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yachtsmanbill · 04-01-2012, 05:35 PM

OK Shaun... here goes...

Typically on a twin engine system the port side is for starting and the stbd is for "house", or vice versa. Each generator charges each bank. Stay with me here...
My Roamer (12 volt system) HAD 2 - 6 volt batteries in series which made 12 volts with a huge capacity. I now have it set up with 2 - 12volt batts in parallel. You would run yours in PARALLEL for 6 volts with the double capacity. Set up like this, the gen will equalize the two batteries. If one is bad the other will work, but kinda overtax that generator. With batteries in SERIES, a bad cell will kill the bank (open circuit) and the generator will probably smoke from overload.
Now for the good part... The P & S are tied together with a parallelling solenoid with a switch on the dash. If the start bank is dead, parallel the other house bank to start. Just a redundant start system.
If you need me to, I can draw you up a pretty simple schematic... PM me if you it... ws

04-01-2012, 05:35 PM	#2
yachtsmanbill Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Two Rivers, Wi. Posts: 1,406	Re: 6 Volt Generator Boat Question OK Shaun... here goes... Typically on a twin engine system the port side is for starting and the stbd is for "house", or vice versa. Each generator charges each bank. Stay with me here... My Roamer (12 volt system) HAD 2 - 6 volt batteries in series which made 12 volts with a huge capacity. I now have it set up with 2 - 12volt batts in parallel. You would run yours in PARALLEL for 6 volts with the double capacity. Set up like this, the gen will equalize the two batteries. If one is bad the other will work, but kinda overtax that generator. With batteries in SERIES, a bad cell will kill the bank (open circuit) and the generator will probably smoke from overload. Now for the good part... The P & S are tied together with a parallelling solenoid with a switch on the dash. If the start bank is dead, parallel the other house bank to start. Just a redundant start system. If you need me to, I can draw you up a pretty simple schematic... PM me if you it... ws