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April 18, 2023

12 volt and 24 volt Smart Battery Isolators with 80+ amps pass through and solid-state control

hybrid 180 amp dual battery isolator

180 Amp hybrid battery isolator.
12 volt battery isolator with solid state technology

Battery isolator (or split charge relay) allows an auxiliary battery to be charged by the vehicle's system, yet prevents the starting battery from being run down by your equipment when the engine is off.

UPS for automobiles and cars
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This is a solid state relay. It uses state-of-the art microprocessor solid state control of the charging and isolation functions, but uses a solid state relay to control the big currents.

There are no moving parts in this unit, so it can withstand harsh operating conditions from -40°C to +50°C. The microprocessor unit constantly scans the voltage level of each of the two terminals for appropriate and timely On or Off connections. It can be used either as a battery low voltage protector or a battery isolator with manual over-ride.

This solid state battery isolator uses the latest MOSFET which have the minimal internal resistance of 2mOhm which translates to a total voltage drop of 0.2V even at full load of 80A. It has an idle current consumption of 0.015A. There is no moving parts and the electronic components are conformal coated to give a safe, spark free and long lasting operation in the battery and engine electric environment.

This battery-isolator is used to control battery systems that charge off the vehicle's alternator. They won't let the vehicle battery be used to power the load unless the engine is on. It will allow the extra battery to be charged at whatever rate the alternator can put out, so it needs big enough cables to do that. Big lead acid batteries when they are empty can accept 150+ amps, so rate the wires at the maximum current of the alternator (see the Q/A section below).

The features are as follows:
First it allows you to safely charge an external lead acid battery from the car electrical bus. It relies on the alternator's smarts to give it a good charge. In this mode it is called a split charge relay, or dual battery relay.

Second it allows you to run equipment in a trailer or RV without disconnecting the vehicle power bus. While the vehicle's engine is running all equipment is running from the car's power. When the engine is turned off the trailer equipment is run from the auxiliary battery only.


Third, the auxiliary battery can be a deep cycle type designed for running lights, TV, refrigerator, etc.

Fourth, it can be used as a low-voltage cutout to keep the car's battery from being drawn below 12.6 volts.

Fifth, no external diodes or current sense resistors are needed, the unit is a self-contained solid-state dual battery isolation relay.


Note: Unlike the solenoid version of our battery isolators the voltage from the auxiliary battery can feed back to the vehicle through the body diode of the MOSFET switches. This path has a lot of resistance compared to when the MOSFETs are on, and there is a 0.6 volt diode drop, but it will feed back into the vehicle.
Model Price for quantity 1-10 Price for quantity 11-100 Quantity 101-500

PST-SSB2180

for 12 volt systems
$94
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$80 $68

PST-SSB2280


for 24 volt systems
$94
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$80 $68
Detailed Specifications PST-SSB2180 for 12 volt systems PST-SSB2280 for 24 volt systems
Max Charge Current 80 Amps, controlled by the vehicle's alternator. 80 Amps, controlled by the vehicle's alternator.
Maximum pass-through current 80 amps (30 minutes)
(80 amps is the maximum current that the solid state relay can handle.)
80 amps (30 minutes)
(80 amps is the maximum current that the solid state relay can handle.)
Maximum pass-through wattage 1120 watts (see the pass-through current above) 2240 watts
Continuous pass-through current 75 Amps 75 Amps
Continuous rated pass-through wattage 1060 Watts 2120 Watts
Transition time (Hysteresis delay) 15 seconds decision time, instantaneous switching time 15 seconds decision time, instantaneous switching time
Charge voltage Determined by the alternator Determined by the alternator
Type of battery charged Lead acid, VRLA, SLA, marine, deep discharge, etc. Lead acid, VRLA, SLA, marine, deep discharge, etc.
Nominal Battery Voltage 12 Volts 24 Volts
Size of module 87 x 67 x 36mm
(112 x 67 x 36mm including mounting flange)
3.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 inches
(4.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 including mounting flange)
87 x 67 x 36mm
(112 x 67 x 36mm including mounting flange)
3.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 inches
(4.4 x 2.6 x 1.4 including mounting flange)
In Isolator Mode the car battery connects when the vehicle bus exceeds 13.2 volts 26.4 volts
In Isolator Mode the car battery disconnected when vehicle electrical bus is less than 12.6 volts 25.2 volts
In Battery Protection mode the connection voltage is 12.5VDC 25 volts
In Battery Protection Mode the disconnect voltage is 11.8VDC 23.6VDC
Maximum operating voltage 15.5 volts 31 volts
Over voltage protection set point 16V 32V
Idle current when relay is off 15 mA 15 mA
Idle current when relay is on 25 mA 25 mA
"On" resistance Less than 2 milli Ohms Less than 2 milli Ohms
Voltage drop across the relay at 80 amps <0.22V <0.22V
Voltage drop across the relay at 10 amps <0.03V <0.03V
Working temperature range -40°C to +50°C (-40°F to 122°F) -40°C to +50°C (-40°F to 122°F)
Display Green LED lights when relay is ON, which means that the alternator is connected to the auxiliary battery Green LED lights when relay is ON, which means that the alternator is connected to the auxiliary battery
Connection Bolt terminals Bolt terminals
Emergency override Connect the yellow wire to +12 to actuate the relay and connect the auxiliary battery to the car's electrical system. Connect the yellow wire to +12 to actuate the relay and connect the auxiliary battery to the car's electrical system.
Weight 12.8 ounces
360 grams
12.8 ounces
360 grams
User's guide Click here for the user's guide  

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Questions and Answers

1. Q: What is the intended application?
A: Automatic separation and connection of main (starter) and auxiliary batteries during charging and discharging according to the state of charge of the main battery. Dual battery or multi-banks battery systems such as four wheel vehicles, RV, hunting vehicles, solar charged batteries, ham radio, etc.

2. Q: How does the module work?
A: The brain of the isolator is a microprocessor unit and voltage sensing circuitry. It constantly checks the voltage of the main starting battery for connection and disconnection of the solid state relay with appropriate time delays.

3. Q: What is the principle of operation?
A: In the normal state the main and auxiliary batteries are separated by the isolator.

The control box will constantly monitor the main battery voltage until it is charged by the alternator to 13.6 volts and stays there or above for 15 seconds. The isolator will then connect the two batteries in parallel through the solenoid contactor to allow both batteries to be charged.

When there is a heavy or sudden drain on either battery (due to large loads such as starting the vehicle or shutting down of the alternator) the voltage across the main battery drops to below 12.6 volts and the batteries are separated by turning off the relay coil.

The cycle will repeat to ensure full protection and priority charging of the main battery at all times and to allow safe charging of the auxiliary batteries. Priority is given to the main (starting motor) battery to be charged first.

There is an over ride connector that can be used to connect the two batteries temporarily to be used for emergency purposes, for example if you want to leave the vehicle lights on for an extended period of time, or the starter battery is not strong enough to start the car by itself.

4. Q: What are the four types of battery isolators?
A: The first is simply a switch to remove the auxiliary battery from the car's electrical circuit. The disadvantage of this is that humans (such as me) forget to turn the switch on and off as appropriate.

The second is a diode isolator. This is simple, it allows current to flow from the circuit with the highest voltage. The disadvantages of these are limited current, and the fact that there is always a half-volt drop across the diodes. This will dissipate 40 watts when 80 amps are flowing, so it is wasteful unless you are using that power to heat a trailer. It also lowers the charge voltage going to the auxiliary battery which severely decreases its maximum charge rate.

The third is a solid-state relay system that uses control circuitry and power MOSFETS to do the switching. This eliminates the diode drop, though there is still some resistance in the power transistor conduction channels to cause heat and to limit the amount of current to flow. This is how the PST-SSB2180 and PST-SSB2280 work.

The fourth is our hybrid system that uses a microprocessor circuit to monitor the charging and discharging and a rugged, reliable solenoid contactor (relay) to allow enormous currents to flow without damaging the electronics.


5. Q: What size wires should I use?

A: As big as is reasonable. Our web page /Wire_Size.htm recommends 7 gauge to 2 gauge to transmit 80 amps, depending on how far you are going. If you are going short distances you can play with smaller wires, but 3 feet of 6 AWG wire will drop 0.09 volts when transmitting 80 amps. When using the calculator on our Wire Size page note that the voltage drop only depends on the gauge and the current, not on the input voltage. You should try to have the total voltage drop in the wires be less than 0.25 volts.

If you are not going to draw that much current then the wire gauge can be smaller. For example, if you have an alternator that will only supply 60 amps and you aren't going to be drawing more than that on your load you can rate the wires for 60 amps instead of 80 amps.

6. Q: Which of the terminals get connected to which wires?
A: The connections are clearly labeled on the top of the isolator, one positive to the main and the other to the load/auxiliary battery.


7. Q: Does the isolator isolate the two batteries in both directions?
A: No, the isolator prevents the starting motor battery from discharging through the auxiliary load, but it does not prevent the auxiliary battery from feeding back into the vehicle's electrical bus.

Installation diagram for battery isolator


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