Can any tell me how to go about hooking up a boat with two batterys,not 24 volts,and with a battery switch in use.<br />The switch lets you choose Battery 1,battery 2,all,or off.
I have lerked on this forum for a while, absorbing as much information my 60 year old brain can hold. One of the things I have learned is that there are two types of battery switches. The standard "break/make" and the newer type "make before break." Many charging systems require the charging line to be connected to the battery at all times while charging. If the engine is running, and the break/make switch is activated, then the rectifier in the voltage regulator will most likely blow. Now you have two problems; 1) you need to replace the voltage regulator > $50.00 US and 2) the batteries won't get charged until you do.<br />The make before break will connect the other battery before the connection is broken with the current battery. This greatly reduces the chance of blowing the rectifier.<br /><br />To answer your question more specifically; Each battery is connected to its own input connection of the switch. Battery one goes to input one and battery two goes to input two. All the wires that were connected to the positive side of your original battery goes to the output of the switch. Don't forget to run at least a 4 guage wire between the negative posts of each battery.<br /><br />I hope this is what your were looking for.
Instructions are provided with the battery switch and as Harkawy indicated, make sure the switch you use is a "make-before-break" type. Do a search on "Battery Switches" and you will find all sorts of information on their installation and wiring.
I found the following via Yahoo.com search. I typed in "Make Before Break" + "Battery Switch" (including the quotes) in the search field and then clicked the search button.
Bubbacat -- if your switch is a make-before-break type, you can safely switch from one battery to the other, or from either one to both without damaging anything. Just don't set it to OFF with the engine running. Some switches are break-before-make styles which means there is a brief period when switching where nothing is connected to the alternator and pop goes the rectifier or rectifier/regulator depending on the type of charging system in use.
