With a 2 battery parallel set up, what switch setting do most of you guys use on your duel battery switch. I use the both setting figuring that I’m charging both batteries while running. Am I right or wrong? I don’t have a cranking and a deep cycle set up. They are, I guess you could call them, combo batteries!
Only problem with that is if one battery is bad it will kill the other one.
Start the engine on battery 1 and run half the day on that batter. Switch to battery 2 for the rest of the day (do this with the engine shut off). Next time out start with battery 2.
jws is correct in saying that one bad battery will drain the other. Also, with both batteries charging at the same time, one will always be not fully charged. This is becasue the voltage regulator will reduce output once one battery is charged. Using one battery at a time ensures the battery is being fully charged. Also, what happens if you are running both batteries and they both are run down…you are screwed.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Thanks Guys! Now does anyone have any recomendations for a good onboard charger. I need to replace both my batteries and want to go with the AGM type, so might need one of the smart chargers, I can plug into the 115/120 house current.
quote:
Originally posted by hairballStart the engine on battery 1 and run half the day on that batter. Switch to battery 2 for the rest of the day (do this with the engine shut off). Next time out start with battery 2.
jws is correct in saying that one bad battery will drain the other. Also, with both batteries charging at the same time, one will always be not fully charged. This is becasue the voltage regulator will reduce output once one battery is charged. Using one battery at a time ensures the battery is being fully charged. Also, what happens if you are running both batteries and they both are run down…you are screwed.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14Good answer.
Richie
Sea Tow Georgetown
24hr Dispatch: 843-527-4136
“If you were a member, it would be free.”
Never run with the switch on both except when you need to combine batts temporarily in an emergency.
Trust me, I had to wait on a tow offshore 2 years ago thanks to a bad charging system on my motor and me running on both when I had the motor running thinking I was charging both so I could shut off and save fuel periodically.
Hairball has said it best already.
www.scmarine.org
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
Thanks Guys! Gotcha! Never hurts to ask.
I split the time on each battery and usually check the voltages in the off position. Every season I take the switch out for cleaning and to remove corrosion. A good coating of No-Ox battery terminal grease on everything along with a good battery terminal post cleaning. When the batteries are disconnected I check the switch for resistance before reconnect. You don’t want to switch to a open circuit with the engine running, your alternator field will destroy itself.
quote:
Originally posted by PhinNever run with the switch on both except when you need to combine batts temporarily in an emergency.
Trust me, I had to wait on a tow offshore 2 years ago thanks to a bad charging system on my motor and me running on both when I had the motor running thinking I was charging both so I could shut off and save fuel periodically.
Hairball has said it best already.
www.scmarine.org
www.joinrfa.com
Luke 8:22-25
This happened to me on Friday. Fortunately there was some awesome people that actually traded a battery with us so we could get back in. Jawbreaker was the name of the boat. Sea tow was called already and I guess we should have called them off b/c once we made it back to the landing I was scolded by the captain and he suspended my membership until they saw a invoice of the repairs and they do an inspection of the boat 
Have lost power on both batterys due to bad switch and inverter. I was amazed how easy you can pull start a pair of 225 mercs. now with these inboards I always carry a spare fresh battery hid in the cabin.