Battery Switch

[quadrille38]

Somewhat different installation but on our previous boat a Catalina 34 the battery switch was OFF, 1, BOTH 2

I made a practice of alternating from one battery to the other using odd battery on odd days and even battery on even days.
That way always had a fully charged battery is reserve while working off the other one. That way in the event the in use battery drew down and wasn't able to start the engine a quick switch to the fully charged battery and back in business.

 

[Stu Jackson]

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?

Unless someone with your identical boat comes along to help, my Reply #2 explained different battery use methods. That reply started with "It all depends on how it's wired." And even if that "someone" came along here, their boat could be different than yours. In many cases we've heard, with questions similar to yours, the skipper has opened things up and found wires that went nowhere. Really.

I humbly suggest that you open up the panel, trace the wires and do a wiring diagram which will begin to help you understand what it is you have an how to operate it.

Good luck.

 

[JonnyQuest]

... Really. I humbly suggest that you open up the panel, trace the wires and do a wiring diagram which will begin to help you understand what it is you have an how to operate it. Good luck.

Yes, don't be like me. It seems like a whole tribe of Gremlins just set up camp in my boat a couple of weeks back. SOMEWHERE there is a serious draw depleting my batteries even while on the charger. I still have the inherited pile of spaghetti known as wiring and wish I had traced it all down, cleaned it all up, and drew up a wiring diagram prior to the Gremlins moving in. A Daunting task for sure, but it is worth it to do this while your systems are functioning properly.

 

[SeaTR]

Kingsailor,
"Hear, hear" to Stu and JonnyQ !! I've been slowly working on my salvage boat for the past 5 years, and still working on the "overnighting" work list..sorry to say. Initally, I spent too much time trying to "fix" the electrical system. Then I finally decided to rip it all out and reconfigured it as I wanted, including replacing and relocating the power panel. This said, I KNEW the wiring, connections, and all fixtures.

So other than going to the extreme that I did, "hand over hand" your particular installation, do visual and continuity checks, repair/replace as you go, and draw up a schematic to capture your work. You will certainly become "one with your boat".

Have fun...there's no comparison to the satisfaction of doing your own quality work.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Chief;

In the ARmy, were you ever stationed with the Army's navy at Ft. Useless?

 

[Chief RA]

Dave: No, but I served with them in Camn Rahn Bay, Vn. Since Army virtually had/has no real electronic repair capability for their ships and boats, they soon found the US Navy trained electronics technician to help them. ( I was/am trained in radar, comm, and sonar) They would send LARKs (land & sea boats) over to get me and a couple Techs when they had problems. Got cases of steaks and lobster on those trips!
Chief

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I grew up near ft. Eustis and had a brother born there. Dad was the commander of the aviation field/transportation school and I got to fly with him a lot as a kid. It was a lot of fun. I do recall the army navy. Like I said, Eustis is known at Ft. Useless.