Make alternator charge house battery better
Would this charge house battery better? Run a new heavy alternator wire to house battery first and use existing wire that goes from chassis battery to isolator to converter to house battery to charge ...
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I would not use a "Electronic Isolator" at all! They will fail, and they always have a 1-2 volt drop across the diode too, so neither battery will charge right.
You are much better off with a 100 amp relay to connect the house battery to the chassis battery bank. Better yet, install a #4 wire from the alternator output to the coach battery via a 100 amp relay.
The relay is Grainger.com part #6C017 and rated for forklift use, with silver alloy contacts, rated for 100 amps on and off 100,000 times before failure.
Then the alternator to stock wiring with #6 wire will charge the engine battery, and the new #4 wire will charge the coach batteries effectively!
Better yet, spend the $400 and install 300 watts of solar panels, and it will keep the coach batteries full most of the time, and the alternator will not need to do the work to recharge the coach batteries.
SunElec.com They sell panels for close to $1 per rated watt!
I built my own panel mounts out of 6" long 2" angle aluminum, with 3 holes 3/16" for #10 screws into the roof, and 5/16" hole for a 1/4- 20" bolt into the solar panel frame.
I ran the power from the panels to the controller with #10 UV rated romex, (home Depot). Though the refrigerator vent into the closet next to my refrigerator.
Good luck!
Fred.
You are much better off with a 100 amp relay to connect the house battery to the chassis battery bank. Better yet, install a #4 wire from the alternator output to the coach battery via a 100 amp relay.
The relay is Grainger.com part #6C017 and rated for forklift use, with silver alloy contacts, rated for 100 amps on and off 100,000 times before failure.
Then the alternator to stock wiring with #6 wire will charge the engine battery, and the new #4 wire will charge the coach batteries effectively!
Better yet, spend the $400 and install 300 watts of solar panels, and it will keep the coach batteries full most of the time, and the alternator will not need to do the work to recharge the coach batteries.
SunElec.com They sell panels for close to $1 per rated watt!
I built my own panel mounts out of 6" long 2" angle aluminum, with 3 holes 3/16" for #10 screws into the roof, and 5/16" hole for a 1/4- 20" bolt into the solar panel frame.
I ran the power from the panels to the controller with #10 UV rated romex, (home Depot). Though the refrigerator vent into the closet next to my refrigerator.
Good luck!
Fred.
