battery selector switch

[edodesu]

I recently purchased 1987 Carver Montego 2757. It has a 4 pos battery selector switch - 1, 2 All or Off - I have three batteries in the engine compartment - Can somebody tell me how this is supposed to be wired and how the switch is properly utilized?

Same boat second question - I can not find the fresh water pump on/off switch. The pump has a pressure switch, but I do not want to rely on this. Can some advise whather or not this was a standard for this boat?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: battery selector switch

There should be 3 brass studs on the back, probably each has a number. 1 for batt 1, 2 for batt 2 and the third is the out to starter lug.
Hook the red cable for each batt to 1 and 2 and the cable to the starter to 3 or the last one, then your done.
Use it just like you think. 1 and 2 use the batts seperatly and all uses both at the same time. Off, well, is off.

As for the other question, I dont know.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: battery selector switch

Usually the fresh water is wired direct with a labeled fuse in the panel. It may just say 'water' or 'wtr pmp'. It is meant to kick on when the fresh water system isn't pressurized (may only be 5-10 psi) and will shut off when it reaches correct pressure. This is standard. Why would you not want to rely on the pressure switch? This is what is needed to kick the system on when you open a faucet or shower head and keeps it to proper specs. If you kick it on manually and don't relieve pressure (or forget to shut it off...kids!), you end up with leaks throughout the system.

 

[edodesu]

Re: battery selector switch

Thanks

why three batteries? I assume 1 each for each engine then the third is for?

for the pump switch I wanted to only have pressure while on the boat - shut the pump down when I leave - in this case I could pull the fuse.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: battery selector switch

usually 1 battery for each engine, the third for electronics on the boat. lights, fish finder, sonar , raido, etc. that way you can still start your engines after listening to tunes, finding fish, etc all day. may even be 1 battery for both engines, 1 for electrics, and a back up.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: battery selector switch

Is/was your boat equipped with a genset? If not, the third battery could have been added by the PO as an emergency back-up, or as stated, a dedicated house battery to save the other 2 for starting.

Doesn't your boat's electrical system have a master panel (see pic)? If so, you should just be able to flip the breaker vs pulling a fuse. **speaking of which, I forgot to flip mine off when I left the boat today!**

 

[shrew]

Re: battery selector switch

I don't think he's talking about bypassing the pressure switch in the pressure water pump. I think he's talking about a manul shutoff. My boat came equiped with one. I shut it off when I leave the boat, this way if a line ruptures while I'm away I don't inadvertantly empty the contents of the water tank into the bilge.

If the boat has twin engines then there is a dedicated battery for each starter and one for the house. You can trace the positive lead from each starter back to the switch and from each battery to the switch.