Battery switch question

May 7, 2014
135
Beneteau 390 Tiburon
Have levers engine and parallel, how and what is the best way to use these? ( it's not the same as the 1 both 2 switch)
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Beneteau wiring:

It all depends on how it is wired.

Really.

Anyone telling you how to do it without seeing the wiring diagram for YOUR boat is blowing smoke.

That said, if it's like this one, then it's simple.
 

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Last edited:

weinie

.
Sep 6, 2010
1,297
Jeanneau 349 port washington, ny
Stu,
Just as a note, not all b's or j's have the "jumper" on the load side of the switches as indicated in your wiring diagram. My new boat does not, though I am re-purposing the negative switch to parallel the loads.
 

weinie

.
Sep 6, 2010
1,297
Jeanneau 349 port washington, ny
Couldn't you parallel by turning BOTH batt switches on?
I would still have to add that jumper wire i described above.

Adding the switch in the middle of it letsme keep the starter on the starter battery and the house on the house bank.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Beneteau wiring

Stu,
Just as a note, not all b's or j's have the "jumper" on the load side of the switches as indicated in your wiring diagram. My new boat does not, though I am re-purposing the negative switch to parallel the loads.


Understood. Thanks for complimenting my initial thought:

It all depends on how it is wired.


A search on "Beneteau wiring" comes up with some hits, including this one: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=613945&highlight=beneteau wiring

Ron offered really good comments in that link. The OP should investigate what he has, first.
 
Oct 3, 2008
325
Beneteau 393 Chesapeake Bay
True that not all B's have that jumper. My 393 had one, but I removed it and replaced it with an ACR. That way, both banks are charged when there is a source, but are isolated when there is no charging source. Also, I don't have to remember to turn off the engine battery when at anchor.

I also wired in an override on-off switch in parallel, for emergencies. I can isolate a bad bank with the factory switches, and use the override switch to run everything from the remaining bank. OR, combine both banks if needed.
 
May 7, 2014
135
Beneteau 390 Tiburon
Ok found out how mine works. Parallel groups all batteries for starting ( good if engine battery is low) engine only powers the engine starting battery
 
Jan 22, 2008
169
Beneteau 343 Saint Helens, Oregon OR
My 343 came with separate switches for engine and house and came with a parallel relay to combine the two. However the relay was wired to parallel the batteries whenever the engine batt was on. Changed leads to the relay that powered the parallel relay to only power when key is on.
I plan to switch that lead separately so only parallel when I want or need. Hopefully that will prevent the Balmar from boiling the engine battery dry.
Starter takes so little power I should only occasionally need to parallel.