Victron ARGOFET battery isolator and new battery wiring

[yotter]

We are moving the batteries on a 1964 wooden boat from under the cockpit floor to a side locker, easier access and drier. In the process I am considering a new battery isolater/doide. The boat currently has a split doide and also a dreaded 1/2/both/off switch, which we will probably replace with 2 on/off switches for house and engine batteries I like the Victron ARGOFET since it seems to have a very low voltage drop see below.
Victron Energy Argo FET 100-2 battery isolator allows simultaneous charging of multiple batteries without connecting them together. This means that if you were to discharge one battery then it will not affect any other batteries, such as the starter battery. Usually adding a split charger will result in a big loss of voltage, however the voltage drop in Victron Argo FET isolators is less than 0.02 Volts at low current and only around 0.1 Volts at higher currents.


Some alternators require DC voltage on the B+ output to provide charge to the batteries and usually a diode or FET splitter will stop any voltage returning to the alternator, however this Argo FET isolator will give a special limited input to power the B+ when the engine run / stop switch is closed.

We also have a fault with the alternator/charging. The engine is a VP2010 with a standard 60A alternator. After it starts, there is no output from the alternator until we provide a 12V feed to the B+ terminal (don't ask how). This ARGOFET claims to solve this issue. We would probably go for the 100A 2 output model, around £97 from ASAP. Any advise/pointers/suggestions appreciated.

We are not changing our anchor:-(

 

[Beneteau381]

We are moving the batteries on a 1964 wooden boat from under the cockpit floor to a side locker, easier access and drier. In the process I am considering a new battery isolater/doide. The boat currently has a split doide and also a dreaded 1/2/both/off switch, which we will probably replace with 2 on/off switches for house and engine batteries I like the Victron ARGOFET since it seems to have a very low voltage drop see below.
Victron Energy Argo FET 100-2 battery isolator allows simultaneous charging of multiple batteries without connecting them together. This means that if you were to discharge one battery then it will not affect any other batteries, such as the starter battery. Usually adding a split charger will result in a big loss of voltage, however the voltage drop in Victron Argo FET isolators is less than 0.02 Volts at low current and only around 0.1 Volts at higher currents.
View attachment 129549

Some alternators require DC voltage on the B+ output to provide charge to the batteries and usually a diode or FET splitter will stop any voltage returning to the alternator, however this Argo FET isolator will give a special limited input to power the B+ when the engine run / stop switch is closed.

We also have a fault with the alternator/charging. The engine is a VP2010 with a standard 60A alternator. After it starts, there is no output from the alternator until we provide a 12V feed to the B+ terminal (don't ask how). This ARGOFET claims to solve this issue. We would probably go for the 100A 2 output model, around £97 from ASAP. Any advise/pointers/suggestions appreciated.

We are not changing our anchor:-(

A100amp output alternator would probably stop your engine on tickover on a cold day

 

[jwfrary]

You might find a vsr a little easier to wire up.

The victron cyrix is pretty cheap and effective also with 0 volt drop.

Argo fet is a good bit of kit, but it's also a little more involved wiring wise, something probobly not akin to the likely quite simple system on your yacht.

Do take time to appropriately fuse all the cabling this is something that's often overlooked with alternator split charge systems

 

[PaulRainbow]

We also have a fault with the alternator/charging. The engine is a VP2010 with a standard 60A alternator. After it starts, there is no output from the alternator until we provide a 12V feed to the B+ terminal (don't ask how). This ARGOFET claims to solve this issue. We would probably go for the 100A 2 output model, around £97 from ASAP. Any advise/pointers/suggestions appreciated.

We are not changing our anchor:-(

Yes, it will solve the issue you have with the diode. The wiring from the diode should transfer over to the Argofet, just add an additional negative connection and the one to energise the alternator.

 

[yotter]

Paul,
Many thanks, a little expensive but I think we will go for the Victron ARGOFET.
Angus

 

[yotter]

A100amp output alternator would probably stop your engine on tickover on a cold day

We are keeping the standard 60A alternator, its the diode that has a max capacity of 100A.
Angus