Heaven sent! I wish I watched this before I wasted the weekend watching do-it-yourselfers and still not getting it. This was professional and fully comprehensive. Thank you
I watched this two years ago and knew this was solid information. Most of it however; went over my head. Here I am two years later, and through my own trials and tribulations can fully attest, this is good solid info.
Thorough, excellent and clear and to the point! Answered my questions to set up my boat systems with a new mechman high output alternator and clarified the options beautifully. You give us the information to make our own choices given our personal resources and goals, thanks so much.
I have my start battery/alternator connected to my house battery through an old solar charger, which is enabled with a relay from the car key, this was the most reliable/cheaper solution I found. great tutorial well done
I've been looking for a very simple yet informative explanation like this for my whole entire DIY life. Thank you very very much, you just saved me from wasting time and money trying to find a solution for my current DIY project
Such a great message to receive! I am glad to hear the video was helpful for you. A great name you have by the way. South-Eastern Africa? Malawi/Zambia? All the best, Jesse.
I simply added another alternator! One for charging the house (camper) battery and another alternator for charging the truck battery. It has been working on my camper with the usual repairs and battery replacements. The two systems are completely independent from the other. I have lived in it for 38 years. I am also independent.
Hi Bud, thanks for sharing your story. Great setup! Yep, two completely independent systems gets you great reliability and efficiency. Well done! All the best, Jesse.
bud irving - Where did you connect the 2nd alternator? I'm trying to understand some of this, I'm a 63 yr old gramma here, so please be patient, as I don't know what the alternator in connected to.. : ) I'm considering using an inverter in my little pickup on a cross country road trip. It says to use it with a deep cycle battery, so I had to look up "how to charge deep cycle battery" and it brought me here haha. Anyway, is this something a car mechanic would know how to do? Thanks.
@@annwithaplan9766 hopefully you had an answer. A simple 400w inverter that you plug into a cigarette lighter is great for most needs. You cannot cook with a hot plate of course
In event of a dead starter battery, I like having a jump box in my glove compartment. It works for other cars I encounter who have killed their starter battery at a campground and those campers are so grateful. I haven’t ended up with a dead starter battery since I (1.) attach a plug in battery charger to my starter battery while I am packing the car to be sure it is fully topped off before we start the trip (especially because during packing the doors and hatch are being left open a lot) and (2.) I put a carabiner into the rear hatch latch while we have it open at the campsite to fool the car’s computer into thinking the hatch is closed and latched. Even with the interior lights switched off, if the computer stays awake over a day or two it drains the battery (as we have proven!)
Nice going, well explained. One more option for campers and boats. At the second option ( smart switch) with a addon PV panel ( solar ) you may work out that the engine generator dose the bulk 14.4 what will result in 13.8 volt steady charge , the PV may work the float for the deadcycle battery. Obviously the PV is directly attached to the house deep cycle
Great information. I have one question. If I am charging 2 6 volt batteries ran in a series how would I connect the charger to each battery. Thanks for your help.
May I ask you for a solution? I have an Honda BF115D with an alternator 40Amp and starter AGM Battery 115Ah .Now I want to add a house deep cycle battery Gel, 100Ah capacity , have bought a Solar charger PVM 30A , a 110 W Polycrystallin Solar Panel, 12V/1500W Modified Inverter to 220V, have a Blue System 120A -SI ACR Charging Relais 7610 to connect between them. How should I now connect them? Is it ok to connect the Alternator to the starter battery and solar charger to Gel batter and the SI ACR between / OR is it better to connect all chargers, alternator plus solar to starter battery and the SI ACR in between? I think, The last option , to connect all charger alternator plus solar charge controller to house battery is not posible, due the charge current of the alternator and Voltage for deep cycle GEL battery may not suitable?... Thank you for your ansver in advance. Kind regards, Necdet
Excellent video. I’m keen to learn how I can add a jump start function to my system. I have starter battery > dc with inbuilt regulator and solar input > lithium house battery > inverter and 12v outlets. I was wondering if I could add a smart isolator solenoid ( like you would use use in option 1) that has an override jump start option that I could wire to a push button switch in the vehicle instrument panel. Eg starter > smart isolator > dc > house etc. Or would I have to run a seperate circuit with some kind of link switch that bypasses the dc charger to link and jump start?
Option 4: install a 24v alternator. Bypass the internal regulator. Connect the 3 phases in series with one winding reversed. This will give you about 100v single phase. Rectify through Schottky diodes and put through a MPPT controller. You now have more power than a heavy duty alternator
I wanted to do this with many ac parralell connecting solar panel inverters advancements..therefor direct powering of some powertools from alternator, cannabalization redundancy, parasite loss management, segragating solar panels to appliances.. But the marketplace is not developed especially at 110v
If aftermarket contoller solved batteryless bootstrap start up of field coil, and could switch between nominal 12vdc charge controls and 110 approx crude ac output..perhaps exists in high price marine market and historical Frankenstein diy.
Wooo excellent video .i have a question i instol a dual Battery Isolator Kit on my van but when it's tha veiculo run tha dual Isolator Kit turn on and off for 6 or 7 time before to stay on do you know what's the problem??? Please let me know what happen 🙏 thanks
I went with 4th option on my ford truck. 2nd alternator with program regulator to set battery type. this was not simple and had to change belt and add pully . make a mounting bracket . great job explaining the options.
Hello Robert, thank you for sharing. That is a very nice option as well. A bit of work indeed, but I am sure you are very content with it. Enjoy! Jesse.
For option #3, can you give an example of the voltage regulator you would use? I've never heard of an external voltage regulator that has a charging algorithm. Thank you.
Hey Rob! Sure: Balmar has external regulators on their website. I find their products quite expensive, though their quality is [in my opinion] relatively good. FYI I am not affiliated with them in any way. Good luck! Jesse
Thank you!!! Good videos, I have seen a few of your videos and they are far better than most not only because of the information but the way you share it! As far as I'm concerned an instructional video is NOT a music video, so I appreciate the fact that no music is included, and we can clearly hear what you're saying, just like in a classroom, thanks! :) If teaching was more effective with music, classrooms would blare loud music while the teacher is speaking... ;) Keep up with the great instructional videos, the information is what's important! :)
Thank you for your compliment Michel, I really appreciate it. I had to smile when I read what you said about music & instructional videos, I totally agree!
3rd Option : Alternator ( -to- ) External Regulator ( to ) House Battery (to ) Dc/Dc Converter (to) Starter Battery Question : if the DC/DC converter isolates the Current to flow (1 ) way ....Then how does the starter battery get current back to the engine to start it ? Thank You For Your Help In Understanding ...Im new to this idea but love the benifits
Hello Mark, thank you for your question. A system can be designed and wired in a such a way, that the charging source [e.g. a DC charge controller] can be different from the load [e.g. a starter motor]. Good luck and enjoy, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution I'm going to put a battery lithium battery bank in my Toyota Prius...I'm thinking of using option 3 as my model ..,.was wondering if i could make the bank come directly off the source charge for the prius Car batteries ...there are a positive and negative cable going from the engine ( generator ) to the lithium batteries then to the starter batteries ...sooooooo...i was thinking you could either use diagram 3 from to the starter battery ....or.... come directly from the positive cable and negative cable from the engine to a dc converter to the power bank i believe diagram 2 ...or Both ? Sorry to ask such a question ..Thank You In Advance
So... are you saying it's better if I disconnect my battery on my car after I start it... then take the wires that would have gone to my battery strait to my home battery bank? And then from my bank charge my car battery with a charger?
Thank you for sharing, I'm putting a 2nd battery in a 1987 gmc truck, got a Cole Hersee. 24063-BX solenoid, run from main battery positive to solenoid, out main lug otherside to second battery positive. Ground negative from 2nd battery to chassis. Can you please recommend gauge wire and size fuses in between? In any event thanks!
Its a beutiful explanation...i have applied a change over manual switch that directs the plus wire from the alternator that allows one battery to be charged at a time. Hope the 100 amp house battery is not too much a load on the alternator that is designed to charge 40 amp engin battery
It is good to hear you enjoyed the content. Just a tip: Be mindful of the potential damage to alternator electronics during a momentary 'no load' situation as you would change from one battery bank to the next. All the best, Jesse.
would it be possible to have a starter battery bank on its own circuit that is open when a heavy load is needed? like a soft start or pony motor for high voltage appliances? close the circuit to those cells when not needed?
Foe example 3 if your house batteries are lithium iron type would you not have to use a DC-DC charger to limit the charge rate into that battery bank and therefore protect the alternator perhaps you need two DC-DC charge controllers to use the 2nd one for the starting battery from the house battery bank?
Out of curiosity, in the last scenario, what purpose does the starter battery have? Could you then change it to another deep cycle? Would you want to have a start option also for cold winters? Starting a diesel in the cold on deep cycle might not be ideal.
Good question, thanks! Starter batteries are excellent for what they are made for: High amps, short burst, fast & shallow discharging & charging. Yes, you can use a deep cycle for starting purpose, but it won't last as long. Thanks!
System one was what I first went with with two AGM deep cycle. They only lasted less than a year. Went with option number 2 a year ago and I’m very pleased to date🤗😎🇺🇸
Very helpful technical info, earlier, I couldn't understand completely about difference between Car and home battery even after watching many other videos. Thanks helped me a lot.
Absolute genius. I never quite understood why my leisure battery had such a problem with fully charging, despite being replaced and its because mine is the layout you explained where the starter battery is always getting the priority of charge. I will defo be changing this when I get my lithium replacements in change for Lead acids. Its good as you said for if your starter has a problem and you can take the current from the leisure to get your engine battery going, but I dont need that as a priority, as im on a small lake with a good powered outboard to get me back to safety.
Thanks for all of the info? It sounds like the 3rd option is what I would do. However, I have heard of people having a second alternator. If/when that is the case would each alternator simply charge their own system (starter battery or deep cycle/home batteries)? If/when that is the case, would I need these other components? Or perhaps just one on the house cycle to make sure it gets the correct voltage and flow?
Hello, I want to replace the batteries of my motorhome for a 300ah lithium. I bought the victron isolated smart dc-dc 12v 30 amps. Can I connect the victron changer with the wires that are currently connected to my auxiliary batteries (by adding 60 amp fuse protection at the input to the output) to my new lithium without modifying the old installation...
Great explanation. It has motivated me to fix my RV house battery charging system. The current system is 2 x lead acid batteries of about 140 AH capacity. They are used to power electronics, fridge and a CPAP machine when shore power or the Onan generator is not connected. Charging is by a 12v charger fed by shore power or the Onan generator. There is also a relay activated connection to the RV alternator but I have disconnected this for obvious reasons. I have also installed a solar panel on the roof. The solar panel includes a charge controller that I have connected directly to the battery. The panel supplies up to 2A when the sun shines. I want to reconnect the alternator to provide more charge when the RV engine is running but I am concerned that having 3 sources of charging current might cause problems. Is there such a thing as a multi port dc/dc converter that will manage the 3 inputs to give optimal charging for my batteries.
I am late finding this video I running a 250amp alternator and a 12v 60AMP lithium deep cycle battery and plan on upgrading to a dual battery setup. Reason why I have aftermarket sound system in it that one battery cannot handle that load. What is my best option?
Being somewhat simple-minded I did a fourth alternative and buy a dual purpose starter battery and connect the dual-purpose terminals to a small inverter and then use a charger to charge the house battery
Haha that works as well! Not simple-minded at all, I'd rather call that practical. I created this video with the assumption though that only the alternator would be used as a power source, but is sounds like you have external power available, is that correct? Thanks for sharing! Jesse
@SolarSolution no just my Toyota Sienna minivan stock alternator dual purpose stater battery to small 150 watt inverter and from there to a charger and 2 lithium fe/po batteries also 100 watt solar panel on the roof. I travel a lot so the alternator is working and maybe once a week I check into an electrified campground
Excellent! That sounds like a great setup. Well done for also adding the 100 Watt solar panel, I bet that helps you a lot. Does the inverter have a configurable Low Voltage Disconnect [LVD] option? If so you, setting this to a relatively high value would ensure that your inverter turns off soon after you turn the engine off. There are also smart 12V relays available designed specifically for this purpose. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your travels! Jesse
Hello Southern Tripper, thank you for your question. Charging your batteries with an alternator and/or DC/DC charge controller does not exclude the possibility to add additional charging sources such as solar panels. Good luck! All the best, Jesse.
Hi Jessie Thanks for your videos... I have a alternator with a built-in regulator.and I am starting my little energy thing at my home ...to cut my coast I would like your best set up diagram that I can use. Thanks.
@@SolarSolution I'm not a expert in this thing am just trying something... After watching some of ur videos am trying to set up a system, that I can used the car alternator to charge the battery to run my home.
Sounds like a great project Gifford! If you need my personal support, you can book one of the service options on the main website. Good luck with your project! Jesse.
Good video! I have a long question my solar pannel is connected to the house battery in the same manner as #3 but i was thinking of connecting it with my starter which has a tendancy to discharge if i park the car long-term. However the starter is connected to the alternator so i'm guessing running both at the same time would be bad? Maby install a relay in between the dc-dc and starter to switch off the connection ones the car is turned on?
Hello Nico, thank you for your question. Do you know what the combined maximum output of the solar panel and the alternator is? And what is the capacity of your starter battery?
@@SolarSolution don't know about the alternator but the pv pannel is 200w so some 15-20 amp current wouldnt be to far from the mark. The battery in the house is around 95ah and 85ah for the starter they are both agm.
Can the first system (parallel) be used for one stage of charging, in addition to a solar charge controller and panel? My thinking being that the deep cycle batteries are getting their 3 stages of charging from the solar, and getting 1 stage from the energy passing through the starter battery from the alternator??
On the DC/DC charge controller setup, do I need to run the ground back to the starter battery like in the diagram, or does a ground to the vehicle frame do the same?
I'm looking to power some outlets in an enclosed trailer I use for property maintenance to charge tool batteries abd run a small 5 gallon air compressor through a power invertor and also power a medium duty recovery winch. Maybe I'm overthinking it and trying to over engineer it a bit, but I was thinking of using a pair deep cycle batteries in parallel in the trailer with a primary charging source of a 100w solar panel fixed to the roof of the trailer, but also trying to figure a way to supplement this by using 12v quick connect from my truck to the trailer routed into the charge controller so if my work load was a bit heavy on one day, the alternator of the truck could help quick charge in supplement to the solar panels. However I don't feel like I have enough knowledge to safely do this without damaging components of my system. Am I overthinking this? Should I just be satisfied with the solar panel on the roof, or is the initial idea as good as I hope it is?
Hello Graham, thank you for your question. An additional alternator is indeed an option as well, one which several others have successfully implemented. All the best, Jesse.
Hi, sorry for my poorly put together question :) I'm trying to find the way how to charge deep cycle batteries for electric fencing for number of paddocks in the fields. I drive to work everyday 1 hour one way, but this won't be enough to charge batteries with dc dc charger? So now I read about small wind turbines and non of them mention about multistage charging. Do wind turbine charge controllers use multistage charging for deeply discharge batteries, or it's charges like alternator in the car. Thanks.
Thanks for the info! The visuals help a lot! Being that I'm using my van for camping and not living in it, I believe I'm just going to use a Victron 9 amp DC to DC converter for my single AGM battery I bought at Walmart, and 100 watts of solar. I had looked at a solenoid to charge with, but I'm glad I decided not to go that route. I don't think I need a huge amount of power. That can always be upgraded later. It's in a 1998 E-150 van, and all running inside the cab to behind the driver's seat.
Hi Ben, thanks for your message. I am glad to hear you liked the format of the video! Thanks for sharing your experience with the setup for your van, I am sure this can be valuable feedback for other campers as well. All the best, Jesse.
So Jesse, could you please give an example of of single stage charge? For example, charging the house battery via a traditional 220V mains charger (old school type).
Hello Mark, thank you for your question. Diodes are part of traditional solutions for separating batteries. A slight disadvantage is the encountered voltage drop: You might also want to research FET isolators. Good luck! Jesse
Could I take the line from the cigarette lighter and put it to a DC to DC charge controller then to my house batteries. This is because my van has a cigarette lighter connection in the back as well .
Hello, wonderful video's. Can you tell me if you are driving and the solar is putting charge as well as the alternator, will this help stop the alternator over heating while charging lithium batteries?
Thanks for a systemic and clear explanation! In my RV, I have chosen the simplest (KISS :)) parallel method with a simple dedicated high-amp manual switch. The parallel method seemed best for me because I have a solar charging system for my house battery as a main system and the alternator is only used when there is not possible to use solar. Stay safe everybody! Linas
Thanks for raising my antenna's, discovering in conjunction w/solar, this configuration is most definitely feasible when weather doesn't permit for solar keep up! THANKS to both of you guys!!!
@@SolarSolution can we direct the plus wire of alternator by using a switch to charge each battery at a time...i mean first engine battery then house battery...one at a time
Thanks for this KISS Video . Please could you make another video adding solar panels ( with charge controllers) to this mixture ? No information is available online if a house battery can be charged with both alternator and solar panel simultaneously . Many thanks.
You are welcome Muralidhara, and thank you for your feedback. You have an excellent question, I will provide you the answer through a new video. Once it is online I will notify you. All the best, Jesse.
Helpful explanation, I’ll be looking to more of your videos to figure out my solar. But this video did also throw me into new confusion. You say to use an external voltage regulator, & when I search for them, thousands of 12v options pop up. Going with KISS, assume a van conversion like that in your background. Are we supposed to step up voltage, step it down, have it variable, dial in amperage... or is it basically acting as a surge protector? Further confused b/c you said they tend to be pricy, but I’m seeing tons of 12v auto voltage regulators at $30usd. Dc-dc charge controllers seem to start around 7x higher? Thanks though-
Hi Brad, thanks for your message. Your honest feedback makes me smile: I understand the process you are going through. The TH-cam comment section is not the right place for me to help you, but you may contact me through www.solarsolution.co/contact if you wish. If you want to continue to learn through this channel, you might benefit from either the playlist on 'Charging' or on 'Batteries' [see links below]. Enjoy! Jesse. CHARGING: th-cam.com/play/PL9Nrg1XB1hdjlEu3PB506mTRcuDFTJLgu.html BATTERIES: th-cam.com/play/PL9Nrg1XB1hdjWs1Fo6SHBhs1ag_PQl4Ct.html
Can you provide a list of equipment to build a onboard gen system for my F250 diesel that comes with two batteries. I want a system that can fit in the space of a bed tool box and scaled to run a small camper and worksite. I like the Ford F150 hybrid / generator system. 7.8 Kw I believe. I would like the system to be integrated so it would start the truck to recharge the batteries. Is this possible?
Thank you... very helpful. Considering option (3) from Your video noted below, I was wondering if you could recommend an External Regulator, and a DC /DC charge controller combination? Perhaps something off of Amazon Thanks again. [Your video: Deep cycle battery charging with your alternator: The 3 best options]
Hi thanks for your video. I wondered what your opinion was on the Victron Argofet, as this setup isn't covered in your video (i dont think anyhow). Many Thanks
Is it feasible to incorporate an external rectifier into an MPPT charger to increase the charging voltage to 48V, especially when utilizing an inverter? By adjusting the field voltage supplied to the alternator to generate approximately 36V 3phase AC, subsequent rectification yields a voltage close to the minimum requirement for the MPPT charger. This setup has the potential to optimize efficiency for 230V devices while also potentially reducing the necessary cable cross-section.
Great video i have one qiestion i cant seem to find a solid answer to. What AWG size should be run from an starter battery to aux battery to charge it with the vehicle battery?
Thanks for your message, it is good to hear you enjoyed the video. As for your question: You might benefit from this video I shared on DC Wire sizes: th-cam.com/video/70JyQzeex7s/w-d-xo.html Let me know whether this answers your question. Good luck and all the best, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution no it really doesnt. Using the 10 awg wire in the 7 blade camper plug does not charge my house battery anything like the speed the alternator charges the battery in my pickup. Obviously the battery is close to the alternator and the wire size from alternator to the battery is 6 awg. So if i connect my house battery as you describe in the alternator video solution 1 what wire size will offer the best efficiency and performance going 15 feet from battery to battery? Im considering using size 2 awg it seems over kill but plenty heavy? How much difference in performance/efficiency would there be between size 2 and 4? Is there any formula specifically to figure this out?
So, how would you implement option 3 with travel trailer, where the house battery is in the trailer and there are times you would not have the trailer with you.
Thank you for your message Sam. If you want personal design support, you are welcome to book a consultation via www.solarsolution.co/services. Good luck! Jesse
Thank you for your clarification Sam. You are not the first one with questions about this, so I think it would be a good idea to make a separate video to answer your question. I will let you know once it is online. Thank you and all the best, Jesse.
Another option is run an inverter off of the vehicle, and then use this to power a battery charger designed to charge the house batteries. The advantage is when you have shore power, the same charger can be used to charge the house batteries. A 1,000 watt continuous pure sine wave inverter should be able to run a 60 amp charger. Your three options do not provide for charging the house batteries from a campground outlet. You would still need a battery charger that runs off of utility main power. So the only real addition to make that work while driving would be an inverter. Many people will already have the inverter. They just need to install a battery selector switch and run heavy wires from the vehicle battery. When they park, they can switch the inverter to house batteries and unplug the charger.
he did mention using a cigarette lighter charger in a pinch, but doesn't recommend it. Im guessing that this might be less effective because it limits your output & strains your electrical system as this kind of draw on an accessory outlet will probably cause excess heat & possibly battery / alternator wear. But I could be wrong. I actually thought the same thing. Why not just charge a deep cycle with a low watt charger plugged into a cigarette lighter inverter? Just unplug it when its not running???
I am going to conduct an experiment. On a day with decent weather & I have 2 batteries that are equally discharged, I will charge one battery on the ride to & from work during the day with my inverter, while another is being charged with a 100w solar panel, then compare their charge levels to see how well a 100w panel charges in comparison to an inverter (when charging 2 equally discharged batteries). I will also record drive/charge time & start/end charge levels to compare. It is good to know another way to charge a battery on days with limited sunshine.
Hello Stevan, thank you for your question. The best technical solution for your system depends on you system performance requirements. Have you searched for DC/DC charge controller comparisons yet? Some manufacturer websites are quite resourceful as well. Tip: focus on downloading & comparing the specification sheets, rather than the 'sales pitch' sections on the websites. Good luck! Jesse
I just can't get it figured out enough to make a decision. Can you recommend what I need to get . I plan on building a suburban for across country trip . Basically want battery and solar panel to charge a ice co travel type refrigerator at night when parked .
Hello Joe, thanks for your message. You can find more specific information in one of the playlist I have created on different system topics, here is the link for you: th-cam.com/users/SolarSolutionplaylists You can also book a consult with me through the main website: www.solarsolution.co/services Good luck and enjoy! Jesse
Hello Jesse, can I contact solar panel with inverter to my work truck battery to get 110 volt to use to charge my cordless power tools batteries and small 110 volt tools?, thank you sir for your help
Hello again Naq Naq, thank you for your message. For personal design support, you are welcome to book a consultation via www.solarsolution.co/services. Good luck! Jesse
Great video!! DC- DC second option..... Question..what happens iif I have a battery switch AFD type [off,1,2,all] 1 connected to starter 2 connected to house on 2 position......the alternator still charge the starter battery? Thank you!!!!
Very informative video, thank you! I’m using option 1 to connect a flooded starter battery with a AGM leisure battery and I’m now concerned about the lifespan of the components! Would it make a difference if the leisure battery is also regularly charged with an external charger with specific currents for AGM? Thanks!
If you have a solar panel and charger it will charge the AGM at the correct voltage. So a lot of what is said here assumes everything is to be charged via the alternator. But in reality most RV's etc. use a AGM battery and a solar charge controller which will have detected the AGM upon installation and will have it's charge curve set accordingly. So I'm not convinced you need a DC-to-DC charger if you have solar.. I would also be more inclined to charge the starter batt first and with a Smart switch (called a VSR), which will flick over to the House battery when the starter is full. I would not have a direct link to the starter from the house, because if the House gets a short cell, it will drag the Starter down with it. The priority is to start the vehicle. Who cares about the rest.
Hello Tony, thank you for your question. You might want to look into choosing the correct DC/DC charge controller for charging your LiFPO4 bank. Good luck! Jesse
That explains why the 7 point connector and wiring harness I recently installed does not provide for charging the trailer battery bank from the alternator. That is just fine for me as I will use an alternative charging source to preserve alternator life.
dude you should put mazon links on these videos. What products specifically should I buy for the regulator and dcdc controllers. IM looking for a small marine setup.
Thank you for your suggestion Yuriah. It seems to make a lot of sense indeed, though what tends to happen is that TH-cam creators upload videos with the primary focus on creating revenue via [amazon] affiliate links. This channel has a focus on sharing unbiased knowledge rather than creating revenue through affiliate links, so these type of links don't really fit well here. There are plenty of other valuable videos online which include affiliate links! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Good luck with shopping, I hope you will find what is best for you. Jesse.
Thank you for your suggestion Yuriah. It seems to make a lot of sense indeed, though what tends to happen is that TH-cam creators upload videos with the primary focus on creating revenue via [amazon] affiliate links. This channel has a focus on sharing unbiased knowledge rather than creating revenue through affiliate links, so these type of links don't really fit well here. There are plenty of other valuable videos online which include affiliate links! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Good luck with shopping, I hope you will find what is best for you. Jesse.
I have a question I have a 2010 Dodge Ram diesel 4x4 with 2 game's can I stick 3 matching agm's I would still be able to get away with a straight line with a dumb solenoid wouldn't I because they're all the same cranking amps. Thanks Bob
Hi Bob, thanks for your message. For personal advice you can contact me through the link as pasted below. Nice truck by the way! Jesse www.solarsolution.co/contact
Hello Jesse, what do you think if I don't mess with my starter battery alternator setup & just add another separate alternator to charge my house power bank?
Hi Jesse I'm planning to install house battery( LIPO4 ..4s)..to my motorcycle with sidecar ..the house battery will power accessories inside the sidecar..while starter battery is only dedicated to power motorcycle accessories and lighting..after stator I will changed it's regular regulator to a fast charger type..type of setting parallel #1 with diode and emergency switch after starter battery..how about this type of battery LIPO4 4s.
Hello Cyril, thank you for your question. An interesting project, with great advantages of having a second [Lithium] battery in your sidecar. Would you mind clarifying your system setup and question please? Thank you, Jesse.
You are welcome, I am glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your question: This video explains the main concepts, the final selection of components depends on your specific system requirements.
General question for all. I am planning on using the third option for a boat installation of regulated high output alternator, lithium house bank and two AGM batteries ( starter and bow thruster). The 30 amp dc-dc charger will feed into a MOSFET isolator that is then feeding into the two identical AGM batteries. My question is: If the lithium batteries shut off for any reason while charging . Will the AGM batteries absorb the voltage spike or power dump and in doing so protect the alternator?
When you have say a string of batteries all in a line, a power bank in other words... is it better to have the incoming recharge at the end of the batteries? Or in the middle somewhere? I keep wondering if where the incoming charge comes in will affect the battery bank a bit this way. Thanks.
@ 9:08 minutes you show the negative connected to a common ground and the charge controller connected to the positive. All the (solar) charge controllers I have seen use the positive as common and the negative to switch/control the power. I have tried method 2 on my truck to charge a deep cycle battery, but find that both batteries dont last very long. I have a 105 amp alternator and a 20 amp charge controler. I am going to try using 2 alternators; one for the starting battery and truck electronics, and one for the deep cycle battery through a charge controler. .
Hi, thx for great video. Be so kind to explain what happens if amps of ac/dc and alternator don't match in option No2. For exampl. if alternator gives 50 amp and ac/dc supports ip to 120 amp. Thx
Hello Niksa, thank you for your message. It is good to hear you enjoyed the video. I would need additional clarification in order to understand your situation. Can you further clarify your system setup please. Thank you. Jesse
The number of people who understand the rules, but cannot articulate the reasons is huge. This is one of the best videos I’ve seen on the topic.
I am glad to hear you enjoyed the video B Rad, and thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. All the best, Jesse.
Heaven sent! I wish I watched this before I wasted the weekend watching do-it-yourselfers and still not getting it. This was professional and fully comprehensive. Thank you
This guy knows his stuff. The information was crystal clear and easy to follow.
That is nice to hear, thank you for your message!
Wow after 10 years dealing with my Boat batteries I finally found someone that puts everything into a simple and easy-to-understand video. Thank you.
You are welcome Vito, I am glad to hear you appreciated the video. Sorry I didn't upload it ten years ago :)
Excellent video! This guy knows what he is talking about. And no annoying background music, marketing or horseplay! Great Job!
I really want to thank you young man. You are a very smart person with a lot of common sense. This was very simple to understand and grasp.
Thank you for your heartwarming compliment Christopher, I am glad to hear you found the video useful.
All the best, Jesse.
I worked that out 20 years ago. External regulator is the only way to go. Huge battery life for both batteries.
Hi Ian, thanks for your feedback. I am glad to hear it worked out well for you. All the best, Jesse.
I watched this two years ago and knew this was solid information. Most of it however; went over my head. Here I am two years later, and through my own trials and tribulations can fully attest, this is good solid info.
Wow, great feedback! Thanks for letting me know.
You go into more details than others and it makes things easier to understand. Like the thin layering of the starter battery, for instance.
That is very useful feedback Eddy, thanks for your message!
I have had the pleasure of watching two of your tutorials and the clarity with which you deliver them is remarkable. I'm lost for words....Thank you.
Great to hear!
Thorough, excellent and clear and to the point! Answered my questions to set up my boat systems with a new mechman high output alternator and clarified the options beautifully. You give us the information to make our own choices given our personal resources and goals, thanks so much.
Thank you for your message Doug, it is really great to hear how the video created this value for you. Good luck with your new setup!
I have my start battery/alternator connected to my house battery through an old solar charger, which is enabled with a relay from the car key, this was the most reliable/cheaper solution I found.
great tutorial well done
I've been looking for a very simple yet informative explanation like this for my whole entire DIY life. Thank you very very much, you just saved me from wasting time and money trying to find a solution for my current DIY project
Such a great message to receive! I am glad to hear the video was helpful for you. A great name you have by the way. South-Eastern Africa? Malawi/Zambia? All the best, Jesse.
I simply added another alternator! One for charging the house (camper) battery and another alternator for charging the truck battery. It has been working on my camper with the usual repairs and battery replacements. The two systems are completely independent from the other. I have lived in it for 38 years. I am also independent.
Hi Bud, thanks for sharing your story. Great setup! Yep, two completely independent systems gets you great reliability and efficiency. Well done!
All the best, Jesse.
bud irving - Where did you connect the 2nd alternator? I'm trying to understand some of this, I'm a 63 yr old gramma here, so please be patient, as I don't know what the alternator in connected to.. : ) I'm considering using an inverter in my little pickup on a cross country road trip. It says to use it with a deep cycle battery, so I had to look up "how to charge deep cycle battery" and it brought me here haha. Anyway, is this something a car mechanic would know how to do? Thanks.
@@annwithaplan9766 hopefully you had an answer. A simple 400w inverter that you plug into a cigarette lighter is great for most needs. You cannot cook with a hot plate of course
@@vanderumd11 could you reliability charge a deep cycle battery using this method, as long as the engine is running?
What a great guy, easy to listen to, great factual information.
Glad you enjoyed it!
In event of a dead starter battery, I like having a jump box in my glove compartment. It works for other cars I encounter who have killed their starter battery at a campground and those campers are so grateful. I haven’t ended up with a dead starter battery since I (1.) attach a plug in battery charger to my starter battery while I am packing the car to be sure it is fully topped off before we start the trip (especially because during packing the doors and hatch are being left open a lot) and (2.) I put a carabiner into the rear hatch latch while we have it open at the campsite to fool the car’s computer into thinking the hatch is closed and latched. Even with the interior lights switched off, if the computer stays awake over a day or two it drains the battery (as we have proven!)
Thanks for sharing! Such a good idea about the carabiner, well done :)
This is the best explanation of the third method that I've read or heard. Thank you
You're very welcome!
Thank you for this pragmatic and straight forward description!
You're welcome Thorben! Thanks for your message.
Nice going, well explained.
One more option for campers and boats.
At the second option ( smart switch) with a addon PV panel ( solar ) you may work out that the engine generator dose the bulk 14.4 what will result in 13.8 volt steady charge , the PV may work the float for the deadcycle battery.
Obviously the PV is directly attached to the house deep cycle
Thanks for sharing!
Amazing video with basic information without going to unnecessary deep into topic.
Glad you think so!
Great information. I have one question. If I am charging 2 6 volt batteries ran in a series how would I connect the charger to each battery. Thanks for your help.
FINALLY good rock solid info
Hi Christian, thanks for your message. It is good to hear you found the video useful. All the best, Jesse.
For reals!!!
May I ask you for a solution? I have an Honda BF115D with an alternator 40Amp and starter AGM Battery 115Ah .Now I want to add a house deep cycle battery Gel, 100Ah capacity , have bought a Solar charger PVM 30A , a 110 W Polycrystallin Solar Panel, 12V/1500W Modified Inverter to 220V, have a Blue System 120A -SI ACR Charging Relais 7610 to connect between them. How should I now connect them? Is it ok to connect the Alternator to the starter battery and solar charger to Gel batter and the SI ACR between / OR is it better to connect all chargers, alternator plus solar to starter battery and the SI ACR in between? I think, The last option , to connect all charger alternator plus solar charge controller to house battery is not posible, due the charge current of the alternator and Voltage for deep cycle GEL battery may not suitable?... Thank you for your ansver in advance.
Kind regards,
Necdet
Best TH-cam video I've ever seen.
Excellent video. I’m keen to learn how I can add a jump start function to my system.
I have starter battery > dc with inbuilt regulator and solar input > lithium house battery > inverter and 12v outlets.
I was wondering if I could add a smart isolator solenoid ( like you would use use in option 1) that has an override jump start option that I could wire to a push button switch in the vehicle instrument panel.
Eg starter > smart isolator > dc > house etc.
Or would I have to run a seperate circuit with some kind of link switch that bypasses the dc charger to link and jump start?
Thank you so much, you’re the first person who has explained this properly
Thanks Peter, that is a great compliment to receive. I am glad it was useful for you.
All the best, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution Hey Jesse,
Which external regulator do you recommend for your system #3?
Option 4: install a 24v alternator. Bypass the internal regulator. Connect the 3 phases in series with one winding reversed. This will give you about 100v single phase. Rectify through Schottky diodes and put through a MPPT controller. You now have more power than a heavy duty alternator
Thanks Lexie, great feedback and an interesting option. Thanks for sharing! Jesse
I wanted to do this with many ac parralell connecting solar panel inverters advancements..therefor direct powering of some powertools from alternator, cannabalization redundancy, parasite loss management, segragating solar panels to appliances.. But the marketplace is not developed especially at 110v
If aftermarket contoller solved batteryless bootstrap start up of field coil, and could switch between nominal 12vdc charge controls and 110 approx crude ac output..perhaps exists in high price marine market and historical Frankenstein diy.
What?
@@robertmadsen8687 Frankenstein lived but only for a short time and probably committed suicide.
Wooo excellent video .i have a question i instol a dual Battery Isolator Kit on my van but when it's tha veiculo run tha dual Isolator Kit turn on and off for 6 or 7 time before to stay on do you know what's the problem??? Please let me know what happen 🙏 thanks
I went with 4th option on my ford truck. 2nd alternator with program regulator to set battery type. this was not simple and had to change belt and add pully . make a mounting bracket . great job explaining the options.
Hello Robert, thank you for sharing. That is a very nice option as well. A bit of work indeed, but I am sure you are very content with it. Enjoy! Jesse.
adding a 2nd alternator is a much better idea than overloading the regular alternator, and risk ending up with none.
I am just now buying a Ford...which program regulator did you select?
For option #3, can you give an example of the voltage regulator you would use? I've never heard of an external voltage regulator that has a charging algorithm. Thank you.
Hey Rob! Sure: Balmar has external regulators on their website. I find their products quite expensive, though their quality is [in my opinion] relatively good. FYI I am not affiliated with them in any way. Good luck! Jesse
Thank you!!! Good videos, I have seen a few of your videos and they are far better than most not only because of the information but the way you share it! As far as I'm concerned an instructional video is NOT a music video, so I appreciate the fact that no music is included, and we can clearly hear what you're saying, just like in a classroom, thanks! :) If teaching was more effective with music, classrooms would blare loud music while the teacher is speaking... ;) Keep up with the great instructional videos, the information is what's important! :)
Thank you for your compliment Michel, I really appreciate it. I had to smile when I read what you said about music & instructional videos, I totally agree!
3rd Option : Alternator ( -to- ) External Regulator ( to ) House Battery (to ) Dc/Dc Converter (to) Starter Battery
Question : if the DC/DC converter isolates the Current to flow (1 ) way ....Then how does the starter battery get current back to the engine to start it ? Thank You For Your Help In Understanding ...Im new to this idea but love the benifits
Hello Mark, thank you for your question. A system can be designed and wired in a such a way, that the charging source [e.g. a DC charge controller] can be different from the load [e.g. a starter motor]. Good luck and enjoy, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution I'm going to put a battery lithium battery bank in my Toyota Prius...I'm thinking of using option 3 as my model ..,.was wondering if i could make the bank come directly off the source charge for the prius Car batteries ...there are a positive and negative cable going from the engine ( generator ) to the lithium batteries then to the starter batteries ...sooooooo...i was thinking you could either use diagram 3 from to the starter battery ....or.... come directly from the positive cable and negative cable from the engine to a dc converter to the power bank i believe diagram 2 ...or Both ?
Sorry to ask such a question ..Thank You In Advance
So... are you saying it's better if I disconnect my battery on my car after I start it... then take the wires that would have gone to my battery strait to my home battery bank? And then from my bank charge my car battery with a charger?
Thank you for sharing, I'm putting a 2nd battery in a 1987 gmc truck, got a Cole Hersee. 24063-BX solenoid, run from main battery positive to solenoid, out main lug otherside to second battery positive. Ground negative from 2nd battery to chassis. Can you please recommend gauge wire and size fuses in between? In any event thanks!
Its a beutiful explanation...i have applied a change over manual switch that directs the plus wire from the alternator that allows one battery to be charged at a time.
Hope the 100 amp house battery is not too much a load on the alternator that is designed to charge 40 amp engin battery
It is good to hear you enjoyed the content. Just a tip: Be mindful of the potential damage to alternator electronics during a momentary 'no load' situation as you would change from one battery bank to the next. All the best, Jesse.
would it be possible to have a starter battery bank on its own circuit that is open when a heavy load is needed? like a soft start or pony motor for high voltage appliances? close the circuit to those cells when not needed?
Foe example 3 if your house batteries are lithium iron type would you not have to use a DC-DC charger to limit the charge rate into that battery bank and therefore protect the alternator perhaps you need two DC-DC charge controllers to use the 2nd one for the starting battery from the house battery bank?
Out of curiosity, in the last scenario, what purpose does the starter battery have? Could you then change it to another deep cycle? Would you want to have a start option also for cold winters? Starting a diesel in the cold on deep cycle might not be ideal.
Good question, thanks! Starter batteries are excellent for what they are made for: High amps, short burst, fast & shallow discharging & charging. Yes, you can use a deep cycle for starting purpose, but it won't last as long. Thanks!
this might be the best video on the subject.
That is nice to hear, thank you for your message!
Top explanation of the different charging needs of a starter FLA and a deep cycle FLA! Thank you!
Thanks for your message Beni, I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. Jesse.
thank you for this video .. really enlightening i was very confused about these systems and no one seems to explain it so simply..
I am glad to hear you are enjoying the channel Valkyrie, thank you for your message. All the best, Jesse.
System one was what I first went with with two AGM deep cycle. They only lasted less than a year. Went with option number 2 a year ago and I’m very pleased to date🤗😎🇺🇸
That is great to hear Earle!
Very helpful technical info, earlier, I couldn't understand completely about difference between Car and home battery even after watching many other videos. Thanks helped me a lot.
Glad it was helpful Rohitha!
Absolute genius. I never quite understood why my leisure battery had such a problem with fully charging, despite being replaced and its because mine is the layout you explained where the starter battery is always getting the priority of charge. I will defo be changing this when I get my lithium replacements in change for Lead acids.
Its good as you said for if your starter has a problem and you can take the current from the leisure to get your engine battery going, but I dont need that as a priority, as im on a small lake with a good powered outboard to get me back to safety.
hello, would it prevent damage to battery if solution 1 is choosen with some full charges from time to time with a specific charger?
Thanks for all of the info? It sounds like the 3rd option is what I would do. However, I have heard of people having a second alternator. If/when that is the case would each alternator simply charge their own system (starter battery or deep cycle/home batteries)? If/when that is the case, would I need these other components? Or perhaps just one on the house cycle to make sure it gets the correct voltage and flow?
Correct! Two completely seperate systems indeed. I think I will share a video on this topic as well, thank you for your question.
Hello, I want to replace the batteries of my motorhome for a 300ah lithium. I bought the victron isolated smart dc-dc 12v 30 amps. Can I connect the victron changer with the wires that are currently connected to my auxiliary batteries (by adding 60 amp fuse protection at the input to the output) to my new lithium without modifying the old installation...
Great explanation. It has motivated me to fix my RV house battery charging system. The current system is 2 x lead acid batteries of about 140 AH capacity. They are used to power electronics, fridge and a CPAP machine when shore power or the Onan generator is not connected.
Charging is by a 12v charger fed by shore power or the Onan generator. There is also a relay activated connection to the RV alternator but I have disconnected this for obvious reasons. I have also installed a solar panel on the roof. The solar panel includes a charge controller that I have connected directly to the battery. The panel supplies up to 2A when the sun shines.
I want to reconnect the alternator to provide more charge when the RV engine is running but I am concerned that having 3 sources of charging current might cause problems. Is there such a thing as a multi port dc/dc converter that will manage the 3 inputs to give optimal charging for my batteries.
I am late finding this video I running a 250amp alternator and a 12v 60AMP lithium deep cycle battery and plan on upgrading to a dual battery setup. Reason why I have aftermarket sound system in it that one battery cannot handle that load. What is my best option?
Being somewhat simple-minded I did a fourth alternative and buy a dual purpose starter battery and connect the dual-purpose terminals to a small inverter and then use a charger to charge the house battery
Haha that works as well! Not simple-minded at all, I'd rather call that practical. I created this video with the assumption though that only the alternator would be used as a power source, but is sounds like you have external power available, is that correct? Thanks for sharing! Jesse
@SolarSolution no just my Toyota Sienna minivan stock alternator dual purpose stater battery to small 150 watt inverter and from there to a charger and 2 lithium fe/po batteries also 100 watt solar panel on the roof. I travel a lot so the alternator is working and maybe once a week I check into an electrified campground
Excellent! That sounds like a great setup. Well done for also adding the 100 Watt solar panel, I bet that helps you a lot. Does the inverter have a configurable Low Voltage Disconnect [LVD] option? If so you, setting this to a relatively high value would ensure that your inverter turns off soon after you turn the engine off. There are also smart 12V relays available designed specifically for this purpose. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your travels! Jesse
Can you do either one of these 3 while you have solar panels also charging house bank?
Hello Southern Tripper, thank you for your question. Charging your batteries with an alternator and/or DC/DC charge controller does not exclude the possibility to add additional charging sources such as solar panels. Good luck! All the best, Jesse.
Hi Jessie
Thanks for your videos... I have a alternator with a built-in regulator.and I am starting my little energy thing at my home ...to cut my coast I would like your best set up diagram that I can use.
Thanks.
Hello Gifford, it is good to hear from you. Could you perhaps further clarify what you want to accomplish? Thank you, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution I'm not a expert in this thing am just trying something...
After watching some of ur videos am trying to set up a system, that I can used the car alternator to charge the battery to run my home.
Sounds like a great project Gifford! If you need my personal support, you can book one of the service options on the main website. Good luck with your project! Jesse.
@@SolarSolution Thanks
Good video! I have a long question my solar pannel is connected to the house battery in the same manner as #3 but i was thinking of connecting it with my starter which has a tendancy to discharge if i park the car long-term. However the starter is connected to the alternator so i'm guessing running both at the same time would be bad? Maby install a relay in between the dc-dc and starter to switch off the connection ones the car is turned on?
Hello Nico, thank you for your question. Do you know what the combined maximum output of the solar panel and the alternator is? And what is the capacity of your starter battery?
@@SolarSolution don't know about the alternator but the pv pannel is 200w so some 15-20 amp current wouldnt be to far from the mark. The battery in the house is around 95ah and 85ah for the starter they are both agm.
Finally a simple clear explanation. Thanks.
It is good to hear you appreciated the video, thank you for your message. Jesse.
Wow. This is the best vid I've seen in a long while. Great explanation.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can the first system (parallel) be used for one stage of charging, in addition to a solar charge controller and panel? My thinking being that the deep cycle batteries are getting their 3 stages of charging from the solar, and getting 1 stage from the energy passing through the starter battery from the alternator??
On the DC/DC charge controller setup, do I need to run the ground back to the starter battery like in the diagram, or does a ground to the vehicle frame do the same?
I'm looking to power some outlets in an enclosed trailer I use for property maintenance to charge tool batteries abd run a small 5 gallon air compressor through a power invertor and also power a medium duty recovery winch. Maybe I'm overthinking it and trying to over engineer it a bit, but I was thinking of using a pair deep cycle batteries in parallel in the trailer with a primary charging source of a 100w solar panel fixed to the roof of the trailer, but also trying to figure a way to supplement this by using 12v quick connect from my truck to the trailer routed into the charge controller so if my work load was a bit heavy on one day, the alternator of the truck could help quick charge in supplement to the solar panels. However I don't feel like I have enough knowledge to safely do this without damaging components of my system. Am I overthinking this? Should I just be satisfied with the solar panel on the roof, or is the initial idea as good as I hope it is?
Gr8 video, I did learn something new, but about 4 option having a second alternator?
Hello Graham, thank you for your question. An additional alternator is indeed an option as well, one which several others have successfully implemented. All the best, Jesse.
Great video. But what about small wind turbine chargers? They are not advertised as multi stage smart chargers like mppt.
Hello Genadijus, thank you for your question. Would you mind further clarifying what you would like to know?
Hi, sorry for my poorly put together question :)
I'm trying to find the way how to charge deep cycle batteries for electric fencing for number of paddocks in the fields. I drive to work everyday 1 hour one way, but this won't be enough to charge batteries with dc dc charger?
So now I read about small wind turbines and non of them mention about multistage charging. Do wind turbine charge controllers use multistage charging for deeply discharge batteries, or it's charges like alternator in the car.
Thanks.
If you go "quick and dirty" using a cigarette lighter port, do you still need a dc dc charge controller? And where would I get one?
Thanks for the info! The visuals help a lot!
Being that I'm using my van for camping and not living in it, I believe I'm just going to use a Victron 9 amp DC to DC converter for my single AGM battery I bought at Walmart, and 100 watts of solar. I had looked at a solenoid to charge with, but I'm glad I decided not to go that route. I don't think I need a huge amount of power. That can always be upgraded later. It's in a 1998 E-150 van, and all running inside the cab to behind the driver's seat.
Hi Ben, thanks for your message. I am glad to hear you liked the format of the video! Thanks for sharing your experience with the setup for your van, I am sure this can be valuable feedback for other campers as well. All the best, Jesse.
So Jesse, could you please give an example of of single stage charge? For example, charging the house battery via a traditional 220V mains charger (old school type).
Is it possible to wire both batterys straight to the alternator and use a diode in the positive wire of each battery to keep the batterys separated
Hello Mark, thank you for your question. Diodes are part of traditional solutions for separating batteries. A slight disadvantage is the encountered voltage drop: You might also want to research FET isolators. Good luck! Jesse
Awesome video Jesse, straightforward, clear and simple to understand thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. All the internet knowledge but collated in a single, and short, place. Thanks!
Thank you Tom, that is one of best compliments this video can receive. I am glad you enjoyed it! All the best, Jesse
Could I take the line from the cigarette lighter and put it to a DC to DC charge controller then to my house batteries. This is because my van has a cigarette lighter connection in the back as well .
Hello, wonderful video's. Can you tell me if you are driving and the solar is putting charge as well as the alternator, will this help stop the alternator over heating while charging lithium batteries?
Thanks for a systemic and clear explanation! In my RV, I have chosen the simplest (KISS :)) parallel method with a simple dedicated high-amp manual switch. The parallel method seemed best for me because I have a solar charging system for my house battery as a main system and the alternator is only used when there is not possible to use solar. Stay safe everybody! Linas
Simple & effective, well done!
Thanks for raising my antenna's, discovering in conjunction w/solar, this configuration is most definitely feasible when weather doesn't permit for solar keep up! THANKS to both of you guys!!!
@@SolarSolution can we direct the plus wire of alternator by using a switch to charge each battery at a time...i mean first engine battery then house battery...one at a time
This is a great video, thank you for sharing, I have watched this several tines and I'm sure, I will watch again, great job!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for this KISS Video . Please could you make another video adding solar panels ( with charge controllers) to this mixture ? No information is available online if a house battery can be charged with both alternator and solar panel simultaneously . Many thanks.
You are welcome Muralidhara, and thank you for your feedback. You have an excellent question, I will provide you the answer through a new video. Once it is online I will notify you. All the best, Jesse.
Helpful explanation, I’ll be looking to more of your videos to figure out my solar. But this video did also throw me into new confusion. You say to use an external voltage regulator, & when I search for them, thousands of 12v options pop up. Going with KISS, assume a van conversion like that in your background. Are we supposed to step up voltage, step it down, have it variable, dial in amperage... or is it basically acting as a surge protector? Further confused b/c you said they tend to be pricy, but I’m seeing tons of 12v auto voltage regulators at $30usd. Dc-dc charge controllers seem to start around 7x higher? Thanks though-
Hi Brad, thanks for your message. Your honest feedback makes me smile: I understand the process you are going through. The TH-cam comment section is not the right place for me to help you, but you may contact me through www.solarsolution.co/contact if you wish.
If you want to continue to learn through this channel, you might benefit from either the playlist on 'Charging' or on 'Batteries' [see links below]. Enjoy! Jesse.
CHARGING:
th-cam.com/play/PL9Nrg1XB1hdjlEu3PB506mTRcuDFTJLgu.html
BATTERIES:
th-cam.com/play/PL9Nrg1XB1hdjWs1Fo6SHBhs1ag_PQl4Ct.html
@@SolarSolution Thanks! Off to do some homework-
Can you provide a list of equipment to build a onboard gen system for my F250 diesel that comes with two batteries. I want a system that can fit in the space of a bed tool box and scaled to run a small camper and worksite. I like the Ford F150 hybrid / generator system. 7.8 Kw I believe. I would like the system to be integrated so it would start the truck to recharge the batteries. Is this possible?
Thank you... very helpful. Considering option (3) from Your video noted below, I was wondering if you could recommend an External Regulator, and a DC /DC charge controller combination? Perhaps something off of Amazon
Thanks again.
[Your video:
Deep cycle battery charging with your alternator: The 3 best options]
Hi thanks for your video. I wondered what your opinion was on the Victron Argofet, as this setup isn't covered in your video (i dont think anyhow). Many Thanks
Is it feasible to incorporate an external rectifier into an MPPT charger to increase the charging voltage to 48V, especially when utilizing an inverter? By adjusting the field voltage supplied to the alternator to generate approximately 36V 3phase AC, subsequent rectification yields a voltage close to the minimum requirement for the MPPT charger. This setup has the potential to optimize efficiency for 230V devices while also potentially reducing the necessary cable cross-section.
Great video i have one qiestion i cant seem to find a solid answer to. What AWG size should be run from an starter battery to aux battery to charge it with the vehicle battery?
Thanks for your message, it is good to hear you enjoyed the video. As for your question: You might benefit from this video I shared on DC Wire sizes:
th-cam.com/video/70JyQzeex7s/w-d-xo.html
Let me know whether this answers your question. Good luck and all the best, Jesse.
@@SolarSolution no it really doesnt. Using the 10 awg wire in the 7 blade camper plug does not charge my house battery anything like the speed the alternator charges the battery in my pickup. Obviously the battery is close to the alternator and the wire size from alternator to the battery is 6 awg. So if i connect my house battery as you describe in the alternator video solution 1 what wire size will offer the best efficiency and performance going 15 feet from battery to battery? Im considering using size 2 awg it seems over kill but plenty heavy? How much difference in performance/efficiency would there be between size 2 and 4? Is there any formula specifically to figure this out?
So, how would you implement option 3 with travel trailer, where the house battery is in the trailer and there are times you would not have the trailer with you.
Thank you for your message Sam. If you want personal design support, you are welcome to book a consultation via www.solarsolution.co/services. Good luck! Jesse
@@SolarSolution sorry, I worded that badly, it was meant as a suggestion for another video sometime, that is all.
Thank you for your clarification Sam. You are not the first one with questions about this, so I think it would be a good idea to make a separate video to answer your question. I will let you know once it is online. Thank you and all the best, Jesse.
Another option is run an inverter off of the vehicle, and then use this to power a battery charger designed to charge the house batteries. The advantage is when you have shore power, the same charger can be used to charge the house batteries. A 1,000 watt continuous pure sine wave inverter should be able to run a 60 amp charger.
Your three options do not provide for charging the house batteries from a campground outlet. You would still need a battery charger that runs off of utility main power. So the only real addition to make that work while driving would be an inverter. Many people will already have the inverter. They just need to install a battery selector switch and run heavy wires from the vehicle battery. When they park, they can switch the inverter to house batteries and unplug the charger.
Hi Danny, thanks for your contribution. I am sure your suggestions will inspire others. All the best, Jesse.
he did mention using a cigarette lighter charger in a pinch, but doesn't recommend it. Im guessing that this might be less effective because it limits your output & strains your electrical system as this kind of draw on an accessory outlet will probably cause excess heat & possibly battery / alternator wear. But I could be wrong. I actually thought the same thing. Why not just charge a deep cycle with a low watt charger plugged into a cigarette lighter inverter? Just unplug it when its not running???
I am going to conduct an experiment. On a day with decent weather & I have 2 batteries that are equally discharged, I will charge one battery on the ride to & from work during the day with my inverter, while another is being charged with a 100w solar panel, then compare their charge levels to see how well a 100w panel charges in comparison to an inverter (when charging 2 equally discharged batteries). I will also record drive/charge time & start/end charge levels to compare. It is good to know another way to charge a battery on days with limited sunshine.
I would like to know what external an DC to DC charger are the best for third set up?
Hello Stevan, thank you for your question. The best technical solution for your system depends on you system performance requirements. Have you searched for DC/DC charge controller comparisons yet? Some manufacturer websites are quite resourceful as well. Tip: focus on downloading & comparing the specification sheets, rather than the 'sales pitch' sections on the websites. Good luck! Jesse
I just can't get it figured out enough to make a decision. Can you recommend what I need to get . I plan on building a suburban for across country trip . Basically want battery and solar panel to charge a ice co travel type refrigerator at night when parked .
Hello Joe, thanks for your message. You can find more specific information in one of the playlist I have created on different system topics, here is the link for you: th-cam.com/users/SolarSolutionplaylists
You can also book a consult with me through the main website: www.solarsolution.co/services
Good luck and enjoy! Jesse
Hello Jesse, can I contact solar panel with inverter to my work truck battery to get 110 volt to use to charge my cordless power tools batteries and small 110 volt tools?, thank you sir for your help
Hello again Naq Naq, thank you for your message. For personal design support, you are welcome to book a consultation via www.solarsolution.co/services. Good luck! Jesse
@@SolarSolution thank you so much sir, I will do that
@@SolarSolution I will get all the parts needed then will schedule the video call, thank you sir
Great video!!
DC- DC second option.....
Question..what happens iif I have a battery switch AFD type [off,1,2,all]
1 connected to starter
2 connected to house
on 2 position......the alternator still charge the starter battery?
Thank you!!!!
Very informative video, thank you! I’m using option 1 to connect a flooded starter battery with a AGM leisure battery and I’m now concerned about the lifespan of the components! Would it make a difference if the leisure battery is also regularly charged with an external charger with specific currents for AGM? Thanks!
If you have a solar panel and charger it will charge the AGM at the correct voltage. So a lot of what is said here assumes everything is to be charged via the alternator. But in reality most RV's etc. use a AGM battery and a solar charge controller which will have detected the AGM upon installation and will have it's charge curve set accordingly. So I'm not convinced you need a DC-to-DC charger if you have solar.. I would also be more inclined to charge the starter batt first and with a Smart switch (called a VSR), which will flick over to the House battery when the starter is full. I would not have a direct link to the starter from the house, because if the House gets a short cell, it will drag the Starter down with it. The priority is to start the vehicle. Who cares about the rest.
Does it matter if the house battery is, say, a Lithium Iron Phosphate and the starter is a typical Lead Acid? Does this setup effect option 2?
Hello Tony, thank you for your question. You might want to look into choosing the correct DC/DC charge controller for charging your LiFPO4 bank. Good luck! Jesse
That explains why the 7 point connector and wiring harness I recently installed does not provide for charging the trailer battery bank from the alternator. That is just fine for me as I will use an alternative charging source to preserve alternator life.
Hi Benny, thanks for your message. It is good to hear the video was useful for you. All the best, Jesse.
dude you should put mazon links on these videos. What products specifically should I buy for the regulator and dcdc controllers. IM looking for a small marine setup.
Thank you for your suggestion Yuriah. It seems to make a lot of sense indeed, though what tends to happen is that TH-cam creators upload videos with the primary focus on creating revenue via [amazon] affiliate links.
This channel has a focus on sharing unbiased knowledge rather than creating revenue through affiliate links, so these type of links don't really fit well here.
There are plenty of other valuable videos online which include affiliate links! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Good luck with shopping, I hope you will find what is best for you. Jesse.
Thank you for your suggestion Yuriah. It seems to make a lot of sense indeed, though what tends to happen is that TH-cam creators upload videos with the primary focus on creating revenue via [amazon] affiliate links.
This channel has a focus on sharing unbiased knowledge rather than creating revenue through affiliate links, so these type of links don't really fit well here.
There are plenty of other valuable videos online which include affiliate links! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it. Good luck with shopping, I hope you will find what is best for you. Jesse.
I have a question I have a 2010 Dodge Ram diesel 4x4 with 2 game's can I stick 3 matching agm's I would still be able to get away with a straight line with a dumb solenoid wouldn't I because they're all the same cranking amps. Thanks Bob
Hi Bob, thanks for your message. For personal advice you can contact me through the link as pasted below. Nice truck by the way! Jesse
www.solarsolution.co/contact
Hello Jesse, what do you think if I don't mess with my starter battery alternator setup & just add another separate alternator to charge my house power bank?
Hello Fahmi, thanks for your question. For personal advice you can contact me through www.solarsolution.co/contact
Hi Jesse I'm planning to install house battery( LIPO4 ..4s)..to my motorcycle with sidecar ..the house battery will power accessories inside the sidecar..while starter battery is only dedicated to power motorcycle accessories and lighting..after stator I will changed it's regular regulator to a fast charger type..type of setting parallel #1 with diode and emergency switch after starter battery..how about this type of battery LIPO4 4s.
Hello Cyril, thank you for your question. An interesting project, with great advantages of having a second [Lithium] battery in your sidecar. Would you mind clarifying your system setup and question please? Thank you, Jesse.
Any recommendations for the #3 external automotive charge controller?
What make & model?
Thanks. Can you please edit the post with links to the actual hardware you are explaining here.
You are welcome, I am glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your question: This video explains the main concepts, the final selection of components depends on your specific system requirements.
@@montyhenson2664 Thanks for your questions. For personal advice you can contact me through www.solarsolution.co/contact
General question for all. I am planning on using the third option for a boat installation of regulated high output alternator, lithium house bank and two AGM batteries ( starter and bow thruster). The 30 amp dc-dc charger will feed into a MOSFET isolator that is then feeding into the two identical AGM batteries. My question is: If the lithium batteries shut off for any reason while charging . Will the AGM batteries absorb the voltage spike or power dump and in doing so protect the alternator?
When you have say a string of batteries all in a line, a power bank in other words... is it better to have the incoming recharge at the end of the batteries? Or in the middle somewhere? I keep wondering if where the incoming charge comes in will affect the battery bank a bit this way.
Thanks.
Does this principle apply to lithium ion Li-po batteries or just led acid?
@ 9:08 minutes you show the negative connected to a common ground and the charge controller connected to the positive. All the (solar) charge controllers I have seen use the positive as common and the negative to switch/control the power.
I have tried method 2 on my truck to charge a deep cycle battery, but find that both batteries dont last very long. I have a 105 amp alternator and a 20 amp charge controler. I am going to try using 2 alternators; one for the starting battery and truck electronics, and one for the deep cycle battery through a charge controler.
.
Can you use this to add a battery to a single battery bank?
Good morning, i have a simple question. Would it be possible to charge two 24v battery banks using one battery charger?
Yes it is! It is possible though not recommended. Two separate chargers would be better.
Hi, thx for great video. Be so kind to explain what happens if amps of ac/dc and alternator don't match in option No2. For exampl. if alternator gives 50 amp and ac/dc supports ip to 120 amp. Thx
Hello Niksa, thank you for your message. It is good to hear you enjoyed the video. I would need additional clarification in order to understand your situation. Can you further clarify your system setup please. Thank you. Jesse
What are some commercial product options for implementing wiring option #3?