[C320-list] Starting Battery Question

[jonvez at comcast.net]

Warren,

You may be correct. I may have misunderstood the question.....I thought the question pertained to how to charge both sets of batteries with one charging source and didn't realize CRA meant combining the 2 batteries (using BOTH).....

 I do use a combiner just as you suggest. I actually used it at the Battery switch and simply combined "1" and "2" via the terminals on the back of the 1/2/Both--With this setup, by batteries (starter and parallel house) get charged via the alternator regardless of whether the battery poisiton is in 1 or 2 when motoring (Setting to Both has the same effect obviously). When on Shore Power, I have never had any problem--My combiner is rated for 50a and my shore power charger is a xantrex T20. 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com> 

> In reading the two messages from CRA and Jon Vez's response it seems they may be 
> talking about two different things. CRA says, "the existing battery combiner 
> switch it will parallel the 4Ds and the new smaller starting battery (in the 
> "all" position);" and Jon says, "the Combiner does parallel/cut the two 
> dissimilar banks." The former, I believe, refers to the main battery switch, 
> Off-1-Both-2, and the latter to an electronic device known as a "combiner" that 
> is placed in-line between two battery banks and which, "combiner takes care of 
> charging/disconnecting my starter from my paralled house bank of 2 4D's 
> (automatically)...Jon. 
> 
> A "combiner" should sense the presence of a charging votalge and connect the two 
> banks. When the voltage drops below a set value, the banks are disconnected. 
> Some combiners allow setting the make and break voltage. The combiner should 
> also detect when the two banks are at greatly different states of charge and 
> operate to prevent an onrush of current, as well as protect from excessive 
> voltage from a charging source. 
> 
> A combiner is a suitable solution when a charging source (altenator) is 
> connected to only one of two banks. If there is a shore powered charger with 
> connection to both banks, be sure the combiner is able to handle this situation. 
> 
> Warren & Pattie Updike 
> C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar" 
> Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River 
> Chesapeake Bay 
>