Battery Switch

[lilthundr]

Hi all. I have a Glastron 185gx (2005) with a 4.3 GXIE, Volvo outdrive.<br />I purchased a Guest Battery switch for one alternator and two batteries.<br />Can anyone please tell me how to install it? ie how do I connect the cables? <br />I did not get any instructions with this switch.<br />Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[housebroken]

Re: Battery Switch

on mine on the back there is 3 posts they say 1,2 and common 1 and two each go to a battery and common goes to the starter

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Battery Switch

Battery 1 positive to switch 1, battery 2 positive to switch 2, jumper from battery 1 negative to battery 2 negative, motor positive and all accessory positive to switch "common", all negative leads to either battery negative.<br /><br />If you have/want an automatice bilge pump, that's wired seperately ...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery Switch

Originally posted by Old Curmudgeon:<br /> Battery 1 positive to switch 1, battery 2 positive to switch 2, jumper from battery 1 negative to battery 2 negative, motor positive and all accessory positive to switch "common", all negative leads to either battery negative.<br /><br />If you have/want an automatice bilge pump, that's wired seperately ...

My is like the above,........Except,....<br /><br />Both batteries have their (-) Negative posts tied Directly to the Engine Block..........<br /><br />Battery #1(+) is wired to Switch Post #1,.....<br />Battery #2(+) is wired to Switch Post #2.......<br />Switch Post #3 is wired to the Starter's Battery Feed Post.......<br /><br />My AutoBilge Pumps,+ Cabin Power is drawn from Battery(+) #1...... <br /><br />And,...... All Grounds are carried to the Engine Block......................

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Battery Switch

Both batteries have their (-) Negative posts tied Directly to the Engine Block..<br /><br />I believe it's all tied together when all negative leads (which includes the motor ground) are connected to one or the other battery ...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery Switch

Ayuh,.....<br />I Agree we end up it the Same Place,.......<br />I just took a Different Path.................

 

[mike456]

Re: Battery Switch

Be sure to check a posting from a few week ago called "1,2,or both", great information on dual battery systems.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Battery Switch

There are benefits to wiring seprate grounds to the engine block or a common buss bar.<br /><br />.Two wires can handle higher amp loads (if needed)<br />.Two wires create dual circuts<br />.Two wires create a back up ground wire (incase 1 fails)<br /><br />If you have a need for dual batteries, you may one day (due to some type of failure) have a need for seprate ground wires.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Battery Switch

Your "two wire" stuff is true enough (except for the two circuits). I guess it all depends on where "safety engineering" stops and the "what if" complex begins.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Battery Switch

I'll agree with ya on the dual ckts. <br /><br />But since you would would have to buy a battery cable to hook between the two batteries anyway, you'll have to admit that the small additional cost of the extra length of wire to connect the second ground to the block or buss is a small price to pay for the added benefits and safety in redundancy.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Battery Switch

That'll work fine .. at least until one of the grounds gets loose, then you're down to a single battery. I've found the more terminals that are stacked, the more they cause problems. My experience with electrics and saltwater makes me leand toward the KISS principle ...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Battery Switch

If you can, bring both batteries grounds to the engine with seperate cables. It's not a redundancy issue but a voltage drop issue.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Battery Switch

Originally posted by bruceb58:<br /> If you can, bring both batteries grounds to the engine with seperate cables. It's not a redundancy issue but a voltage drop issue.

And dont stack them. Put them on seprate studs, using star locking washers.

 

[Don S]

Re: Battery Switch

If you use a jumper from one battery to the next that is the same size (gauge) or larger than the largest in your boat you will be fine. The problem with stacking them is people using wing nuts and tightening them down with a thumb and finger. The wing nuts get thrown away. Use regular nuts on clean terminals with grease on the connections on the terminals and use a wrench to TIGHTEN them down. Tighten is the thing, not slightly snug.<br />If you keep up with maintenance, look at the cables and replace ones with corroded ends, use nuts on the terminals and tighten with a wrench, keep them clean. You aren't going to have problems. 99% of the time batteries give you plenty of warning before they go totally unusable.<br />Good Common sense helps a lot in boat maintenance and repair.