The machine has two 4D batteries for the 24v system, the battery i've installed in a smaller group24 deep cycle battery from a camper. So the ratings are quite different. I just installed the 4d batteries brand new and i do not want to pull load overnight constantly from one of two batteries. I want to leave them un touched.
That Vanner equalizer is quite the expensive unit, for now i'm going to try a cheaper alternative.
The heater is 12-22 volt on the fuel pump. If i wanted to change it to run off 24v i would need to replace that, and the glow plug i believe. But as i said before, i want to leave the starter batteries alone and only use the auxiliary battery to power the diesel heater.
Delmer you have a good point, i totally forgot about the buck converters not going to a charging voltage. That wouldn't help me at all charging the auxiliary battery. The solar chargers are a good idea, but from what i've seen they can only handle 23-24v, and the alternator puts out 26-28 volts from what i've seen. Not sure if the solar charger would be able to handle that.
Willie, the diesel heater is a chinese knock off of a webasto bunk heater. It's a hot air heater that i've installed an EGR cooler inline of the exhaust to scavenge the waste heat to heat the coolant as well. The machine works out in the bush during the winter, miles from any source of electricity. And i'll be starting it in temps down to -20C no colder. I just wont work the machine if it's colder, i don't want to break something and have to fix it in the cold.
1693ta, i didn't know about isolators, looking them up i see that most want them to be installed directly from the alternator, and not from the first battery. Would i instead put a cable from the first battery to the "alternator" post on the isolator, and then hook up the auxillary battery to the correct terminal and then nothing to the "starter battery" post?
Treemuncher, i already installed the auxillary battery and really dont want to tie into the starting batteries. I like the idea of having an isolator like 1693ta mentioned.
I want to make the system as simple and easy as possible. I put the controller for the heater inside the cab since it is the least bit weatherproof. So it would be nice to make the charging automatic as well so i can easily just set the timer for the next day and then easily hit my master switch and go home. Not having to worry about any connections, or switches.