Why in a dual battery, single engine, Perko selector switched configuration, would the positive terminals be directly connected as in parallel circuit. I was looking at my wiring this weekend and noticed this. Looks to be dealer configured. 18 year old boat set up by Outboard Shop. What am I missing here?
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Captain what I do not understand is why the batteries were wired in parallel? It was deliberate. The jumper was just long enough to connect the +s. Makes no sense. It only took 15 years to realize something was not wired right. When you only rotate one battery a year you never take off the covers of both battery boxes and follow your wiring. Never claimed to be immune to “dumb ass” syndrome.
Thanks for Diagram.
Connecting 2 batteries parallel will give you double the amp hours. Maybe the perko switch was just a cutoff switch to disconnect the feed. Either way it sounds like a bad way to go. If one battery gets a bad cell, you likely won’t know until the other battery goes too, leaving you stranded. I would run them separate to the selector switch. I would also try to add a charging sensor to them so both will stay charged from the outboard alternator.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Yep. The wiring matched the Perko diagram utilizing a charge sensor installation but there is no charge sensor module that I can see. Perhaps the technician was distracted.
The batteries should not be paralleled on the positive side, only the grounds should connect. A positive from each battery uniquely to the 1 & 2 terminals. The switch has 1 - 2 - Both positions. When in Both position the batteries are paralleled thru the switch. Position 1 and 2 keeps the batteries isolated.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
That is how they will be when I re install the battery. Thanks for the confirmation.