victron energy ARGODIODE Battery Isolator with Voltage Compensating Diode User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- victron energy
Table of Contents
victron energy ARGODIODE Battery Isolator with Voltage Compensating Diode
ARGODIODE Battery Isolator with voltage compensating diode and alternator energize input
Diode battery isolators allow simultaneous charging of two or more batteries
from one alternator, without connecting the batteries together. Discharging
the accessory battery for example will not result in also discharging the
starter battery.
The ArgoDiode battery isolators feature a low voltage drop thanks to the use
of Schottky diodes: at low current the voltage drop is approximately 0,3 V and
at the rated output approximately 0,45 V.
Warning: hot surface, mount the Argodiode on non-flammable surface only!
Compensation diode
All models are fitted with a compensation diode that can be used to slightly
increase the output voltage of the alternator. This compensates for the
voltage drop over the diodes in the isolator.
Care should be taken however to keep cable lengths short and of sufficient
cross section.
Example:
When a current of 100 A flows through a cable of 50 mm² cross section (AWG 0)
and 10 m length (30 ft), the voltage drop over the cable will be 0,26 Volt.
Similarly a current of 50 A through a cable of 10 mm² cross section (AWG 7)
and 5 m length (15 ft) will result in a voltage drop of 0,35 Volt!
Alternator energize input
Some alternators need DC voltage on the B+ output to start charging. Obviously, DC will be present when the alternator is directly connected to a battery. Inserting a Diode or FET splitter will however prevent any return voltage/current from the batteries to the B+, and the alternator will not start. The new Argodiode isolators have a special current limited energize input that will power the B+ when the engine run/stop switch is closed.
Installation (see figure below)
- Always disconnect the battery minus cables before making alterations to the electrical system.
- Connect the positive output of the supplying source (alternator) to the input of the battery isolator.
- Connect the positive connection of the battery sets to output 1, 2 and (optional) 3 respectively.
- Optional: connect the `Energize’ blade terminal to the engine run/stop switch. Minimum cable cross section: 2,5 mm².
- Optional: connect the voltage sense of the alternator to the compensation output of the Argodiode splitter.
- Connect the negative poles of the battery sets to the common negative bus bar.
Victron Energy B.V. / De Paal 35 / 1351 JG ALMERE / The Netherlands
Phone: (+31) (0)36 535 97 00
/www.victronenergy.com / e-mail:
sales@victronenergy.com
