Should I Use a Battery Isolator When I Am Charging Lithium Batteries With My Boat’s Alternator?
17 September 2023 · 4 min · 11K views
What this video covers
Lithium batteries utilize an internal Battery Management System (BMS) that can abruptly disconnect the battery from the charging circuit to protect the cells.1:46 When an alternator is connected directly to a lithium house bank, this sudden disconnection leaves the alternator without a load while it is still outputting current.2:17 This loss of connection typically destroys the alternator.2:56 To prevent this failure, install a FET-type battery isolator on the alternator output.3:08 This device ensures the alternator always maintains a connection to a battery bank, even if the lithium BMS triggers a disconnect.3:09 While some lithium batteries feature separate charging and load ports to mitigate this risk, a battery isolator remains the standard protection for drop-in lithium installations.3:52 Always verify if your specific battery configuration requires this additional hardware to safeguard the alternator from voltage spikes caused by sudden load loss.
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