Add a third to the list. One of my boats has an old ferro-resonant type
charger, the other has a smart charger. The former boat has Volvo diesels,
the latter has Cats. Both boats have 110 volt generators. When getting
underway, I fire up the engines, disconnect shore power, usually start up
the generators (which also powers the chargers), and get underway. Once in
a while I remember the charger is still on and will turn it off at the
electrical panel, but most of the time they run along with the alternator.
Never had any problems. I suspect the chargers simply back off the current
output since the alternator can supply much more current.

As I think about it though, this may not be a good idea, although I can't
think of an electrical reason why it would hurt anything. Good question.

Eisboch

"Rick & Linda Bernard" wrote in message
...
I also start my engine with the charger hooked up and running and like
Jeff
do not remember seeing warnings in the manual. I guess the only fear is
starting the engine with a weak battery that needed the charger to supply
enough amps. The next time you start the engine (maybe 20 miles offshore)
you find a weak battery that has to little gas. That condition you would
like to discover at the dock where a replacement battery is minutes away.


"Jeff Morris" wrote in message
...
Actually, I was honestly wondering if there was a specific reason. I
had
been
given that advice many years ago (always disconnect shore power before
starting)
but in fact I have done it many times with no ill affects. Since my
system
frequently has several charging devices running (2 alternators + solar)
I
would
think that the only item at risk would be the shore power charger, a
Heart
2000.
I've scanned the manual and found nothing warning against starting the
engine
while the charger is running, but perhaps I missed something.

I can think of two problems: first is the possibility of starting with a
dead
battery so the full load is on the charger. Of course, my presumption
is
that
the boat has been on shore power for a while, and a dead battery is
unlikely.
The other is that different "smart" regulators and chargers will get
conflicting
signals as to the charge state - from time to time I've had my big
alternator
with its smart regulator decide to go into float mode and the load
shifts
over
to the other smaller alternator.

However, neither of these issues are a real concern if all I'm doing is
running
the engines at the dock for some test. So I'll repeat the question:
Why
must
you remove the shore power before starting? What is at risk? Is this a
holdover from the days of more primitive equipment?



"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
And why is that? Do I have to disconnect my solar panels when I run
the
engine?

Assuming you have a photovoltaic charge controller, ordinarily not.
AFAIK. As
an unaplogetic ol'stinkpotter, I'm not extremely well acquainted with
solar
panels. You would be better prepared to discuss them than I.

Beyond that, I'm not interested in firing up another anal retentive
****ing
contest of dueling websites with you, Jeff.

If you have a contrasting opinion that it is advisable to run the
battery
charger and the alternator at the same time, please present it.