Jeff wrote:
Rick Cortese wrote:

Mark Newcomb wrote:

I have a question that I would appreciate an answer to from anyone
who has a clue.

My question is this: can you have 2 generators (or alternators)
charging the same battery bank at the same time? For example, if I
have 2 wind generators will they both charge my house bank
simultaneously? Or, can only one generator/alternator be in use at
one time?



IMO: Could cause problems. It would be safer if you put at least one
blocking diode or rectifier in the circuit. Maybe a selenium
rectifiers that is rated at current qs to handle the generators output
like those used in motorcycles.


There is no problem that I know of. My boat (and several hundred sister
ships) has twin engine that feed a house bank with no diodes, etc. In
addition, many have solar panels and/or wind generators that are always
connected. Further, they use a combiner to also charge two starting
batteries, and it all magically works.

Alternators 'cept the solar panel which probably has blocking diodes
which have diodes built in. The OP may have misspoke but he included
generator.

I'm just old enough to remember old style generators that we used to
hook up to 12V batterys to see them run. I seem to recall my family had
a pit bike type minibike made out of a 12V lead acid automotive battery
hooked to a generator/drive motor for riding around the farm *but* I am
really foggy on that one. My memory of things in the 50's is really bad.