Balmar Digital Duo Charge

Very true. Seems like the AGMs/gells are more likely to be house batteries on a boat to avoid poison gas from acid leakage.

Maybe alternators capable of supporting AGMs are common in the marine world?

Jim

HiTech wrote:
I don't know squat about marine systems, but the way they show it would charge up your house batteries faster (direct wired to alternator output) than the other way around. My guess is that is what they are going for.

Jim

True...

I just wondered why all the different battery charging profiles were deemed necessary for the voltage sent to the starting battery, which is not likely to be a GEL or AGM type.

The protection of AGM batteries, installed downstream from the normal house batteries, in an otherwise non-sophisticated charging and operating environment, may have some value, but they don't emphasize that. Or even state that's it's a possible implementation option.

I don't know squat about marine systems, but the way they show it would charge up your house batteries faster (direct wired to alternator output) than the other way around. My guess is that is what they are going for.

Jim

HiTech wrote:

It is handy when you have two banks with very different charging needs, like flooded deep cycle in one and gel in another. It also has temperature compensation (as an option) which is awesome.

It's cheaper though to have the two banks be similar enough in charging requirements that the same charging technology can be used on both. Then the much less expensive solutions work almost as well as this one.

Jim

Jim, I understand all that. My confusion is WHY does the Manufacturer and Marketer ONLY show the output (which is the only regulated portion) connected to the STARTING battery.

The first battery bank (the house batteries) are left to the mercy of the alternator output.

Shouldn't it be the other way around?

PS - I know you could hook it up as you want (reverse), but it seems to me they are missing sales by not being able to show the average joe all it's potential. still confused.

OnaQuest wrote:
Would like an assessment, from the tech types here, of this product and it's applicability and usefulness in the RV (motorhome/trailer)environment.

Here is a LINK to it's description from one supplier. The description page also contains a LINK to the product manual for more information.

I'm totally confused about it's value considering the way they insist it needs to be installed. What am I missing?

It is handy when you have two banks with very different charging needs, like flooded deep cycle in one and gel in another. It also has temperature compensation (as an option) which is awesome.

It's cheaper though to have the two banks be similar enough in charging requirements that the same charging technology can be used on both. Then the much less expensive solutions work almost as well as this one.

Jim