battery switch install+set-up

Mark · Jan 19, 2004

Hello Everyone!Well, I'm beyond knee-deep in my fun fun project of re-wiring my Oday 23. But, I hit a slight speed bump. I have a Perko OFF/1/2/BOTH battery switch, a 10 gang terminal block and a West Marine 12V Illuminated 6 circuit Electrical Panel. Currently, I only have one Group 27 Interstate Marine battery. (In spring I'll add a Group 24 starting battery for my 9.9 Johnson).I stopped by my "somewhat" local BoatU.S./West Marine store and the "electrical techie" said I should wire the positive from battery to the battery switch, then feed it to the positive on my electrical panel. As well, the negative feed from battery to the battery switch, then negative from battery switch to terminal block then negative to electrical panel. I did that, then installed two new cabin lights, wired them up. After hooking it all up, I had power to the electrical panel AND cabin lights. BUT - my 11 year old son put my attention on the fact that the battery switch was in the "OFF" position, yet we still had power. Is that right? Is that correct? Did I not wire something right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm not an engineer or electrician, but just doing the basics. This boat will eventually have solar panels installed for battery charging, but that's later -in spring, when I can afford more gear. Help?Mark s/v Cattivo I1972 Oday 23Frozen Tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin

Gerry · Jan 20, 2004

Wiring

Hey Mark,To answer your question, no that’s not right. With the switch in the off position their should be no live power downstream of the switch. I’m not sure how you switch is set up. The only thing going through the switch should be your positive side or negative side, not both unless you have more than one deck that is isolated from one another and that’s not necessary. My switch is clearly marked where B+-1 and B+2, which is the battery hot, are to be connected to the switch. The only remaining connection is the feed to the electrical distribution panel. If you have a direct feed to your panel from somewhere else most panels have the hot sides ganged together so you don’t have to supply multiple feed lines. Make sure you are not back feeding your panel, that’s where you have an extra line with a direct feed going to your panel from a source other than the feed from the switch. Hopefully I haven’t confused you. You can e-mail me directly if you have more questions and I’ll try to explain what I mean and some simple troubleshooting to isolate the problem.Fair WindsGerry

Vic · Jan 20, 2004

There is no black (-) line to the Perko ...

Two reds ... one from each battery ... Then one red out to your fuse panel. The perko you are talking about only does the hot side ... Black goes from the battery to another connection bar generally "somewhere else" Vic"Seven"

Mark · Jan 20, 2004

battery switch

Vic,So, should I remove the negative (-)that I have feeding from the battery to the switch and put that directly to the bus bar or to the negative on the electrical panel?The responses sent to me here, make sense,just gotta pull out the battery switch and double check my work.Appreciate your advice, I really really do!Last thing I want is to fry the boat or myself.Mark