Guest duel battery switch question.

[mcgyver]

Hi, i just can't seem to wrap my head around wiring this thing. Everywhere i have read says to wire the motor battery to say the #1 post and all boat accessories thru the #2 post and a separate battery. so 2 batteries, 1 strictly for starting and one for all the accessories (lights, pumps, sounders, radar ect) Now the switch has 4 postions 1,2,both,off. If I switch to 1 then i have power to start the motor, but the accessories will not be recieving power...???? If i switch to 2, the accessories will have power but none to start the motor. If i switch to both, I can run the motor with accessories but if i shut off the motor I can drain both batteries. ( so i should switch to 2? after I shut off the motor?) I thought that switching to both would close both switches and allow the motor to start and the accessories to run but on completely different circuits, like basically switching 2 completely different switches to on. Does any of that make sense? thanks

 

[Splat]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

The easiest way to wire itr would be

1- battery one
2- Battery 2
Com- All your accessories

This would allow you to run in position one and start the boat as well as run your accessories. Also while the motor is running the charging system on the motor will be supplying SOME power back to the battery bank.

If you happen to run your battery down tio the point you can't start the motor, then you would simply switch the switch to position 2 and this would supply you with a fresh battery to start the motor, keeping in mind the accessories will also be running of the second battery at this point.

This would also allow you to hook a battery charger up to one battery(assuming your using a portable charger) and put the switch in the BOTH position, allowing both batteries to FIRST equalize, then charge together.

Hope that helps.
Bill

 

[insanity]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

Is there a way to wire it up so it all works off of what ever battery that is selected? So you can run it all off of one then when its dead switch it over and not really have a loss in functions?

 

[Splat]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

Is there a way to wire it up so it all works off of what ever battery that is selected? So you can run it all off of one then when its dead switch it over and not really have a loss in functions?

Yes just as my previous post states, it will work this way.

What ever battery is selected, will be supplying power to the COM terminal. So if all you accessories and your starter wire are ran to the COM post, everything will draw off whatever battery you have selected.

Bill

 

[insanity]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

Thanks!

 

[FuriousMob]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

This would also allow you to hook a battery charger up to one battery(assuming your using a portable charger) and put the switch in the BOTH position, allowing both batteries to FIRST equalize, then charge together.

This is something I hadn't thought of before. Is this safe using two flooded batteries, same group size (24), but one a starter and one a deep cycle? If the deep cycle was drawn down heavily each time, would that lessen the life of starter over time by allowing it to drain down to equalize with the deep cycle?

 

[Splat]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

This is something I hadn't thought of before. Is this safe using two flooded batteries, same group size (24), but one a starter and one a deep cycle? If the deep cycle was drawn down heavily each time, would that lessen the life of starter over time by allowing it to drain down to equalize with the deep cycle?

In that situation I would charge the batteries independantly, or even better yet use a on-board charger that strays mounted in the boat, you simply run a extension cord out to the boat and plug it in. It will charge both batteries at the same time, but keep them isolated.

Bill

 

[FuriousMob]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

Gotcha...I was looking into the on-board minn kota 2x10. Are these safe with gassing from the battery? Everything always says, "take the batteries out due to gassing"...so why would this not be a concern for an on-board charger?

 

[Splat]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

The charger it's self does not cause a concern as they are solid state. This means there are no mechanical contacts in them to create a spark, and ignite any fumes.

Gassing of any charging battery will create hydrogen gas. How much depends on several factors mainly how much your charger is kicking the crap out of your batteries. Hydrogen gas is lighter than air (remember the Hindenburg) so if you have a concern you can simply create a vent hole in the battery compartment, or open the door while charging.

On my crestliner, my batt compartment is always closed, and I have a plug hard mounted into the gunwale of the boat. I simply plug a extension cord into that and it feeds my charger. My battery compartment is very low in the center of the boat, and is not vented. I've never had a problem,

Bill

 

[Splat]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

On a side note I use a Prosport 20+ on my big bot, and have a Prosport 12 on my little one. I like these chargers and recommend them.

The advantage to these, and I'm not sure if anyother ones do it, but if the total output of the charger is 20amps, and one battery only requires a charge rate of 6 amps, the remaining 14 the charger is capable of producing is redirected to the remaing batter/batteries.

http://www.iboats.com/ProSport_Gene...1447464--**********.388385294--view_id.391380

Also these are the charge plugs I use.
http://www.iboats.com/Marinco_Conne...11447464--**********.388385294--view_id.39081

Bill

 

[FuriousMob]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

Thanks Splat.

 

[tony6813]

Re: Guest duel battery switch question.

splat, how is your on board charger wired? I have a cabelas pro sport 8 for both my batterys. it has 4 leads and would like to mount it on board and just plug in at end of day. do the leads go right to battery posts or get wired into the guest battery switch. thanks in advance