start/house battery charging problem

[Bob & Tracey]

In our 4104 I have changed the 12 volt system so that I now have a start battery bank and a house bank. I installed a Blue Sea automatic charging relay (http://www.bluesea.com/products/7620/ML-ACR_Automatic_Charging_Relay_-_12V_DC_500A) which will automatically combine battery banks while charging and will isolate banks when one is discharging. My problem is that when I manually disconnect battery banks while the engine is running the start batteries voltage climbs to over 17 volts. I have found that the house batteries are the only ones with a connection to the voltage regulator so that when the house batteries are disconnected there is no voltage at the regulator. Can I connect both the house and start batteries to the regulator? This basically is what happens when the banks are connected. Thoughts please...

Thank you,
Bob

[luvrbus]

The crank batteries should be connected to the regulator not the house batteries 17 volts it is not picking up the ground those are nice units a little pricey and touchy though

[Bob & Tracey]

Got it new, ebay $50. Can I run a lead from the main positive terminal on the alternator or should I connect closer to the batteries?

[TomC]

The engine alternator regulator should be connected to the starting batteries. Then when you isolate the house batteries, the starting batteries continue to be charged-especially important at night. The jumper to charge the house batteries should be taken off the starter batteries, through the isolator, then to the house batteries. Then all batteries are being regulated. Good luck, TomC

[Bob & Tracey]

Thanks for the help.

Bob