Dual battery switch and minibus

[chewyj]

I'm finally wiring my battery switch the correct way and I'm running into one question that I need some advice on (and it may not make a difference on how I'm doing it).<br /><br />The switch has a 1,2, both and off position. I'm running them as per the diagram for dual battery, single engine.<br /><br /> dual battery info <br /><br /><br />My question is that the boat originally had a minibus that the grounds were connected to. So the question is...Do I hook up everything as shown, and then add an additional line from the negative connection on the #2 battery to the minibus, or do I hook the negative line from the distubution panel to the minibus, and then add an additional line from there to the negative terminal on the #2 battery?

 

[KaGee]

Re: Dual battery switch and minibus

Adding the switch will not affect the negative bus at all. Does not matter which ground point it's connected to. It can be either battery or the engine block. The only thing you are switching is the positive(+) of the batteries. The ground or "common"(-) connections remain static.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Dual battery switch and minibus

Run the original negative distribution lead to battery #2, as shown (or #1, it really doesn't matter); the negative cross over between batteries negates the need to run anything else. Your system will function properly on #1, #2, or BOTH.<br /><br />Recommend BOTH for emergency power situations only.

 

[chewyj]

Re: Dual battery switch and minibus

Thanks for the help.

 

[phantoms]

Re: Dual battery switch and minibus

While we're on the subject, I really like the new Dual Circuit Plus switches from Blue Sea Systems. They make the battery switch options simple as can be. Off(batteries seperated from circuits), On (house battery connected to house circuit, engine battery connected to engine circuit) and Both (batteries combined as with other switches). Here's the link to a PDF brochure of them. https://resources.myeporia.com/company_57/E_Series.pdf The Dual Ciruit Plus is the forth switch on the second page. The diagram shows how it works in on and combined modes.