SD - from a charge perspective the start and
windlass are on the same bank because they are interconnected to the same alternator.
They are seperate inasmuch as the
windlass battery only powers the
windlass, there are no HD cables coming back to the rest of the system. If the start battery were to be flat and an attempt to start would be made, the high demand required would be requested from the
windlass battery down the charge
lines hence the temp-sensitive coupling which then takes the
windlass battery temporarily out of the circuit (it re-estalishes the circuit when it cools down). Does that make sense?
The start battery can be brought into the house bank a vice versa with the 1-ALL-2 switch but this would not include the
windlass battery.
The Link 20 battery manager recognises only two banks and by process of elimination I determined that the start and
windlass are seen as one and the same. I reckon in this sitution, an echo charger as you recommend is probably the best choice.
As far as the charge rate is concerned, the Xantrex mains charger that I have has temp sensors on each battery and will charge at a full bulk rate until 95% of capacity unless any one of the batteries gets too warm. Then it will shake out only that battery bank and continue charging the rest. I suppose I was hoping achieve this with a charge manager of some sort on the
alternators.
Andre