Victron Argo Diode 160A 2-Battery Isolator

The Victron Argo Diode 160A 2-Battery Isolator charges two banks from one alternator using Schottky diodes.

Two banks from one alternator is the standard arrangement: a starting battery and a house or accessory bank. Isolation is what keeps the starting battery full while house loads run, which a shared connection or a switch left on 'both' cannot do.

Schottky diodes reduce voltage loss to around 0.3V at low current and 0.45V at rated output. That is better than conventional diodes but still enough to affect charging, so the alternator's sensing may need compensating for the banks to reach full charge.

Where compensation is not practical, the FET-based Argo FET range drops under 0.1V and needs none. A hundred and sixty amps across two outputs suits a substantial alternator, and the rating should exceed what it produces. Explore more battery isolators and charging relays.

• Two banks: starting and house
• A switch left on 'both' cannot keep the starter full
• 0.3V low, 0.45V at rated output
• The FET range drops under 0.1V and needs no compensation