Battery Question

[Murray16764]

My B352 has two house batteries and one starter battery. I thought that the starter battery was independent from the house circuits. However, it would appear is a connection, as I managed to run my starter battery down, to the point where it didn't have enough juice to start the engine. The manual is not very clear, but it would appear that I could turn the starter battery to the OFF position to prevent this from happening. Can anyone advise me on better management of these batteries?

Murray

 

[Rick I]

Squirrely French battery switches

The Beneteau battery switches are strange. To charge the start battery when the engine is on you have to have the start battery switch on. Once you stop the engine you have to switch the start battery off as it will discharge along with your house battery.

I usually leave my start battery off all the time (once I'm satisfied that it's fully charged). Start and sail the boat on the house batteries and keep the start battery as a "spare" for emergencies. I took up doing this as I usually forgot to switch off the start battery once the motor was off when I had them both on resulting in a draw down on the start battery..

I take it you have the two red positive switches and one black negative switch.

 

[Mike B]

Battery switches

Yes you have to have the switch on to charge it or use it. Depending on yuor battery types it's best to use the start for the engine as start batteries are built to handle a high draw for a short period of time. They do not like to be drawn down like a deep cycle type. The same goes for your house batteries. They are built to handle slow deep discharges and do not like high, short period loads like that from an engine starter. I leave both on unless I'm anchored out. Then I shut off the start once I'm sure the anchor is properly set and I wont have to restart the engine. This way I know it's fully charged and ready to go when it's time to pull out.
Mike

 

[Murray16764]

Thanks

Thanks, now it is begining to make sense. I guess I am going to have to be more active in managing the starter battery. For example, having it on to start and recharge, and once under sail turn it to off, to keep it fresh. Also keep it off most of the time on shore to prevent over-charging it. I would agree the switches are a little strange and I guess I am still learning how to operate the boat.

Murray

 

[Rick I]

US Built 393

Same switches. 2 red one black but I don't ruin the alternator if the start battery is not on (#1). Mine will start off the house battery if the start battery is off.

 

[Mike B]

US built

I have a US built 361 with #1 being the engine #2 the house. With #1 off the engine will crank off the house batteries.

 

[Rick I]

Albert, these are French designs

No isolators.

 

[larry w]

Install a battery

combiner from West Marine.

 

[Jentine]

There is a jumper between the two batteries.

From the Beneteau 423 site on Yahoo:

"It is used to charge both battery banks during engine running in lieu of an isolator/ACR. If the jumper is removed an isolator/ACR must be installed.

All literature I have read suggest it is not a good idea to have the jumper.
It is just a cheap solution to the charging issue. You can easily solve the dead start battery issue when you remove the jumper with the addition of a battery switch and/or buy a jump start kit."