View Single Post
  #6   Report Post  
posted to alt.sailing
Rick Cortese
 
Posts: n/a
Default electrical question - 2 generators/alternators

Mark Newcomb wrote:
Thanks for the Info. I appreciate it.
I agree that I will need diodes, but let me rephrase the question:
Will both generators be charging the bank at the same time? In other words,
if one generator is putting out 20 amps at 14 volts, and the other is
putting out 10 amps at 14 volts, does that mean that the batteries will
"see" 30 amps at 14 volts? Will the batteries "see" only 20 amps? Only 10
amps? What happens when 1 generator is putting out 20 amps at 14 volts,
while the other is putting out 20 amps at 13.9 volts?


I would bet yes since in the discharged state the both chargers will be
looking at less then ~14V so they will be at maximum charging rate/load.

When the battery are near completely charged one or the other charger
will shut off first depending on its set point. The rectifiers will
prevent one generator from acting like a load/being driven by the other
charger. It may need a bit more in the circuits to get it to work with
the voltage drop across the rectifier. Probably a low Ohm high Wattage
resistor would work. Something like a 10 Ohm 20 Watt or 20 Ohm 10 Watt
may do it.