Dual battery

[jamerson62]

I have a 1987 Freedom 160, and there are two batterys one is hooked up to the electrical system, the sits on the opposite side with a wiring harness but not connected. Does the freedom 160 run two batterys, or have the capability too?

 

[John880]

Re: Dual battery

A small boat can have one battery or two - your choice. If you have one battery all the positive and negative wires go to the appropriate battery terminals. If you choose to use two batteries, you might use one for the starter motor and bilge pumps and the other for all other accessories. Then you have to figure out how to charge two batteries from the alternator and the options include a "1/2/both" switch or voltage sensitive relay.
If you have a disconnected wiring harness - follow the individual wires and see where they go. Many older boats have redundant wiring - when replacing a GPS for example it is tempting to cut the existing wiring at both ends and install new.