Eric; If you set the switch to "1+2" (sometimes labeled "both") then you are paralleling the banks. Set at "1" or "2" it's is not, unless there is another sneaky + current path that you missed. Be sure *everything* positive goes to the main + buss bar, which is then switched between the banks by the big red switch.
Also, you might check behind the switch -- there's not much room back there, and it's easy for the + lugs to move and possibly touch while you are torquing the lugs. -- Dan Fink, Executive Director; Otherpower Buckville Energy Consulting Buckville Publications LLC NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers 970.672.4342 (voicemail) On Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 4:23 PM, SunHarvest <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > 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. > > 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. > > Thoughts and advice on how to correct the wiring if needed? > > Sorry to ask such a simple question, I'm just a little rusty on off-grid. > > Thanks guys. > > Eric Stikes > SunHarvest Solar > >
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