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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks Allan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I always value your insight. There is a TriMetric
on this system but I'm looking at the FM80. I wrestled with the idea that the
systems are connected as the circuits between the two banks are not complete.
However, as soon as I made the connections the voltage on the new bank dropped
and the old bank "seemed" to be rejuvenated. Yes, it could simply be an issue of
I didn't witness a "drop" but before and after voltage was off by about 2
volts (down from 25 to 23) according to the charge controller. Not a lot but
enough to raise an eyebrow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Eric</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=allan@positiveenergysolar.com
href="mailto:allan@positiveenergysolar.com">Allan Sindelar</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 11, 2012 4:00
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Marine battery
bank switch</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=moz-cite-prefix>Eric,<BR>It still doesn't make sense to me. Unless
you have a complete circuit, the banks are not in parallel, and your switch on
the positives prevents a complete circuit of both at the same time. Common
negatives should not be an issue - after all, in a standard off grid system,
the DC - and the AC neutral are common to the same ground rod and thus
equipment bonding. A Trimetric TM2025 has a second battery voltage sense
function that requires the negatives be common; mine tells me the voltage of
my main 24V system and my 12V generator starting battery, and all works
well.<BR><BR>So I question your perception that one is stronger and the other
weaker. How do you perceive this new difference, and could it simply be a
error in perception? One issue with a switch on two banks is that you can't
use a single amp-hour meter, such as a TriMetric. So I would tend to place
less value on subjective perception without the metrics to back it up.
<BR>Allan<BR><BR>
<DIV class=moz-signature><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><B>Allan
Sindelar</B></FONT><BR><SMALL><A
href="mailto:Allan@positiveenergysolar.com"><FONT color=#000099
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><U>Allan@positiveenergysolar.com</U></FONT></A></SMALL><FONT
face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><BR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">NABCEP
Certified Photovoltaic Installer<BR>NABCEP Certified Technical Sales
Professional<BR>New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician<BR>Founder and Chief
Technology Officer<BR><B>Positive Energy, Inc.</B><BR>3209 Richards Lane (note
new address)<BR>Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507<BR><B>505 424-1112</B><BR><A
href="http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/"
target=_blank><U>www.positiveenergysolar.com</U></A><O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR></SPAN></DIV>On 10/11/2012 4:23 PM, SunHarvest
wrote:<BR></DIV>
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<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> </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> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thoughts and advice on how to correct the
wiring if needed?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </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> </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>
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