Victron Energy ARGO DIODE Battery Isolator 80-2SC

Product Description

The ARGO DIODE Battery Isolator 80-2SC allows simultaneous charging of two or more batteries from a single alternator without connecting the batteries together. This design prevents the discharge of the starter battery when the accessory battery is in use.

Featuring Schottky diodes, these isolators offer a low voltage drop, approximately 0.3 V at low current and 0.45 V at rated output.

Warning: The unit has a hot surface. Mount the ARGO DIODE only on non-flammable surfaces.

Compensation Diode

All models are equipped with a compensation diode. This diode can be used to slightly increase the alternator's output voltage, thereby compensating for the voltage drop across the isolator's diodes.

For optimal performance, it is crucial to use short cables with sufficient cross-sectional area.

Example of voltage drop in cables: A current of 100 A through a 50 mm² (AWG 0) cable of 10 m length results in a 0.26 V drop. Similarly, a 50 A current through a 10 mm² (AWG 7) cable of 5 m length results in a 0.35 V drop.

Installation Guide

Follow these steps for proper installation:

1. Always disconnect the battery negative cables before making any alterations to the electrical system.
2. Connect the positive output of the power source (alternator) to the isolator's input terminal.
3. Connect the positive terminals of the battery sets to the respective output terminals: Output 1, Output 2, and optionally Output 3.
4. Optional: Connect the alternator's voltage sense terminal to the compensation output of the ARGO DIODE splitter.
5. Optional: Connect the "Energize" terminal (often associated with the engine run/stop switch) to the engine's run/stop switch using a minimum 2.5 mm² cable. This connection is shown in the product diagram.
6. Connect the negative poles of all battery sets to the common negative bus bar.

Diagrammatic Representation of Connections: The diagram shows the "Engine run/stop switch" connected to the "D+" (61) and "Comp" terminals. The alternator positive output connects to the "INPUT" terminal. Battery positive terminals connect to "OUT1", "OUT2", and "OUT3" (optional). The common negative bus bar connects to "B-". The "Comp" terminal is also linked to the alternator's voltage sense.