Why should I use an X-SPLIT for split charging rather than a cheap diode splitter or an 1/2/both switch..?
The advantages of an X-SPLIT over a diode splitter have already been mentioned, the disadvantages of 1/2/Both switch have also been illustrated. What has not been mentioned are the possible problems that can occur with battery banks being charged via diode splitters where the alternator is being controlled via an alternator charge controller. Let us assume that the auxiliary battery bank is much larger than the engine start battery or is deeply depleted then the potential voltage drop through the channel feeding the auxiliary battery bank can be much higher than that supplying the engine battery. So the alternator charge controller kicks in because it has detected a deeply discharged auxiliary battery and increases it’s output to compensate for the higher voltage drop incurred by the diode in the auxiliary circuit. However the engine start battery is not depleted so the voltage drop is normal and it can be up to 0.5 volts less than that of the auxiliary battery. This means that the eng
