Improved Battery (Bank) Handling

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by SEMIJim

Okay: Nobody seems to see any down-sides to my design, so I think this is the way I'll go.

Thanks, everybody, for your review and comments.

Jim

Jim,

If you've looked at my previous post link, you'll see the wiring diagram using these two switches. Not much "reinventing the wheel" to do for ya.

Good luck, I think you've found something that will work for you.

Whether you choose to do the switch positions or battery numbering schemes, I encourage you to do a wiring diagram so whatever you do is understandable and recorded. Once you draw it up, I think you'll find the switch position idea isn't so good, logic should apply.

[SEMIJim]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Jim,

If you've looked at my previous post link, you'll see the wiring diagram using these two switches. Not much "reinventing the wheel" to do for ya.

That design is one way to go-about it, but not how I'd do it.

I see little need to ever run the house load from the starting battery. In fact: One of my design goals all along was to prevent the house load from running-down the start battery.

My design will have the house load on the On/Off switch.

The 1-both-2 switch will have its common on the starting circuit, "1" to the house batteries , "2" to the starting battery.

Normal operation will be the house switch On/1, the starting circuit switch on "2"

If my starting battery dies, move the starting circuit switch to "1," to start off the house bank.

If my Echo Charge dies, move the starting circuit switch to "both," combining start battery and house bank, if desired.

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Good luck, I think you've found something that will work for you.

Thanks. I think so.

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Whether you choose to do the switch positions or battery numbering schemes, I encourage you to do a wiring diagram so whatever you do is understandable and recorded.

I will document it, for potential subsequent owners.

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Once you draw it up, I think you'll find the switch position idea isn't so good, logic should apply.

I can have either both of them on "1" for normal operation (switches moved in opposite directions from one another) or house to "1" and starting to "2." Either one is logical. The question was: Which seems more logical? I could do a poll , but I'm thinkin' the results might end up pretty evenly split.

To me, just reaching over and turning them on/off, I would think identical mechanical operations for both would be more logical. Ideally the 4-position switch would've had "1" clockwise from "off" and "2" anti-clockwise. But they didn't, so I must make a choice.

Maybe I'll do that poll, after all

Jim