Battery Charger on 260 Sundancer

estebanj

New Member
Apr 2, 2007
590
South Florida
Boat Info
260 Sundancer
Engines
350 Merc
Does the charger provide current to both batteries regardless of the battery switch position?

On a previous boat, switch had to be on 1/2/Both for charger to work. The dealer told me that on my 260 the charger was independent of where the switch is (including off).

Also, how do people normally run their boats? 1 or 2, or both? Do people turn the switch to off between outings?

Thanks,

Esteban
 
estebanj said:
Does the charger provide current to both batteries regardless of the battery switch position?
Yes. The charger has two outputs. One goes to each battery, and will charge as long as the DC charger breaker is closed for that battery.
estebanj said:
On a previous boat, switch had to be on 1/2/Both for charger to work. The dealer told me that on my 260 the charger was independent of where the switch is (including off).
Esteban
It sounds to me like you are confusing the charger and the alternator (which SeaRay calls a generator in the schematics). The alternator only charges what you have selected with the battery selection switch, 1/2/Both.

This thread belongs in the electrical section.
 
I intentionally did not answer your question about what switch positions. My boat is so much different that yours that the answers would not be relevant.
 
The Battery Charger will charge both batteries when you are plugged into shore power regardless of switch position.

The engine alternator on the other hand will only charge the battery that you are using. So if you are on postion one, that's the one being charged while the engine is running. In fact, you should never change your switch postion with the engine running because you risk damaging the electrical system for that reason.

As far as which position to use..........I alternate mine. One day I will use postion one and the next time I will use position two. I reason that both batteries get some regular use this way. Or you can use both. That's fine for a normal day of cruising too. But if you overnight, use just one battery so you have a fresh one to start your engine in the AM.

And I always turn my battery switch off when leaving the boat at night.
 
Thanks for the info.

Our of curiosity, what happens when both the generator and engines are running, and the charger is on? The charger is providing charge to both batteries, and at the same time the alternator is providing charge to the battery as per the switch?

Regarding moving the switch with the engine on, it's OK to move between positions 1/2/Both, but NEVER go through OFF unless you want a new alternator.

I will make it a habit to alternate between 1 and 2 with each outing of the boat.

Thanks,

Esteban
 
You can change the position from 1 or 2 to both while - running - just never turn them off while running.
 
estebanj said:
Our of curiosity, what happens when both the generator and engines are running, and the charger is on? The charger is providing charge to both batteries, and at the same time the alternator is providing charge to the battery as per the switch?
This is not a problem because the charger is smart enough to sense the available voltage and reduce its output accordingly.

Regarding moving the switch with the engine on, it's OK to move between positions 1/2/Both, but NEVER go through OFF unless you want a new alternator.
Correct - because most battery switches are Make-Before-Break meaning that there is no dead space between the 1-both-2 positions.
 
Dave S said:
In fact, you should never change your switch postion with the engine running because you risk damaging the electrical system for that reason.
skolbe said:
You can change the position from 1 or 2 to both while - running - just never turn them off while running.
You may notice a some different wording here, and they seem to disagree. In reality, they don't. MLauman explains that the contacts are "make before break", so switching while running should be OK.

Dave S points out there is a risk involved. I don't know his reason for that, but it may well be personal experience. Here I just want to point out that if you switch while running, you are betting your alternator that the 'make before break' operation of the switch works as it should, and that there is no contact movement of the newly made up contact while you continue to turn the switch to the new position.

I personally have no opinion on this, as mine is not wired like this. I can turn mine to off while the engine is running, and the only thing that will happen is that the engine will quit. But if you are informed about what is happening, you can make your own choice about whether you want to do it or not.
 
Dave M. said:
I personally have no opinion on this, as mine is not wired like this.
I guess I do have an opinion on gambling though. If I am looking at a wager, and the odds of winning are 999 in 1000, the winning amount is $0, the losing amount is $300, I probably don't take the wager.
 
Esteban,

A couple of things:

1) I would suggest that you check the wiring on your battery charger (labeled A/C Converter on the panel) and confirm that a charging wire is going to each battery. On mine, it was wired with both leads going to the same battery, which did not make sense.

2) The charger on our boat has a 20 amp circuit and a 10 amp circuit. I wired the 20 amp side to the battery that is the #2 on the battery switch, and I use that as my house battery when anchored. That way, when I run the generator I put the most recharge amps into the house battery. I use battery 1 as my engine battery.
 
estebanj said:
Thanks for the info.

Our of curiosity, what happens when both the generator and engines are running, and the charger is on? The charger is providing charge to both batteries, and at the same time the alternator is providing charge to the battery as per the switch?

Regarding moving the switch with the engine on, it's OK to move between positions 1/2/Both, but NEVER go through OFF unless you want a new alternator.

I will make it a habit to alternate between 1 and 2 with each outing of the boat.

Thanks,

Esteban

first) searays are wired :charger directly to batteries - switch has no effect, boat needs to be pluged-in and charger breaker on

second) it is not ok to switch between positions, one day you may not be lucky and loose alternator - it is machanical switch and have dead spots

third) there is battery isolator and internal circuits inside battery charger and alternator to prevent from overcharging batteries

ps generator only charges own battery and supplies power to battery charger, if your boat has more than one engine each battery is charged separate, those boat have emergency start switch
 
boatmailster said:
second) it is not ok to switch between positions, one day you may not be lucky and loose alternator - it is mechanical switch and have dead spots
I am curious if this really has ever happened. Does anyone know of anyone it has ever happened to?
 
Back a few posts Dave S wrote he shuts off his batteries for the night. Will the mercathode protect the drive with batteries off? I believe on mine it's wired right to the battery, so switch should have no effect?
 
capz said:
Back a few posts Dave S wrote he shuts off his batteries for the night. Will the mercathode protect the drive with batteries off? I believe on mine it's wired right to the battery, so switch should have no effect?

You need to verify that you have power goiing to the mercathode with the switch off. Because this became a "hotly debated topic " some time ago on the board, it's the only way to be absolutely sure your boat is wired properly. http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=926&highlight=mercathode
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,732
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top