[sailingdog]

Is this Xantrex a charger or a charger/inverter? If it is a charger, it can't run the inverter... If it is a charger/inverter, how can it supply energy to the inverter side without taking it from the batteries, unless you're plugged into shorepower.

What you need is two separate charge controllers, since you can't have one for both alternators IMHO, without causing yourself some problems. How large are the alternators?? Are the connected to two different battery banks? Are any of the banks connected to a battery combiner or echo charger???

Originally Posted by Omatako

There is another similar thread running but I didn't want to hi-jack it so here we go again.

I have a Xantrex smart charger powered off shorepower. It's a neat piece of kit capable of managing 3 banks in 3 distinctly different charge regimes and also properly manages up to 3 different battery types (wet cell, gel, AGM, whatever). It not only charges the assorted batteries in the boat but to also runs the inverter when appropriate without taking energy from the battery banks (don't ask me why I need this ). It works fine so problem. This the charger and I have the 50A 12V unit.

XC Battery Chargers - 12V & 24V

What I need now is a charge controller that can make the same sense out of my two alternators when I'm away from shore power.

Any recommendations that won't scare my bank manager (the one above did)?

Andre