If batt switch is on 1 does the boat charge both 1 and 2?

Re: If batt switch is on 1 does the boat charge both 1 and 2

Fasterblaster said:
I've run down one battery. I'm a little surprised by this. did I only charge one battery last time out?

on single engine boat - most likely you charging one battery at time.
set switch on both and go for a ride
 
Yes mine is one at a time. I go out with #one battery for a day, next trip I use # two. Seems to work well
 
Get yourself one of these neat new battery switches from Blue Sea: http://bluesea.com/products/7650

They are about $100. You put the Switch to "On" instead of the 1/2/Both nonsense. When the systems is charging it will automatically charge both batteries, when it is not charging the engine battery stays charged so you can always start the engine and the house battery powers all the onboard accessories. Its one of those things most small boats should not be without.
 
That's pretty cool. A switch that includes an isolator but it's even smarter.

If you have the 1/2/both switch like most of us do, just be sure to run it on each battery to keep each one charged. It should NOT be wired so that it charges both. And you should not run it in Both to charge both batteries. I know some people do, but it's not good on the alternator and the batteries need to be separated. I think if you have 2 of the same kind of battery it may be different, but I haven't found anyone that can convince me yet. :grin:
 
jacktm said:
Yes mine is one at a time. I go out with #one battery for a day, next trip I use # two. Seems to work well

This too is exactly what I do. I don't really ever use Both, as I'm afraid I'll forget it was there and end up draining both batteries...
 
when I’m parked and listening to the radio I put mine on 2 (two batteries). Before I start the boat I switch it to 'all'.


HCL001464.gif
 
ehaze... just to check your wording, position 2 does not mean two batteries, but rather Bank #2 (or battery #2).

All = both banks/batteries
1 = bank/battery 1
2 = bank/battery 2
Off = None

Esteban
 
in my case 2 = my 2 extra batteries

:grin:

bat2.JPG



I've yet to run these two all the way down.
 
Last fall my #1 battery fried. So, my mechanic sold me a starting battery for my #1. I've been leaving the switch on 'both' all of the time. Occasionally, if I'm going to be sitting for a while with some accessories on, I will switch it to #2.

Is this the correct way to use the two batteries? This post has me questioning if I'm using it right. :huh:

Are both batteries being charged?
 
:smt017
yeah..me too charlie... I was told use 1 or 2, then you have the other in reserve. If needed, you could put it in 'both' for instance starting if we'd been using '1' all day for the radio, pumps ,etc while beached and had run it down and #2 was a lil low on charge also from being a bad battery. :huh: I thought both batteries were being charged all the time no matter what setting it was on however. ( and both my batteries are the same type , etc tho too)
 
Think of your switch as an isolator. All it does it determine WHICH battery to use based on the setting. So switching to "1" means that's the ONLY battery the engine/alternator sees when it's running. The same with the "2" setting. The "All" setting means that it sees both and is meant only for an emergency start when you don't have enough juice to start from a single battery. If you leave it in the all position, one battery will drain into the other battery until they are equalized. So if you have a full charge on #1 and a dead #2, #1 will discharge into #2 attemping to equalize the difference. The reverse is that if you are trying charge both batteries at the same time, one battery will get too much juice. The best thing to do is to utilize one battery at a time. If one battery is toast, you'll end up cooking the good one too!

Others will also tell you not to switch positions while the engine is running, but the Perko is a "make before break" switch so it should be OK. I do it all the time while my engine is running. By switching to a single battery, you'll charge it faster too so if something happens and you have to shut down, a single battery will come up to starting capacity sooner.

NOW, the other side of all this is you can install a separate set of isolators that WILL charge both batteries independent of the switch position! It takes one battery and assigns it as the engine battery and charges it first. Once it's restored then it will begin charging the other batteries. This is available at West Marine and does make the process brainless! I'm too cheap to spend the money and can tell the condition of my batteries based on the blower speed!! I just switch batteries daily when we're out to make sure they are charged and in good working condition.
 
Sundancer said it better than any of us have so far. :D

If I have a weak battery, once I get the motor started, I switch to the weak battery and charge it up. As SD said, the only time I've ever used both was when both batteries were weak enough to not crank the motor (only happened once) then as soon as it started I switched it to 1 battery.

An isolator is what you need is you want to run with 2, so that the isolator determines which battery will get the charge, not both.

Most of us with day use boats don't go to the expense of an isolator however. A switch works just fine as long as you remember what battery you're using.

You can switch between 1, 2 and Both while it's running, but never switch it to "Off" when it's running, unless your switch has the regulator/protector thingy that will protect the alternator/regulator. Those aren't as popular once again, due to cost and necessity.
 
Ok. I guess I'm clear on the function of the battery switch. But, I have one 'starting' battery (#1) and the other one is the standard battery (#2).

Should I start the boat with #1 and switch to #2 when running??

How does the starting battery affect the switch?
 
The switch doesn't care what kind of battery is where. It just "connects" the one you choose.

Now, when you say 1 is a "starting battery" and the other is a "regular battery" what exactly do you have for batteries? A regular battery to me is a standard wet cell starting battery like we have in our cars. Another type of battery might be a dry cell or deep cycle which generally are designed for a different function, but many have the CCA's to be used as a starting battery just fine.

I now have 2 deep cycle's. The #1 battery is a big D31 deep cycle Optima Blue Top (gel) but it have way more power than I need for a starting battery now. Even the #2 D34 Optima has enough power if it's charged.
 
I pulled out the manual for my '03 240 SD.

"Remember to switch to BOTH batteries before starting the engine. This will assist the weaker battery during engine start. Also, in the BOTH position, both batteries will be charged during engine operation."
 
I pulled out the manual for my '03 240 SD.

"Remember to switch to BOTH batteries before starting the engine. This will assist the weaker battery during engine start. Also, in the BOTH position, both batteries will be charged during engine operation."

When in doubt, read the manual.
 
How does that work when you have two engines each with it own battery and a switch that says 1/2/off/both. Does 1 start one of the engines and 2 the other one with both starting either one?
 
Loyd, your motors charging systems are sensitive to bad batteries and high charge rates unless you have the alternator belt driven system

For single engine , wire a isolator across the battery switch. No matter what position you select the other battery will charge thru the isolator.So if #1 is engine and #2 is electronics/house both will charge with the motor running and still be isolated with the engine off.

For twins , I wire position #1 for engine starting for each engine . Position #2 is connected across both switches by a battery cable and the charger lead is connected there too
From the #2 post I wire in a on-off switch for the 2 house batteries .House batteries charge thru a isolator or Blu-Sea system while under way of from the charger while on shore power
Done this way you can use all 4 batteries together to get atleast one engine started battery switches to ALL, and ON
 
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