Isolation diodes & relays

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Navigation and communication are crucial for safety and situational awareness. Interfaces like NMEA 2000/0183, suitable sensors, and correct voltage are essential.

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4 products

Deine Fragen / Unsere Antworte

What is the practical difference between an isolation diode and an isolation relay on a boat?
Isolation diodes work without moving parts and do not require a control signal, but they cause a voltage drop of approx. 0.5–0.7 V. Isolation relays switch actively, are almost lossless, but require a control line and have mechanical contacts that can wear out over the years.
How high should the rated current of my isolation diode or isolation relay be?
As a rule of thumb: Take the maximum charging current of your alternator or charger and add at least 20–30% buffer. If several charging sources can be active simultaneously, the currents add up – the component must be able to withstand this continuously.
Can I use an isolation diode also with an external charger or solar controller?
Yes, but make sure that the output voltage of the charger compensates for the diode voltage drop, otherwise the batteries will not be fully charged. Many modern chargers have their own isolation logic or a compensation function – in this case, an isolation relay is often the cleaner solution.
My isolation diode gets very hot during operation – is that normal?
A certain amount of heat generation is normal, as diodes convert the voltage drop into heat. However, if the housing becomes unpleasantly hot to the touch, the diode is either undersized or has too little air circulation around it – then check the mounting location and, if necessary, switch to a larger model.