Hi,
I have just about finished the updating of my live-aboard boat's
electrical system.
After adding all this stuff a concern has arisen.
With all of todays concern about wasting energy, and the cost thereof,
I am thinking 'is there a way to utilize all the wasted energy from
all the various charging systems after the batteries are charged?
Todays cruising boats, yes mine does still 'go', have a multitude of
charging devices. Engine alternators (cruising), wind chargers (24/7),
solar panels (12/7) etc. My Inverter/Charger should probably be left
out of the equation.
Does anyone know of an inexpensive black box (oxymoron) that would
gather all these sources, combine them, presumably by equalizing the
various voltages into one common voltage, then run this output through
a smart charger device that would charge all the engine and start
batteries and then redirect the surplus power left over from the float
charge to, say, a water heater element or other useful resistive
load?
It would appear to be simple, but then I am a mechanical engineer not
an EE :-)

Just thought.

David