[C320-list] Starting Battery Question

[crashley at gte.net]

I guess I didn't understand what a "combiner" is. I was thinking it was the 
battery switch but obviously it is something different, and more complex. My 
shore power charger does have separate outputs so charging from ac power 
should not be a problem for the two different battery sizes (although the 
programmable "absorbtion" period would have to be the same, which is 
probably okay if they are the same lead-acid battery technology). As Pete 
pointed out in previous response, the starting battery should hold charge 
for quite some time even if not being charged from the alternator. I will 
probably configure as Pete suggests and make the 2 parallel 4Ds my "battery 
1" and use it for starting and house power unless it's dead in which case I 
would switch to the "battery 2" starting battery. Thanks for the 
clarification.

CRA
Rosebus #882

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jonvez at comcast.net>
To: "C320-List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Starting Battery Question


> 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
>>
>