Bavaria 38 alternator problem

[Ross]

Hi,
The alternator now does not charge the house batteries, but charges the ships battery normally.
Shore power or gen set charges both ship and house batteries normally.
Any help appreciated
Thanks
Ross

[Lyra]

Probably a defective charge splitter.
Don't know where it  is on the 38, on my boat it is installed on the bulkhead at the back of the engine compartment.
follow the + wire from the alternator to a "box" where it splits to two wires.
Check voltage at each output - should be about 1V below the voltage at the input.

[Symphony]

If it has failed consider replacing with a VSR rather than a diode as there is less voltage drop with a VSR.

[patprice]

Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.

[Nigel]

If it has failed consider replacing with a VSR rather than a diode as there is less voltage drop with a VSR.

I agree, although a smart charge controller can overcome this.

My ex-boat-partner had exactly the same problem on his boat, for a whole week, after being on the one we shared. Then he remembered that his boat had a 1-2-B-0 switch.

[Ross]

Thanks for your replies
Changed the "multi battery isolator" this morning which appears to have solved the problem.
Will probably change to a vsr in the new year.

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers

Ross

[Symphony]

Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.

I used one from BEP Marine on my old 37. also added a switch cluster which isolates each bank and has a parallel switch for emergencies. You can get them from Merlin Equipment www.powerstore.com

[tiger79]

Before any of you go rushing out to buy a VSR, take a moment to check the spec of your existing charge isolator.  For some time, Bavaria have been fitting low-loss isolators.  My boat has a Quick ECS163, which has a maximum volt drop of only 0.2V, and is quoted as having a miniscule loss of 0.05V at 20A charging.  There's little point replacing that with a VSR!

[ANTREVELL]

Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

[tiger79]

Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!

[patprice]

Symphony my B42 has the splitter in the engine room and I must admit I do not know much about it. That annoys me.
Can you recommend a VSR model, I should pack a spare.

I used one from BEP Marine on my old 37. also added a switch cluster which isolates each bank and has a parallel switch for emergencies. You can get them from Merlin Equipment www.powerstore.com

Thanks for that....

[Symphony]

Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!

This is a recent thing and older boats will have a blocking dioded which is easily and inexpensively replaced with a VSR.

[dawntreader]

Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

This may help

[tiger79]

Please can any one tell me what is a VSR  how expensive and how easy to install

Regards Tony  Bav 33 Pegatha

You don't need a VSR, you'll already have a low-loss isolator.  It's a complete waste of money to replace it with a VSR!

This is a recent thing and older boats will have a blocking dioded which is easily and inexpensively replaced with a VSR.

Isn't Tony's boat rather recent?