Splitting my wind gen between the house and engine batteries.

[landonshaw]

Now that I got one problem resolved, I need to start on another.
I have two alternators one for the engine, one goes to the house batteries. My wind gen and solar are hooked up to the house battery bank.

The switches for the batteries are separate and one system does not feed the other. Recently I had to use jumper cables to go from the house to the engine to get it started. The engine batteries went low due to a bad alternator.

Is there a reason that I shouldn't wire the wind gen so that I can have it charging the house, and when I want switch it over to the engine battery bank. The wind generator has an internal regulator so if all is working properly, it will not over charge the batteries.

Suggestions


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[Privilege]

Your easiest solution is to install a Voltage Sensitive Relay like this one...




The logic behind the VSR is very simple. When one battery goes above 13.7 volts (the engine or your solar or wind gen is charging the battery), the VSR completes the connection between the two batteries and allows the system to charge both batteries. When the system goes below 12.8 volts (the batteries are no longer receiving charging current), the VSR opens the connection between the two batteries and keeps them separate.

They are pretty cheap to buy, easy to install and maintenance free.

[Sailmonkey]

Leave everything on the house bank and install an echo charger or a vsr. Either one I those allows for automatic carefree battery care.


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[landonshaw]

Thank you! I will look into this and bring back to the island my next trip north.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by landonshaw

Now that I got one problem resolved, I need to start on another.
I have two alternators one for the engine, one goes to the house batteries. My wind gen and solar are hooked up to the house battery bank.

The switches for the batteries are separate and one system does not feed the other. Recently I had to use jumper cables to go from the house to the engine to get it started. The engine batteries went low due to a bad alternator.

Is there a reason that I shouldn't wire the wind gen so that I can have it charging the house, and when I want switch it over to the engine battery bank. The wind generator has an internal regulator so if all is working properly, it will not over charge the batteries.

Suggestions


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For liveaboard with refrigeration, your house bank will need far, far, far more charging than the starter.

I would connect both alternators to the house bank, and install an ACR or echo charger to charge the starter battery.

There is no way to eliminate all risk of a failure causing a battery to discharge completely, so keeping a battery booster pack aboard (esp. the small lithium ion ones) isn't a bad idea.

[Cadence]

I'm low tech.. I think a single pole double throw switch would serve you well.

[landonshaw]

I am going to look into the VSR system but until I get back to the States, I will set up a switching system. I am also low tech. We live on the boat a few months each year and the steady wind and sun here keep everything charged. I am interested in charging the engine batteries without having to run the engine so the switch might be all we need for now. good to know alternatives.

[Stu Jackson]

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams

This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring: The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)
1/BOTH/2/OFF Switches Thoughts & Musings | SailboatOwners.com Forums

[Tikka]

Solution can be simple as mine, there are many reasons I your case
don't hard wired through switch or put more hi- tech electronic.
I connect /through switch / 10 amps Schottky diode, voltage drop
about 0.3 volts is guarantee the house bat. gets priority and keep
the other betteries up to scratch. I have actually connected one more bat.
of course simple Schottky diode is bull proof cheap solution,