Do you consider it better to have one or 2 sets of house batteries?

From the material I have read and some practical experience one seems
to be a better answer with a separate battery for the starter or as
the dock side house battery.

I think Nigel Calder goes with the one set of batteries for the house?

http://www.amplepower.com/primer/prefer/index.html

" The Preferred System

The Preferred System consists of a single house bank, and a dedicated
starter battery for all engines. A separate generator battery is
sometimes present. "

"......a two house bank system is no longer necessary. In fact, the
more battery banks in use, the less reliable the system will be, while
also increasing cost and management problems."

"Instead of a 1-2-both switch, a simple parallel switch can be used to
start the engine from the house bank if needed. "

"But, if you make the house bank from parallel batteries a cell
failure in one only knocks out that battery."

"There are other positive benefits of a single house bank versus two."
"...a gain in effective capacity results because the rate of discharge
relative to battery capacity is reduced."


FYI
http://www.amplepower.com/wire/dual_alt/index.html

Dual Alternator Controller

Installation and Operating Instructions

Ample Power Models DAC-12 and DAC-24 August 16, 2005

INCLUDING DIAGRAM

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http://www.amplepower.com/wire/next/nextp.html

Next step reg. DIAGRAM