a bit deeper into the matter (i.e. into the most inaccesible part of the boat) to check that there is not a charge splitting device hidden away, and if so, that this has not failed and routed all charging away from the the engine battery.