From what I have learned about batteries, it is not recommended to
charge dissimilar batteries or dissimilar states of charge. Deep cycle
batteries require a different charge cycle than a start battery.
Granted, most of the time there will be no problem, but when I want to
run an equalizing charge on the deep cycle battery I can't do it with
the current setup. In fact, yesterday my smart charger (Schumaker
2/10/30/60 SpeedCharger) went into error mode probably because the
1315 was switching back and forth as the charger was trying to do it's
thing. I don't really know, but once the ground on the start battery
was pulled, the charger was OK.

Keith

On May 10, 2009, at 9:10 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Once you add or use the battery switches it is no longer automatic.
> I also
> see no problem letting the charger also top off the starting
> battery. If the
> charger is really large, having another battery connect during the
> bulk
> charge may actually give you better results. What size is your
> charger and
> house battery? My present and past RV used the bi-directional combiner
> concept and it has worked very well for nine years.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Keith Ovregaard [mailto:kovregaard@gmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 12:04 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Surepower 1315 test report
>
> Certainly a relay would have worked for my setup, but since I already
> have the separator installed, I might as well add the battery switches
> to isolate the batteries while hooked up to the high-amp charger.
> Otherwise, this system works very well and I don't have to do a thing.
> It's totally automatic.
>
> Keith O.
> 90 Westy Syncro "VikingWagen"
>
> On May 9, 2009, at 7:26 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>> At that point what you really want is an ignition switch or
>> alternator
>> controlled relay. A lot cheaper than the combiner.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Keith Ovregaard
>> Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 6:05 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Surepower 1315 test report
>>
>> To answer the question of whether disconnecting the ground from the
>> 1315 battery separator would force the battery banks to separate, the
>> answer is no. The 1315 must be able to sense voltage between the
>> batteries without being grounded. FYI, my 1315 is wired with a manual
>> boost switch and LED indicator, for what that's worth. That shouldn't
>> have anything to do with normal operation. I also isolated the 1315
>> from the frame ground to see if that had any effect and it didn't.
>> So,
>> it looks like the installation of a main switch on each battery will
>> do the trick to guarantee isolation of the batteries.
>>
>> Keith O.
>> 90 Westy Syncro "VikingWagen"
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>