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Re: [GMCnet] Isolater vs Alternator [message #326704 is a reply to message #326699] Sun, 03 December 2017 18:06 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Senior Member
johnd01 wrote on Sun, 03 December 2017 17:39
Does a combiner tie both battery sets together when it starts to charge? If
so how do you avoid using the charged battery to charge the discharged battery?
I would think the isolator even if you went to 400 amps would be a better deal as long as you use a remote sense alternator. There is a 400 amp fullwave bride on eBay for less than $30 and the $150 amp is less than $10.
What am I missing about a combiner?
--
*John Phillips*

John,

Nothing.

But you still need to buy a heat sink for either of those bridges.

I had a VHF service call from a vessel that had a Volvo engine with an electric run solenoid on the injection pump. Overnight, the house bank crashed.
Problem:
Could not start the generator on the house bank.
The main engine would start just fine. And run for ~30 seconds and shut down. Now he was getting very nervous because the main engine battery was getting weak....
I had recently redone the system with a combiner by the owner's choice.
I had him do a number of checks with the little red Hazard Fright meter I had left with him. When he said that he measured the house bank at 8.5, I had him disconnect the bank at the house bank junction. (Bank was 2 ea 4D one of which was smoking - literally and fuse between them was gone.)
Then he could start the main engine and have it stay and make for the mainland to get at least one new battery.

By all rights, and according to Anne-Marie, the combiner should have dropped out before the main engine shut down. I think the hysteresis in the system was actually a good thing.

This story goes on to a happy (but not inexpensive) ending.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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