24volt system 12 volt TM

kbowman

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
6
My Stratos has 4 wires running from trolling bat side 2 red 2 black. The front has a round 3 prong plug and a run charge switch. I have a 12 volt TM on the front that runs off one battery . Can I add a switch on the front to go from say bat 1 and switch to bat 2 when bat 1 runs down? And what would I have to do wiring wise to do this? Thanks
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: 24volt system 12 volt TM

Battery switches are usually placed near the battery, but you can put it anywhere you want, with the proper-sized wiring and circuit breaker for each battery. The circuit breakers should be in the positive line and as close to each battery as possible.
 

mikphilips

Cadet
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
18
Re: 24volt system 12 volt TM

Use a continuity tester to track which wires from the battery side feed which prongs on the front plug. You may find both reds and one black extends to the plug. Remove the receptacle from the boat where the plug attaches and look for the fourth wire, it may be bundled just inside. You could cut the plug off and wire the three leads (plus the fourth if you find it) to a Perko (or sim) 2 Battery Switch. You could probably mount this in the location that the Run / Charge TM switch is located. It will allow you to switch between Batt 1 feed, Batt 2 feed, Both batteries or None. The Both setting would drain both batteries in parallel, which should provide the longest 12v service time.
If you can't find but one ground / black wire fed to the plug, connect the NEG terminals of both batteries together (do not use a battery Integrator or Isolator on this circuit, they will disconnect your batteries whenever you are not on plane). Now your black / ground wire from the batteries (attached to both battery's NEG post), is feeding the Perko switch and should work fine.
As always, check your setup's output with a voltmeter before attaching equipment. You should get 12v on three of the Perko's settings and 0v on the None setting.
Be sure and install two accessible fuses on both of the red / power feeds from the batteries (manufacturer of the TM would tell you want amp fuse to use).
 

Outsider

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
1,022
Re: 24volt system 12 volt TM

Yes, you can, and it can be a toggle similar to what's already on the panel. It's an ON-OFF-ON switch, but the trick will be finding one with enough amperage capability. I can't help with the wiring of your panel, but I've seen what you're asking numerous times ... ;)
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: 24volt system 12 volt TM

Yes, you can, and it can be a toggle similar to what's already on the panel. It's an ON-OFF-ON switch, but the trick will be finding one with enough amperage capability. I can't help with the wiring of your panel, but I've seen what you're asking numerous times ... ;)
A standard battery switch would be the way to go. You can use the existing 4 wires as long as they are heavy enough - 6 gauge would probably be good, depending on the current draw of your trolling motor and the length of the runs.
 
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