Let me think about that for a bit. What you say above sounds like exactly what I was trying to draw so I suspect my drawing is just misleading. I did assume the battery monitor was hooked on the positive side so maybe that's where the confusion starts from.
I need to pull out the Echo charge installation manual.
But like a said, let me think about it to see if the cobwebs get cleared up. Thanks for keeping me on my toes
-Sven
Sven,
You won't find much in the Xantrex Echo Charger manual as it is a "leftover" from the Heart Interface days and basically unchanged other than the Xantrex logo. It is completely lacking based on how it is most widely used today. it is in dire need of corrections, updated wiring diagrams and omissions about its operation completely left out.
Myself and a couple of other electrical guys in the industry have been after Xantrex for a long while to correct many misleading or flat out incorrect statements and/or omissions from that manual dating back well over 6 years. Sadly I have had to charge a number of customers for diagnostics only to tell them their device is working as it should but the manual was misleading or incorrect or simply left out information that should have been there. I have also had to correct numerous wiring mistakes because the manual lacks sufficient information for many DIY's to wind up properly wiring the device.
I have sent Mariana, Xantrex head of tech support, and her predecessor, detailed instructions of what would be helpful additions and corrections four times now. They freely admit this is an issue, and they field calls frequently, but they are Xantrex so need we say more..
They have all this in email form not just from me but a couple other guys who are as frustrated as I am. it is UNFAIR to the consumer that this manual is so badly written but they could give a rat's ass.. They have made promise after promise that this would get corrected but after six years I doubt were going to see any changes. Add to that that half their tech support guys don't even know how the device operates, and you have one real mess. Xantrex never designed this product so they have apparently put little time and effort into it..
What you will find is one drawing showing a charger hooked to the house battery and the Echo in-between. That charger drawing should also include wind, solar and alternator. This is how Heart originally thought this device would be best used, with their chargers. FF 15+ years and it has been more widely used with solar, wind, alternator as well as shore chargers. Yet it still lacks drawings showing and including wiring diagrams for these devices.
The Echo is a great device with a horse sh*t manual..
Sorry for the rant!!
)
