Battery Switch

[kingsailor]

Hey all,

Would someone please explain the function of the battery switch. What setting do I use when charging? Under "House Battery" there are 2 breaker switches, one marked #1 and one marked #2. Then under them it says "To DC panel"< what are these used for? And what are the "House battery test fuses for.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It all depends on how it's wired.

Basic Battery Wiring Diagrams This is a very good basic primer for boat system wiring: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6604.0.html

This is another very good basic primer for boat system wiring: The 1-2-B Switch by Maine Sail (brings together a lot of what this subject is all about)
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137615

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

IN layman's terms, a battery selector allows you to determine which battery to use either 1, 2 or both. The positive wires from the batteries assuming you have a dual bank, are attached behind the selector to 1 and 2. Then the common which is a positive wire goes to the 12 volt distribution panel and/or engine starting. Sometimes there is an on and off switch for the wire going to the distribution panel and /or engine.

Many usually determine which battery they will use strictly for the engine and the other for the cabin, running lights and so forth. Why? If you are running both batteries for the cabin and so forth without charging them, they will run down thus not allowing you to start the engine as it takes current to turn the engine over before starting. Many times I had to take a rescue boat for a start jump for the engine. Therfore, you may want to designate one battery solely for the engine.

Charging comes from various sources but the two primary are engine assuming inboard diesel in this case and shore power. Generally the shore power charging is wired up to both battheries direct and has what I call a float switch when it senses the individual battery being fully charged will stop charging. As for the engine, It will keep charging the battery or batteries and that is usually determined by what the battery selector is in. For example if on both, the both batteries will be charging but only say in #1 position, that battery only will be charged.

I use to instruct my clients to shut off the shore power charging to the batteries when leaving the boat going home for any length of time so the batteries will not be "cooked". Believe it or not, continuous charging without using the batteries does shorten the life of the batteries and if you are doing that, suggest that on those batteries where you have to keep the fluids level up, you better check that on a routine basis.

Hopefully this will help

 

[Mr Mac]

Okay, CD...you going to be there when I hook all mine up?!?

Mac

 

[PGIJon]

I use to instruct my clients to shut off the shore power charging to the batteries when leaving the boat going home for any length of time so the batteries will not be "cooked". Believe it or not, continuous charging without using the batteries does shorten the life of the batteries...

Hopefully this will help

But is this true when you are using a smart charger like a xantrex truecharge?

 

[Benny17441]

Some chargers are gentler than others but it is not the best practice to keep a charging current on a fully charged battery 24/7. It is not critical and the batteries will not cook overnight and some don't have the time to baby-sit the charger and others don't care. If the boat is used frequently (once a week) it probably does not matter but if left sitting with no significant load on the batteries it will reduce their capacity and long term useful life. It is a matter of exercising the batteries and for those that run 12V refrigeration 24/7 it is OK to also keep the charger on.

 

[Chief RA]

Ok all you genious's: How much your charger costs or how many stages it possesses is not the issue. It has to do with what voltage the charger presents to the battery when the battery is at full charge. Make sure you have good batteries as this is usually the problem. If the battery is at 13.8v at full charge and so is the charger you have 0 current flowing between them! The charger can be kept on forever as long as the battery is still in good shape! I'm sure a lot of guys will hit on this, but just remember: there is no substitute for education AND experience! Chief

 

[Stu Jackson]

Chief,

Keep it plugged in or not.

Those are the options.

I simply choose to de-plug (for safety's sake) and use a small solar panel.

We were away for two weeks, and the battery monitor showed + (plus) 15.9 amp hours when I returned to the boat.

Your boat, your choice.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I am not an engineer but speak only from experience. When a boat is left for weeks with the battery charger on without the battery being used, the shelf life of the battery goes down and in standard batteries, the fluid levels also go down. Another reason for turning the power off is in the event of electrical fire, etc.. Again, it is experience only that I base a lot of information on in the posts.

crazy dave condon

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Mr. Mac;

If you ever need direct help, email me with your phone number and personal email.

crazy dave condon

 

[JonnyQuest]

The Quest family boat batteries are kaput right now. I have a xantrex trucharge 2 with 4 golf cart batteries. No solar. Batteries gave up the ghost at 4 years. Not bad but expected more life. I am going to try a reconditioning cycle but doubt it will rejuvenate the batteries any--trucharge unit supposedly automatically runs a conditioning cycle once a month. I think.

Any rate, contrary to original plans when installed, I do NOT give my batteries a regular workout and expect this shortened their life despite the quality charger.

Round two will include a solar panel for trickle charging. And unplugging shore power.

FWIW

JQ

 

[Maine Sail]

Hey all,

Would someone please explain the function of the battery switch. What setting do I use when charging? Under "House Battery" there are 2 breaker switches, one marked #1 and one marked #2. Then under them it says "To DC panel"< what are these used for? And what are the "House battery test fuses for. View attachment 69372

 

[Chief RA]

Monitoring the current draw as is shown above is the way to determine if your charger is cutting off at full charge. Some do and some don't, so know what you have. Of course you will get a reading on occasion or it wouldn't keep the batteries up!
Stu: I don't keep mine plugged in when I am away either. When my Catalina 250 is all set up it will use solar. Its over at Spud Point Marina, Bodega Bay, CA right now. I'll be going back over soon.

Chief

 

[JonnyQuest]

The Quest family boat batteries are kaput right now. I have a xantrex trucharge 2 with 4 golf cart batteries. No solar. Batteries gave up the ghost at 4 years. Not bad but expected more life. I am going to try a reconditioning cycle but doubt it will rejuvenate the batteries any--trucharge unit supposedly automatically runs a conditioning cycle once a month. I think. Any rate, contrary to original plans when installed, I do NOT give my batteries a regular workout and expect this shortened their life despite the quality charger. Round two will include a solar panel for trickle charging. And unplugging shore power. FWIW JQ

Just a quick update, the batteries may not be shot after all. it looks like there is a short in the starter solenoid. Have removed starter and solenoid and am looking for a replacement solenoid locally. That usually gives the auto parts guys something to scratch their head about.

Will update later.

 

[SeaTR]

Chief, not to get too far off the subject...You were THE Master Chief PO of THE Navy ???
If so, during what time period ?

 

[Chief RA]

SeaTR: No, 1st class ET Navy, Chief Warrant 3 (electronics), Regular Army retired. The battery issues are always contentious because so many people use their own perceptions as correct concepts and of course that can lead to faulty info to the members. Chief

 

[SeaTR]

Indeed, perceptions, concepts, realities...all so close...sometimes. ;-)
I've done many an equalizing charge...and hopped many a battery wells for cell SGs, H2SO4 levels, and ICVs.
Main Sail and you both have points to be made.

Switched from Navy to Army?

EM1 (SS) US Navy
A long time ago..

 

[Chief RA]

SeaTr: Check your email! Chief

 

[SeaTR]

Chief RA: check YOUR email.

 

[kingsailor]

This ia all good information but what I am looking for is tips on how to manage our battery output from this battery selector switch. Do I rotate the switch from House #1 to House #2 periodically and what about the toggle switches under the rotating dial that say "House Battery 1 & 2 ? Do I switch those on and off also when I rotate the selector ? For example: I start the day with the selector on # 1 and the toggle switch to House Battery 1 up on to the on position. A while later I switch the selector switch to # 2 then do I need to also flip the toggle switch to House battery 2 ? Will this keep the batteries separate so the good one doesn't draw from the depleted battery I used first?