Updated question - can I connect the battery charger to this?

[Colvic Watson]

This isolator receives charge from the alternator and sends it to the house bank, starter and thruster batteries. To save having three chargers and because the thruster battery is otherwise always left depleted after arriving in the marina, I wanted to connect the charger to it. The data sheet says it's fine to connect a charger but an alternator and a charger? My worry is that I will quite often start the engine with shore power connected and so the charger will running, no way will I always remember to switch it off - I just need to reassure myself that that won't damage the alternator connected to the same stud? I'm assuming not because often alternators and battery chargers are often connected to the same battery terminal and chargers are often left on when the engine has started?

Apologies to the helpful posters on my earlier thread where I'd called it the wrong thing


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data sheet: http://www.es-store.co.uk/user/uploads/Datasheet%20-%20Argo%20Fet%20Battery%20Isolators%20with%20alternator%20energize%20input%20-%20rev%2001%20-%20EN.pdf

 

[pvb]

As you say, alternators and battery chargers are often connected via the battery without problems, so you shouldn't have any problems connecting your charger to the Argofet splitter.

 

[pampas]

Similar to mine (But a different make) not had any problems, but I never start engine with charger ON. If you do you might find the alt. regulator becomes confused meeting the higher than expected battery voltage.

 

[pvb]

Similar to mine (But a different make) not had any problems, but I never start engine with charger ON. If you do you might find the alt. regulator becomes confused meeting the higher than expected battery voltage.

It won't confuse the alternator.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Thanks - I'll connect it, it's a much better arrangement than I have now.

 

[davidwf]

Make sure the charger's negative output is connected directly to all the batteries, the -ve connection on the FET is not capable of carrying high currents.

If main issue is that you want to charge the bow thruster battery have a look at http://www.shop.sterling-power.com/acatalog/B2B.pdf this is the elegant solution.

 

[nigelmercier]

Apologies to the helpful posters on my earlier thread where I'd called it the wrong thing

We figured it out, so the answers are the same, it will be fine.