Boat wiring starting to drive me crazy! 2 Batts/2 Engine/ the more research I do s__t

C

Crave1957

New Member
Oct 30, 2011
231
Portland, or
Boat Info
1984 Sea Ray Sundancer 270
Engines
Volvo Penta 5.7l, Merc Cruiser top half w Alpha 1 Outdrives
Ok, this winters project is wiring and I am trying to settle on a how best to wire 2 batts / 2 engines. I thought I had figured it out, but really need help. How would you do it? What I would like to accomplish 1) simplifiy current setup 2) be able to have a reserve batt 3) able to isolate engines 4) able to isolate batteries 5) port alternator charges port batt, strb alternator charges strb batt 6) common grounding buss

Details:

Engines - GM 5.7 350's, Mecruiser top, Thunderbolt Ignition, Edlebrock carbs
Batteries - 1 starting group 24 1000 CCA, 1 house bank 4 6v gc2 wired series & parallel
Alternator - output 65 amps, currently both are wired to starter, internal voltage regulator
Charger - old pro mariner 35 amp......replacing with pro martiner 1250p, adding galvanic islator also
Other - Helm panel is now wired direct to start batt, radio to house bilge direct to house, bilge fume alarm to start, reverso/starter, there are niether pos or neg buss bars, both batt banks are grounded directly to the engine, two engines are grounded together, I have had much of the current cable tested and it has passed.

I have been settling towards a two switch kind of set up. Then a friend who is an engineer said "why two switches" and now I am rethinking all of it and more confused......leaning back towards 2 switches. I need help. What would you smart boaters do? Who has 2 engines 2 batts? What do you like/dislike? What do I lose if I just used one switch? I have spent lots of time with Blue Sea and am still confused! I know there are many ways to do this

Please comment with ideas as I am about to zip it all up and go back to my 3 switch non-sensical system

Thanks Mike
 
Re: Boat wiring starting to drive me crazy! 2 Batts/2 Engine/ the more research I do

Thanks for the reply Rick.....I am thinking of moving toward a set with the Blue Sea 5511e one switch now.
Mike
 
Re: Boat wiring starting to drive me crazy! 2 Batts/2 Engine/ the more research I do

Glad you found something. I was thinking of going with some kind of isolator and all that, because I have a stereo amp that could suck volts out of a brick. Wanted to upgrade my alternator and all that, but didn't. I was nervous the first season I installed my amp (2 years ago) but I haven't had any issues - and the stereo is on constantly. I do have a 40 amp house charger on two Interstate group 29 batteries that are 5 years old. I noticed the house charger kicking on more and more this year, so I think those batteries are starting going south... I only have a single engine, but leave the switch on "all", all the time. Point is, I got all worked up thinking I'd be stranded somewhere, but haven't had any issues.
 
Re: Boat wiring starting to drive me crazy! 2 Batts/2 Engine/ the more research I do

My 300 came new with 3 batteries. The port does nothing but start the port motor, and the other two are hooked up to the starboard motor and run all 12 volt stuff.
There is an emergency start switch on the dash that I can use to jump start one motor from the other if I have a battery go dead on me.
I keep the switch for the starboard batteries on "Both" when I run the boat, but when I get to where I'm going I select either "1" or "2" on that switch so the fridge, radio, cell phone chargers, etc., don't run everything down.
I've never had a problem, but if I ever do, I can resort to the "emergency start" switch.
You may want to consider going with a 3 battery set up like that for peace of mind.
 
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