Doug, could you be more specific, why do you recommend getting rid of the
combiner?

I would think the problem is that the charger takes its lead from the main
bank which probably requires more charging than the starter and consequently
the starter bank is being over charged.

I know of combiners, isolators and echo chargers, but do not know which is
the best. Without one of them, you need dual outputs from both the charger
and alternator or you need a 1/2/both switch which is no longer the
recommended approach. I use an echo charger and only connect the charger to
the main bank and it works great.

Don't slam me hear, I'm still trying to get a handle on best practices, and
why, myself.

John


"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
Yes. The purpose of a combiner is to connect the starter battery
to the charger when it needs sharging. Either get rid of the combiner
(recommended) or remove the charging connection from the
charger to the starter battery.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Marc" wrote in message
...
I suspect something is wrong, but need confirmation. I have three
deep cycle wet group 24's as the house bank and 1 deep cycle wet
group 24 as the starting bank. A 150 amp combiner is installed
between the banks and both banks are connected to individual legs of a
xantrex 20 amp charger.

The boat sits in a slip with shore power connected, charger on, and a
reefer running 24/7 off the house bank.

I am losing electrolyte faster in the starting bank than the house
bank.

Question : Since I have a combiner, should the charger be hooked up
to both banks? Could this be causing the electrolyte loss?