Parallel switch

[garyd]

I recently had a battery problem. Used the battery Parallel switch to start engine, worked great. I was thinking of adding a seperate generator battery and then wiring a battery parallel switch so the generator battery could parallel with either the house or starting batteries.

Has anyone tried this before?

 

[Traveler 45C]

That is the way Traveler is set up. I’m able to parallel the genny battery with the cranking bank.

Redundancy is a good thing!

 

[garyd]

Did you set this up? I was thinking of using a Hat parrellel solenoid and switch from the bridge.

 

[Genesis]

Be aware that a genset battery won't roll over a main, unless the battery is one of the AGMs - then it will and this is viable, although somewhat risky.

Better is to use the genset to CHARGE the main batteries. Use a combiner between the genset battery and the house or starting bank. Now you have BOTH your charger AND the alternator on the genset once you get it started.

The first order of business with flat batteries is to get SOME engine running. The easiest one to start is the generator, therefore, that should be the priority. Once you have ONE engine running you have charging capability, which will solve the other problem(s), given a bit of time.

If you flatten a genset battery trying to start a main now you have NO engines you can start and are screwed.

 

[Traveler 45C]

Gary,

No. The original blue prints show the genny getting cranking power from the Stbd. battery bank. A previous owner installed a separate battery to start the genny and a battery switch to parallel the new genny battery with the Stbd. bank.