Adding second battery

[scottkel]

Okay - before everyone gets offended, I have done the searches and havent really found a direct answer to my questions... So here goes:

I currently have a single battery setup on my '06 195 Sport. I am planning to add a second battery setup this weekend.

1. There is currently a positive and a negative wire attached to my single battery. Do remove the power wire and does this attach to the "#1" position on my Perko switch or does this power wire (that currently runs the boat) go to the "COM" post?

2. If this goes to the COM post, then I need a power wire from post #1 on the switch to battery #1 and a power wire from post #2 to battery #2 - is this correct?

Thanks!

Scott

 

[wvsundancer]

you need a perko battery switch the convert from a single set up to a dual set up. one battery will be on the port side one on the starboard. This is the first mod I had done on my 230BR back in 1998. It is very easy. The perko selector switch will allow you to select no.1 , no.2 or both. this will mount amid ships and both cabels will run to you switch. Everything is available from West Marine or any other online marine store

 

[scottkel]

wvsundancer - I understand the purpose of the Perko, I am asking how it is wired... I believe that the existing power cable would be connected to the COM post on the switch and that a new cable will be required from the Perko posts 1 and 2 to the two batteries 1 and 2 - correct?

What about if I am wiring an amplifier for audio? Do I have to go through the Perko or do I go to my battery 2?

Scott

 

[MLauman]

wvsundancer - I understand the purpose of the Perko, I am asking how it is wired... I believe that the existing power cable would be connected to the COM post on the switch and that a new cable will be required from the Perko posts 1 and 2 to the two batteries 1 and 2 - correct?

Yes, that is correct. You also need to add a black cable between the 2 negative battery posts.

What about if I am wiring an amplifier for audio? Do I have to go through the Perko or do I go to my battery 2?

Scott

Depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want to dedicate battery #2 to the amp then connect it there. Personally, I would connect the amp to the COM lug on the Perko switch so that I could decide which battery to use for music vs which one to keep fresh.

 

[scottkel]

Hmmm - can I run the COM out of the switch and into a distribution block that will go to my engine and amps?

What about the negative side - can I pull off of my existing battery negative side and go to a (-) distibution block and then to the second battery and amps?

See pic below:

 

[scottkel]

Or should I go with the engine positive to the COM then a secondary off of the COM to a distribution block for positive for amps?

What about the negative - should I jump from battery 1 to battery 2 then pull a disribution block for negative side for amps, etc.?

 

[MLauman]

It doesn't matter as long as all your components (wire, blocks, etc) are of sufficient capacity to carry the load. My boat is setup almost exactly like your second option.

Remember that bilge pump(s) and radio memory circuits should be connected directly to a battery (with a fuse of course).

 

[magstang1]

I added a battery switch, second battery and amps to my old boat. You need to think about how you want your switching to work. I wanted a "house" and "starting" setup. That way if I run one flat I can still start the boat. I ended up connecting everything to the common on the switch. You just need to make sure that when you stop you remember to shut off the other battery. Even if you connect the amp directly to one battery, if the switch is on "both" you are paralleling the batteries and have now connected the amp to both batteries through the switch. You are also never able to disconnect the amps from the battery this way. When I turn my switch off I want everything off except my bilge pump and battery wire for the radio which is connected to the battery with separate fuses. When you are running make sure the switch goes back to "both" so you are charging both batteries. That way if you are cranking the music the load on the alternator is a little softer too.