To prevent the
starter battery and the batteries supplying
the lighting and bowthruster from draining
each other in installations above a certain
size they are kept separate.
As a result the charge system is more complicated
than in installations with only one service
battery: the alternator on the propulsion
engine has to recharge all the battery sets
individually and the same applies to the
battery charger. Although it is possible
to select the battery source manually, using
a battery switch, much better results can
be achieved by placing a diode splitter
in the positive cable connection from the
alternator to the various batteries. Almost
all Mastervolt battery chargers come standard
with two or three outputs. Only when two
or more banks have to be charged with high
current, a battery isolator has to be fitted
(75A + 100A optional).
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Manual switch versus battery isolator
The advantage of a manual
switch is that, if needed, the battery
supplying the system can be parallel
connected to the starter battery. Before
doing so, however, ensure the switch is
fitted with a ‘dual’ mode. A downside
to this method is that both batteries
can become discharged at the same
time. A more reliable option is to use
a diode splitter. This aluminum profile
has three or more diodes mounted inside
it that isolate the charge current and
prevent it recirculating. The diode splitter
is ‘solid state’ and will therefore not
wear. The Mastervolt battery chargers
and alternator regulators are prepared
to operate with battery isolators
as a voltage drop, annexe to the use of
this kind of splitters, will be
compensated for automatically.
Solid state -
maintenance free
Charging is fully automatic
once you have fitted a battery isolator
or a diode splitter to isolate the
current. As there are no moveable parts
there is no wear. The (average) voltage
drop for 0.7V can be compensated for in
different ways:
| 1. |
In Mastervolt appliances
with sense wires (pos. and neg.),
the voltage drop is
automatically compensated for. |
| 2. |
If the charger
is not fitted with the sense wires,
a jumper or dip switch setting will
have to be made to increase the
voltage. |
| 3. |
Mastervolt alternators
equipped with the Alpha Pro charge
regulator can be adjusted
to the correct charge voltage so
that the voltage drop is compensated
for. |
Switching from
the old to the new line
In June 2003 we introduced
our new line of Battery Isolators, Battery
mates and the Battery watch. With
this new product line we made some changes
on installation sensitive points
like connections and dimensions. We advise
everybody who uses the previous
Battery Isolator in a “standard” application
to change the mounting template according
to the attached drawing and to change
the cable sets / bill of material with
cable terminals with M8 hole instead
of the current used terminals with M6
hole.
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| The
Battery Mate: electronic voltage drop free
diode splitter A
Battery Mate can be installed in existing
or new systems to improve the charging
process. This appliance was designed to
charge up to three separate battery sets
at the same time. The Battery Mate
is compatible with any type of alternator.
Conventional diode splitters will
create a voltage drop of 0.7 to 1.5 DC,
depending on the charge current, resulting
in a very incomplete charge process.
The Battery Mate ensures that the batteries
are quickly and fully charged without
requiring adjustment of the alternator.
With this system you can keep the
standard alternator while improving the
charge process dramatically. A battery
charger and/or alternator is connected
to the input side on the Battery Mate,
while two or
three batteries are connected to the output
side. Each of these batteries can then
be charged to a maximum of 160A
at 12V or 24V. See also brief specifications
below.
Technical specifications
| Model |
Battery Mate
1602/1603 |
| Artikelnr. |
08-31-16020
/ 08-31-16030 |
| dimensions
hxbxd. |
207x140x80
mm 207x140x80 mm |
| Weight |
1 kg /1 kg |
| no. of batteries |
2 / 3 |
 |
| The re-styled Battery
Mate, article no. 08-31-16030. One
output for alternator/battery
charger or both and three outputs
for three separate batteries. We
also offer a version with
2 outputs. The previous MV 1602/1603
series have been replaced by these
voltage drop free models.
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The Battery Watch
The Mastervolt
Battery Watch is designed to prevent a
service and/or starter battery being
discharged below a user adjustable preset
voltage. The unit consists of a high current
electronic switch capable of switching
loads of up to 150 amps. The load is disconnected
when the battery voltage drops below a
previously set value. See chart overleaf
for set points. The switch off and
switch on values are user adjustable by
a set of easy to use DIP switches.
When any of these set points are reached
a warning LED will light up inaddition
to an audible alarm. The unit has an in
built hysterisis to allow for a short
term voltage drop caused by switching
on a heavy load. The Battery Watch has
an extremely low current drain of
only 4mA in "off mode" and 5mA
in "on mode" A remote switch
can also be wired
enabling the unit to function as a battery
isolator.
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