Mobilesport said:
@ SternWake
I'm thinking of getting rid of that battery separator to simplify my wiring.
My plan is to rewire and replumb my van and make it basic and as simplified as I can but still give
me everything I need.
After you hooked me up with the battery chargers I feel I don't need the separator because I
don't drive much at all but I do idle frequently in the winter.
I find that that separator gets in my way alot of times.
For example ::: if I'm in a charging session with my Genset and high amp output charger and
I decide I want to drive a 1/4 of a mile to a store or somewhere I have to stop my genset charging before
I start my engine or else I would have the alternator output conflicting with the battery charger output.
Also sometimes in the winter I want to start the Genset & charge and plus idle van at the
same time so I can get my front and rear heater cores to assist my propane furnace to
get the interior extremely toasty warm and then I shut down van and continue to charge from
Genset and heat from furnace.
That battery separator gets in my way of doing this because I can't charge from the Genset and
and run the van at the same time (again alternator would be conflicting with
my battery charger output..
More reasons I want it gone.
The biggest reason is to simplify my wiring and be able to run my genset & charger and
the van at the same time....
Also:
Loads down alternator , sometimes belt squeal.
I want to get rid if chassis ground and run automotive zip cord instead.
I now have the solonoid inside my battery box , I'm concerned it may spark , may not
be a issue with the sure power 1314a , idk.
I drive very little.
I sometimes idle frequently and so I'm concerned about
underhood temps.
Reduces my mpg
It screws up my voltmeter reading because if my batteries are at rest I have the
correct voltmeter reading but if I decide to drive a very short distance now my
voltmeter is reading a false surface charge and it ain't like I even got much
charging from my alternator in such a short drive.
I think there's more that I can't think of right now.
This isn't my final drawing but the final drawing will be half as
complicated looking as this picture because all of the grounds will run
along the positive wires (zipcord)
I would NOT get rid of the Surepower separator. Your worriea about the vehicles voltage regulator and the Charging sources voltage regulator are unfounded, just bump the meanwell opr powermax voltage higher.
Perhaps put a Manual switch on the line from the alternator for those times you want to run the engine And the generator at the same time.
Unless you can feel the surepower solenoid switching on and off repeatedly when both are running, i would not even bother with the switch.
You should not be putting so much faith in a voltmeter anyway. They Lie anytime a charging source ot load has been present.
Not sure what you mean about chassis ground and zip cord, the purpose or intent.
Pretty sure the surepower solenoid is hermetically sealed. They say to mount it away from engine heat close to main battery bank. If it sparked they would say to mount it away from the batteries.
Squealing belts with depleted batteries, well that could be defeted by the manual switch, But they should only squeal when cold and damp and at higher rpms. I used to just idle a bit longer until warmer and no squealing.
I just think it unwise to remove a charging source when you need all the charging sources you can muster. I'd only disconnect ethe surepower if it was switching on and off rapidly, and looking at the sata sheets it says it has a delay programmed in for temporary voltage fluctuations.
I'd much prefer a Dumb solenoid. On those you can simply add a switch on the trigger circuit, but I hate automatic anything relating to battery charging
I am sure you could sell the Surepower in the classifieds here and buy a high quality continuous duty solenoid for no loss. Just put an illuminated switch inline on the trigger circuit. Belt squealing, flip switch off. Do not want alternator feeding house battery, flip switch off.
