An automatic charge relay will always isolate your starting batt while the engine is off and charge it and another bank while the engine is running. Leave the batt switch on 1 and run the ancillaries off of the house bank. Should the starting battery go soft, switch to 2 to start off of the house bank. Combined with an onboard two bank charging system you can just plug it in when you get home, have full batts when you depart and let the engine charging system keep them full as you run. I’ve installed a couple of these systems and the customers are pleased.
I have mine wired totally separate, One battery for Electronics One for Start with a battery that is On, Off, Combine. The battery switch is blue sea and they are separate circuits. With the second charging lead on my suzuki It charges start battery first, then house battery. I think this is the best setup, that way both systems are isolated however charging is still possible to both batteries.
“The Wet Dream”
20’ Pioneer 197
150hp Suzuki 4-Stroke
Great Pics! Thanks for sharing!!!
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Luke 8:22-25
that was an awesome report, thanks! I think i am gonna be more prepared now…
Motor had a bad voltage regulator/rectifier. Circuit had 12.5V on it when motor running after charging batts fully with battery charger. Replaced part and voltage is back around 14V when running like it should be.
Remember- lesson learned here is to never assume your motor’s charging your system just because it’s running. Only run off one of two batt’s on a dual batt system instead of “all.” Then, you will always have the one isolated good batt in reserve if you need to switch to it.
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Luke 8:22-25
Phin - don’t know you but what an awesome post! thanks for sharing. How did you find a day when the pond was that calm? I was at Lake Murray twice this week and it was rougher than those pics both times. I always carry a spare battery in addition to the two hooked up to the charging system. Probably overkill but reduces the pucker factor.
SeaPro 23 WA Yam 225
Key West 17’ Stealth Yam 115
High Tide 15’ Yam 50
I got something like this, but it was an off brand from a truck stop. I kept it on the boat in addition to my two batteries. You can use it for all kinds of stuff, like powering the deep drop rods, cranking, etc. But mainly I got it in case of catastrophic electronics failure, I could still power a radio and gps.
I think it was around $40. Cheap insurance, plus double duty.