I'm installing two batteries on my H22 and have some questions about battery switches. First of all I bought a Perko battery switch which I will use to switch batteries for charging and starting. I read the wiring instructions (Perko switch) and all looks pretty simple. The instructions do not show wiring to an electrical panel and I also noted that there is no negative connection on this switch as the negative feeds directly from the battery to the motor ground. My question is can I run my internal DC power, i.e., lights etc. through this switch or is this switch only for battery charging? If not any ideas how I can switch battteries for internal power.
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Battery switch
It is for switching batteries. Use switch to isolate battery 1 and use it for starting your engine. Use battery 2 as "house" bank and connect your lights, stereo, etc. to it with simple buss bar type connectors on only that battery. I'd wire my bilge pump to both.
It is for switching batteries. Use switch to isolate battery 1 and use it for starting your engine. Use battery 2 as "house" bank and connect your lights, stereo, etc. to it with simple buss bar type connectors on only that battery. I'd wire my bilge pump to both.
Will try to help . . .
I'm not sure I understand your intent. You said you wanted to switch batteries for charging and starting. Aren't these switches normally used for suppling power from #1, #2 or Both to your DC panel? As for panel connection, isn't there a "Load" or "Breaker" designation in the Perko diagrams? If so, those wires go to your panel. Forgive me if I'm over-simplifying here and missed your point.
I'm not sure I understand your intent. You said you wanted to switch batteries for charging and starting. Aren't these switches normally used for suppling power from #1, #2 or Both to your DC panel? As for panel connection, isn't there a "Load" or "Breaker" designation in the Perko diagrams? If so, those wires go to your panel. Forgive me if I'm over-simplifying here and missed your point.
Little more detail.
I think you are concerned about how the 12 volts gets to the panel. Most Hunter wiring that includes a battery switch is done the same way. The common wire from your new battery switch should go to the starter. From the same post on the starter you will have a red wire, usually #12 but I would make it a #10 if it is not already there. That wire will supply the 12 volts to the common bus on your panel. When I rewire I also make the ground wire(black) from the panel match the red 12V source. In this case #12 or #10. As mentioned previously: red #4 wire from new battery switch position #1 to start battery and #4 wire from pos. 2 to house battery. I am trying to figure out how Honeyman wires the bilge pump float switch to #1 and #2 at the same time. Doing so would seem to cause loss of the isolation that you so expensively achieved with the battery switch. I am probably missing something though.
I think you are concerned about how the 12 volts gets to the panel. Most Hunter wiring that includes a battery switch is done the same way. The common wire from your new battery switch should go to the starter. From the same post on the starter you will have a red wire, usually #12 but I would make it a #10 if it is not already there. That wire will supply the 12 volts to the common bus on your panel. When I rewire I also make the ground wire(black) from the panel match the red 12V source. In this case #12 or #10. As mentioned previously: red #4 wire from new battery switch position #1 to start battery and #4 wire from pos. 2 to house battery. I am trying to figure out how Honeyman wires the bilge pump float switch to #1 and #2 at the same time. Doing so would seem to cause loss of the isolation that you so expensively achieved with the battery switch. I am probably missing something though.
Clark, I hope this clarifies...
Clark, As I mentioned in my original post, the Perko battery switch only addresses the battery wiring from the batteries to switch to motor. There is no mention nor instructions to wire from this switch to the DC panel. That was my qustion: Can I use this switch to supply power to my DC panel. I think Honeyman is saying that the switch is only designated for charging & starting and if that is true then I cannot wire from the switch to my DC panel. For what it's worth I'm attaching the wiring diagram to eliminate any confusion in my original post. When I bought this switch at West Marine, the salesman said I could go from this switch to DC panel to have one, two or both batteries power the boat DC panel. I'm now doubting that I can accomplish this [wiring to DC panel]. My original goal was not to permanantly designate one battery for starting and the the other for the boat DC panel but rather to be able to use any or all batteries for both starting and to run lights, radio, etc. My thinking is that the motor starting power consumption would be far less than powering lights, radios, fans, accessories etc., especially when spending three or four days & nights. After all, my motor is only an 8HP and it can be easily started manually but as with most new outboards, if you want an alternator for charging you also get a starter.
Clark, As I mentioned in my original post, the Perko battery switch only addresses the battery wiring from the batteries to switch to motor. There is no mention nor instructions to wire from this switch to the DC panel. That was my qustion: Can I use this switch to supply power to my DC panel. I think Honeyman is saying that the switch is only designated for charging & starting and if that is true then I cannot wire from the switch to my DC panel. For what it's worth I'm attaching the wiring diagram to eliminate any confusion in my original post. When I bought this switch at West Marine, the salesman said I could go from this switch to DC panel to have one, two or both batteries power the boat DC panel. I'm now doubting that I can accomplish this [wiring to DC panel]. My original goal was not to permanantly designate one battery for starting and the the other for the boat DC panel but rather to be able to use any or all batteries for both starting and to run lights, radio, etc. My thinking is that the motor starting power consumption would be far less than powering lights, radios, fans, accessories etc., especially when spending three or four days & nights. After all, my motor is only an 8HP and it can be easily started manually but as with most new outboards, if you want an alternator for charging you also get a starter.
Clark, I hope this clarifies...
Clark, Honeyman As I mentioned in my original post, the Perko battery switch only shows the battery wiring from the batteries to switch to motor. There is no mention nor instructions to wire from this switch to the DC panel. That was my qustion: Can I use this switch to supply power to my DC panel for the house lights etc. I think Honeyman is saying that the switch is only designated for charging & starting and if that is true then I cannot wire from the switch to my DC panel. For what it's worth I'm attaching the wiring diagram to eliminate any confusion in my original post. When I bought this switch at West Marine, the salesman said I could go from this switch to DC panel to have one, two or both batteries power the boat DC panel. I'm now doubting that I can accomplish this [wiring to DC panel]. My original goal was not to permanantly designate one battery for starting and the the other for the boat DC panel but rather to be able to use any or all batteries for both starting and to run lights, radio, etc. My thinking is that the motor starting power consumption would be far less than powering lights, radios, fans, accessories etc., especially when spending three or four days & nights. After all, my motor is only an 8HP and it can be easily started manually but as with most new outboards, if you want an alternator for charging you also get a starter.
Clark, Honeyman As I mentioned in my original post, the Perko battery switch only shows the battery wiring from the batteries to switch to motor. There is no mention nor instructions to wire from this switch to the DC panel. That was my qustion: Can I use this switch to supply power to my DC panel for the house lights etc. I think Honeyman is saying that the switch is only designated for charging & starting and if that is true then I cannot wire from the switch to my DC panel. For what it's worth I'm attaching the wiring diagram to eliminate any confusion in my original post. When I bought this switch at West Marine, the salesman said I could go from this switch to DC panel to have one, two or both batteries power the boat DC panel. I'm now doubting that I can accomplish this [wiring to DC panel]. My original goal was not to permanantly designate one battery for starting and the the other for the boat DC panel but rather to be able to use any or all batteries for both starting and to run lights, radio, etc. My thinking is that the motor starting power consumption would be far less than powering lights, radios, fans, accessories etc., especially when spending three or four days & nights. After all, my motor is only an 8HP and it can be easily started manually but as with most new outboards, if you want an alternator for charging you also get a starter.
Pete,
This is simpiler than you think. ALL negative wires go back to the batteries via a common bus and one 10ga wire. The positives from each battery go to the respective posts on the battery switch. The COMMON terminal on the switch goes to the starter AND a 10ga wire goes to the panel, yes from the SAME stud. The wires from the outboard should go to the common on the switch and one of the negatives on a battery. BOTH battery negatives are tied together. Pat McCartin Inland Marine DIesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
This is simpiler than you think. ALL negative wires go back to the batteries via a common bus and one 10ga wire. The positives from each battery go to the respective posts on the battery switch. The COMMON terminal on the switch goes to the starter AND a 10ga wire goes to the panel, yes from the SAME stud. The wires from the outboard should go to the common on the switch and one of the negatives on a battery. BOTH battery negatives are tied together. Pat McCartin Inland Marine DIesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Thanks Pat
Right on Pat; that's the way I understood the switch to work. Pete: "I wasn't sure the boat even had a panel for distribution . . . " I'm pretty sure mine was located on the starboard side of the cabin on the lower-vertical section of that settee, right at the bottom of the steps.
Right on Pat; that's the way I understood the switch to work. Pete: "I wasn't sure the boat even had a panel for distribution . . . " I'm pretty sure mine was located on the starboard side of the cabin on the lower-vertical section of that settee, right at the bottom of the steps.
Thanks Pat
Pat, Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if I could use that switch to also power my DC panel but now that I think about it if it can power the motor I guess it can power my panel. Thanks again, Pete
Pat, Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if I could use that switch to also power my DC panel but now that I think about it if it can power the motor I guess it can power my panel. Thanks again, Pete
While the experts are inhouse!
That was an answer I needed for myself as well, but what Im still fuzzy in is shore power charging. Does each battery get a charger? There are some dual battery chargers I've seen. Or does a single charger connect to the switch as well to charge both? Will the charger be able to sense when both batteries are charged?
That was an answer I needed for myself as well, but what Im still fuzzy in is shore power charging. Does each battery get a charger? There are some dual battery chargers I've seen. Or does a single charger connect to the switch as well to charge both? Will the charger be able to sense when both batteries are charged?
Charger wiring.
You could wire a charger to that same common 12v post on the starter. Then you could use the battery switch on '1', '2', or BOTH to direct the charge. More common is the two bank charger or a one bank charger with a combiner(my setup). With a combiner the charger is connected to one bank, usually the house. When that bank reaches a nearly charged level the combiner will open a circuit to charge the start battery.
You could wire a charger to that same common 12v post on the starter. Then you could use the battery switch on '1', '2', or BOTH to direct the charge. More common is the two bank charger or a one bank charger with a combiner(my setup). With a combiner the charger is connected to one bank, usually the house. When that bank reaches a nearly charged level the combiner will open a circuit to charge the start battery.
Wiring to OB's
The engine should have come with a harness to connect to the battery. If it's missing my best advise is to call a dealer and match the original wire guage. Ed has it on the charger issue. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
The engine should have come with a harness to connect to the battery. If it's missing my best advise is to call a dealer and match the original wire guage. Ed has it on the charger issue. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
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