grizzzman wrote:
wolfe10 wrote:
NO, you do not want to interrupt alternator B+ to battery-- you will blow diodes in the alternator if it "charges an open circuit".
There are some very simple solutions to your issue. The simplest is a Marine manual ON-OFF switch.
Alternator B+ and chassis battery to one lug and house bank to the other lug.
So, when you drive:
Switch off: chassis battery charged, house bank not charged.
Switch on: both banks charged. Can also be used to "combine" batteries for starting. But, if dry camping, it if left on, would discharge both banks!
Here is a common switch:http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEACHOICE-PERKO-MARINE-MAIN-BATTERY-DISCONNECT-SWITCH-ON-OFF-11551-/231715714054?hash=item35f3553406:m:mBUmc0K8QfB1Ob07kh36phw&vxp=mtr
As long as there is a engine battery that stays hooked up it will not hurt a thing to disconnect the coach batteries.
Correct. But, from OP's statement below it is not clear where he wanted to interrupt the B+ to battery feed. Both of us are saying the same thing-- ONE battery bank must stay in the circuit.
He said: ", I'm thinking of putting a switch on the positive chargeline running from the alternator back to the batteries..."
And, the how to achieve this depends on whether he has a solenoid based isolator (easy to do by interrupting ignition hot signal) or diode based isolator which would be more complicated.
