<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 9.00.8112.16450">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I recently installed a Blue Sea 4-way marine
battery switch to switch between two battery banks, one new bank and one old
bank. I was hesitant to connect the negative home-runs from both banks onto one
common bus (connected directly to a ground rod), which then connects
back to the DC load center at the inverter. But that's how I was advised to wire
it by an electrician friend. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It appears now that the newer bank was
performing quite a bit better prior to being connected to the marine switch
(and neg lead to the neg bus) and the old bank is now performing better
than before. I think my electrician buddy was incorrect and that even the
positive leads being on a switch and neg lead on a neg bus, the banks are still,
to some extent, effectively paralleled and that the new bank is
being pulled down by being indirectly connected to the old
bank.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thoughts and advice on how to correct the wiring if
needed?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sorry to ask such a simple question, I'm just a
little rusty on off-grid.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks guys.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Eric Stikes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>SunHarvest Solar</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><A
onmouseover="window.status='Go to Sustainable Energy Group website'; return true;"
title="Solar & Energy Efficiency"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;"
href="www.sustainableenergygroup.com"
name="Solar & Energy Efficiency"></A> </DIV></BODY></HTML>