battery switch questions

[1956olds]

Yes i did a search,I have two batteries ,i have no battery switch.I have a box of pushbutton resetable breakers or fuses in the engine compartment.I want to add a house battery for overnighting on the hook probably agm or similar.I would also like to add a battery switch so i can shut down the dc power to the pumps ,high water sensors co sensors radio and anything else that draws during winter layup in heated storage so i dont have to plug in and charge the batteries every other weekend while i am on the boat doing repairs ,housekeeping etc. HELP!! Thank you

 

[1956olds]

this is the box,if the picture will come up.

 

[Nehalennia]

What's the question? Adding a battery switch sounds like a great idea.

 

[boatmailster]

i almost sure that there is one or two battery switches on that model. follow thick red wire coming from battery and somewhere you should find the switch. on older models sr liked to put switches in difficult to find places, sometimes you could only feel but not see the switches

 

[Lazy Daze]

If you want to disconnect power over the winter, just remove the negative leads.

I agree you should already have a switch... but in case you don't:

Perko (and I'm sure Guest) switches all come with various wiring diagrams to show you how to hook things up, depending on your situation. You can download the diagrams from their websites, too.

DO NOT wire your switch so your bilge pumps are disconnected when your switch is off. They (and your CO monitor) should always be live.

 

[1956olds]

There are no switches on the boat .I used a lighted mirror to look at every nook and cranny .On the post oposite side of the box is my firebouy system.I want switches so i dont have to keep crawling into the bilge every time i go visit the boat.I like to put on a pot of joe and mabey warm up some soup when i need a break from cleaning and remodleing work.

 

[AKBASSKING]

I believe (I could be wrong) But with only 2 batteries for our year boat a battery switch was not used. The idea was that the stbd battery was also the house battery. If that battery went dead, the "emergency start" feature on your dash kicked on a solenoid to feed power to the stbd side so you could start your engine, thus charging the dead battery.

If you want to add a 3rd battery (as I have) you have 2 choices,

1. add a battery switch, but then you have to make sure you select the correct setting to ensure you are charging the house battery or

2. Install a battery isolator to the stbd engine. This is connected to the stbd and house battery. When the isolator sense the house battery is below 12vdc, it automatically switches and charges that battery when you are running the stbd engine.

ALWAYS leave your bilge pumps, VHF radio and CO2 monitor hooked to hot at all times. Do not run them through the disconnect switch.

If you are dry storing your boat, service your batteries, charge them and disconnect the positive leads.

here is an example of a wiring schematic for a light duty Perko switch:

http://www.perko.com/images/catalog/pdf/Fig 8501-8504 Inst (8500INS1).pdf