question

philip-coupar avatar image
philip-coupar asked

What would be the best configuration for 2 starter batteries and 4 house batteries.

Everything is 12v, I have two starter batteries, one for each engine charging from an alternator on each engine. Also a bank of 4 deep discharge batteries for house. Each starter battery is connected to house via 1/2/Both switches. Charge sources are shore power via charger, solar trickle feeding with no controller, and the two alternators.

Ideally I would like to know the state of each individual battery.

setup
2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

1 Answer
Kevin Windrem avatar image
Kevin Windrem answered ·

Best: do away with the 1/2/both battery switch. Each starter battery/alternator is isolated from each other and the house bank. All 4 house batteries connected in parallel. Each starter battery feeds the house bank via its own DC-DC charger.

Each battery bank can be fitted with its own battery monitor.

Add a solar charge controller for the solar panels. Don't connect them directly to any battery bank.

If you need a connection between house bank and starter battery for emergency, then a second DC-DC charger can be set up to feed the other way.

2 |3000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Related Resources

Additional resources still need to be added for this topic