Battery switch problem?

[nightstalker]

I have two new marine starting batteries on my craft. With the switch on battery 1, the engine (Jonny 225) fires right up. If I try a cold start from battery position 2, I only get a hummmm. The engine tilt works but will not engage the starter. If I start or bump the starter first with battery 1 and switch to battery 2, she turns over fine and will keep cranking indefinitally. I have switched around the batteries and the same thing happens. Both batteries show a full charge. I have cleaned all the terminals and am now stumped. Could it be the switch and why does battery 2 start the engine after I turn it over for a second using battery 1? I can start the engine from battery 2 all day long after I fire up the engine the first time.<br />Stalker

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Battery switch problem?

did you check the connections on the back of the A/B (position1 & 2) switch?

 

[Franki]

Re: Battery switch problem?

just out of curiosity, swap the batterys so batt1 is in batts2's connections..<br /><br />if you still have the same issue, it must be the switch.. or somewhere else in the line has a voltage drop.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Battery switch problem?

I did switch the batteries and the same trhing happens. I will check the switch itself next. I thought that the switch was a sealed unit thats why I didn't give it a look first. Do I just take it out and take it apart to check it out? What do I look for?<br />Stalker

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Battery switch problem?

Check the connections on the back of the switch. You may have a lose lug. Check all the connector on that leg of the circuit too. Make sure they are clean and tight. The added resistance of a lose connection or connector could cause what you are experiencing.

 

[whiteknight]

Re: Battery switch problem?

stalker,what size wire is going from batt#2 to starter and how far? undersizing wire or long distance will cause a voltage drop and therefore not give you eneogh uumph to start it to turn over give us some more info!Dido what ralph said also.can you check voltage at starter terminals when this happens if voltage is low, loose connection,smallwire,too far distance,etc sounds also like it is right on the edge of starting when it throws a fit.a cold motor will take a little more juice from battery to get it to turn over. My 2 cents

 

[whiteknight]

Re: Battery switch problem?

what kind of switch and what is amp rating?

 

[whiteknight]

Re: Battery switch problem?

sorry one more thought,take a set of jumper cables from batt#2 (leave existing wireing hooked up)and connect jumpers in parralel with wiring of batt#2 if it works fine then you have a voltage drop problem. My 3 cents worth

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Battery switch problem?

The wires going from the switch to both batteries 1 and 2 are the same standard marine switch size. Battery 2 is wired 5 feet from the switch while batter 1 is 2 feet away. I'm going to the marina now to check the connections at the back of the switch. I'll give you an update tonight. Thanks for the help.<br />Stalker

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Battery switch problem?

Your best bet is a poor connection where the battery cables connect to the switch. There will be three lugs on the back, one output and two inputs. Maybe its just a loose nut, maybe its a bad crimp or solder connection where the lug is attached to the cable. As far as the switches themselves are concerned, they are pretty much indestructable. There is absolutly nothing inside of them to go bad and the copper plates that they are made from are so thick that they will not melt through or break without the damage being very obvious from the outside of the switch. If you ever get the chance to take one apart (it will take an axe to get it apart) I think you'll be amazed by now stout and simple they are internally. So I'm sure the problme is not with the switch, it has to be the cables or their connection to the switch. Oh, and while you're at it - and this is as good a possibility as the hot cable - make sure that you have good clean contact with the lugs on the crossover cable on the negative side between the two batterys, the one that most of us call the 'jumper'. If it has bad contacts it will cause exactly the problme you are seeing. The reason is that the engine itself is only connected to one of the batterys. That battery is, in turn, connected to the second battery by the jumper. If there is poor contact with the jumper's lugs (I presume the actual contact at the battery is OK because you've been in there switching them around, taking them on and off) it will greatly decrease the voltage available to crank the engine.<br /><br />Thom

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Battery switch problem?

Thanks:<br /> As always, your help solved the problem. The lugs on the back of the switch were pretty dirty and there was a small black wire (12 ga.) running from one of the cables to one of the lugs that was only held on by three or four of the copper strands. I cleaned everything up, spliced the small black wire, and she fired right up. I let her cool down and went back to the marina just before dark and she fired right up on battery #2. Thanks again guys, your help is greatly appreciated.<br />Stalker

 

[nightstalker]

Re: Battery switch problem?

Thanks:<br /> As always, your help solved the problem. The lugs on the back of the switch were pretty dirty and there was a small black wire (12 ga.) running from one of the cables to one of the lugs that was only held on by three or four of the copper strands. I cleaned everything up, spliced the small black wire, and she fired right up. I let her cool down and went back to the marina just before dark and she fired right up on battery #2. Thanks again guys, your help is greatly appreciated. <br />Stalker<br />Stalker