Relays better than diodes for split charging?

[cimo]

"Do you keep a YTS'er in the bilges with a multimeter? "

YTS = Youth Training Scheme ie an underpaid (unpaid?) youngster desperate for a proper job.

Ah! I see. could be onto something there?. one hand working the meter and the other on the selector switch. Probably better to just install a VSR and (keep the bilges clear).

 

[cimo]

Moving charging sources of any type OFF the C post of the 1-2-B switch and to the batteries is now the preferred way.

incomplete sentence Stu. prefered by whom?

 

[halcyon]

The switch has nothing to do with it, it is how the charging source is wired. Moving charging sources of any type OFF the C post of the 1-2-B switch and to the batteries is now the preferred way. That way you leave the sdwitch off when you're not there, and only use the switch for battery bank output choice. .

Is it the prefered ?

Why did we go for two battery banks and a VSR back in 1980 ? instead the single battery bank.

1 ) maintaining engine power supply security, by having the engine perminantly connected to the engine battery. You have minimum connection, thus minimum failure points. Also you avoid volt drop in the diodes, and lose of engine battery charge if a diode fails.

2 ) avoid starting problems with a low service battery volts do to domestic use.

3 ) also, and importantly, a clean power supply for electronic equipment. Starting of the same bank as your electronic equipment is not good, spikes and low voltage.

4 ) It means the boat builder does not have to alter engine looms.

5 ) simple operation less agro to boat builder, two on/off switches, fixed supply source, having now spent over 30 years on charging boat batteries, if an owner can get it wrong, one will get it wrong.

6 ) flexibility, we can control the system operation to suit charging source.

7 ) the system can cover multiple engine and battery banks, i.e.

1985 we had the P5000 system, twin engines, three battery banks,

Engines charged there engine battery, then both would charge the service bank, if an alternator failed, the system would roll over to charge the battery with the faulty alternator.

With the mains charger on, it would charge the service battery, on completion of charge (14.2/3 volt ) it bought in the relays to charge the engine batteries, then drop down to 13.6 volt float. Avoiding running engine batteries at high high voltage, while charging the service battery. With the mains charger on, if you started an engine, it dropped out the relay to protect the charge cabling, and maintain a clean service battery supply.

It is horses for courses, if you have a little system and it suits you, fine, stick the alternator output were you want it.

But on the other hand, you want a clean supply for electonics, you need to split engine starting from your power supply.

To the boat builder a single VSR system can supply a complex installation, giving charging both ways, link start, pick up voltage and amps, provide low volt power reserve, relays interlocked to starter motor, for upto 2 engines and four battery banks. One unit, a few power cables and they have finished, simple, cheap, fast through-put

But the bottom line is diodes are a pain, what ever you do with them, they will use up alternator output that does not go into your batteries.

Brian

 

[mcframe]

Ah! I see. could be onto something there?. one hand working the meter and the other on the selector switch. Probably better to just install a VSR and (keep the bilges clear).

Good point - you wouldn't want your electric-monitoring SmallBoy to get in the way of your BilgeMonitoring SmallBoy, would you?

The expression my mother (Err, probably cash-rich *and* time-rich now) uses is "GALMI" - as in "The upstairs electrics packed in and rather than fix it myself, I just Got A Little Man In and went for lunch with my friends"

(Yes, Vic&Stu, I considered two solar panels, but given that I ceremonially prove I can hand crank the engine, once a year, that seemed like overkill.)