Competing Battery Chargers

[Diver]

Been searching the forum and trying to get a clear understanding of electrical system. There is a plethora of information on batteries, charging and usage. I am a new to me owner of a 2010 R25SC. Previous owners have done some modifications so I'm figuring out what will be best my usage. In my case the House and Thruster batteries have been combined. Used the boat for five plus weeks this summer and has worked fine. No problems with electronics voltage drops when using thrusters or windless. I am however trying to figure out some of the voltage readings I am seeing at the batteries. As most will agree charging profiles are critical for long battery life. Boat is equipped with Yanmar diesel, Solar and Mase Genset.
The boat has the following;
1) 4 Northstar AGM Deep cycle batteries
2) ProTournament Elite Quad charger (Using HP AGM2 charge profile setting, directly connected to all for batteries individually)
3) Solar Panel using Morningstar SunSaver Duo controller. (Reprogrammed custom charge profile)
4) New alternator (plan on converting to external charge controller for charge profile). (Excellent price on NEW alternator Not Rebuilt, $300 delivered from Norway in three days as opposed from Yanmar $1200 and who knows when)

So here is my questions;
1) Charging profiles are critical for long battery life. Both the battery charger and solar charger are wired directly to the batteries bypassing the battery switches. I believe this is how original configuration was done regardless of the charger. So when you are on shore power or running charger off the Genset you have two charging inputs (charger and solar) at the same time. Shouldn't solar be disable while running battery charger?
2) Basically my same question when running under engine power (alternator charging)?
3) Can solar charging affect ACR decision making (high voltage due to solar but batteries not really fully charged)?

Thanks for any enlightening input!

 

[Red Raven]

1) No issue with both shore battery charger and solar charging simultaneously. The solar controller will add additional charge current (depending on sun conditions) until the batteries are fully charged.

2) Same as above. Both work together simultaneously to charge the batteries.

3) The ACRs do not operate based on “full” charge. They will close (combine) whenever they see a charge voltage (from any source) on either battery for sufficient time.

I hope this helps.

Curt

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i will add that I used to get an occasional over volt error on an additional battery monitor for the house batteries. I deduced it was the sunsaver and the promariner not reacting fast enough with each other. Since I moved to a victron solar charger this problem hasn't occurred. the sunsaver is pretty low tech.