How do I charge all three (two house and one starting) batteries in our boat. I have a guest battery switch with "off", "on" and "both" settings. I also have two key type switches one is for the starting battery and other is for a parallel setting. I am not completely sure of the correct setting so when the charger is connected, all three batteries will be charging at once. Another question about battery setting while sailing. I turn the battery key switch off while sailing but do not really know how the other batteries should be set while sailing. Any help with either of these two questions would be great !! Thanks CM
Charging the batteries (3)
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Hi CM
Hi CM, To answer a question on the previous post about carpet; it lifts off the floor to reveal the bilge cover. The carpet is held in place by double face tape. Another added bonus is it keeps the original floor looking new. Now, about the charger. I also charge three batteries and it all depends on how it is hooked up. Mine, for example, bypasses the battery switch altogether and charges when ever the shore power is plugged in. It doesn't matter what setting the battery switch is on. I have a two stage charger so two batteries are tied or linked together { deep cycle} and the third is [starting}is hooked up by itself. If your talking about charging from the alternator,.. on mine, I only charge one set at a time so I turn the switch from one to the other every few hours. Be careful not to switch it to off with the engine running or you will toast the alternator. When sailing with the engine off I have the deep cycle batteried carry the load. This is all basic stuff so I am sure I am missing something about your question. I don't really understand what you describe as two key switches but I'm sure someone else will chime in. I talked with my brother in Falmouth today. Brrrr, but I still miss it! good luck, Jack
Hi CM, To answer a question on the previous post about carpet; it lifts off the floor to reveal the bilge cover. The carpet is held in place by double face tape. Another added bonus is it keeps the original floor looking new. Now, about the charger. I also charge three batteries and it all depends on how it is hooked up. Mine, for example, bypasses the battery switch altogether and charges when ever the shore power is plugged in. It doesn't matter what setting the battery switch is on. I have a two stage charger so two batteries are tied or linked together { deep cycle} and the third is [starting}is hooked up by itself. If your talking about charging from the alternator,.. on mine, I only charge one set at a time so I turn the switch from one to the other every few hours. Be careful not to switch it to off with the engine running or you will toast the alternator. When sailing with the engine off I have the deep cycle batteried carry the load. This is all basic stuff so I am sure I am missing something about your question. I don't really understand what you describe as two key switches but I'm sure someone else will chime in. I talked with my brother in Falmouth today. Brrrr, but I still miss it! good luck, Jack
YOU need to trace the wiring
on your boat and figure out how it's all connected and should work. There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to help you without making assumptions and giving you incorrect advice, because we are not able to physically inspect your installation. It'd be like asking us to diagnose a smell over the Internet. For your safety, please either DIY or find an qualified electrician who can review and explain to you how it's wired and how to make it work properly.
on your boat and figure out how it's all connected and should work. There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to help you without making assumptions and giving you incorrect advice, because we are not able to physically inspect your installation. It'd be like asking us to diagnose a smell over the Internet. For your safety, please either DIY or find an qualified electrician who can review and explain to you how it's wired and how to make it work properly.
3 Batts
CM: You should trace the wires to be postive about your system. Your system sounds kinda like what I had. I had a 3 batt system (1 start and 2 house batts). All 3 batts were set up to stand alone. Here's how I worked it. The start batt was on a simple on/off switch. To start the engine I simply switched it on and fired the engine. I would generally motor about 15 minutes to put the charge back in the starting batt. Then I would switch the house batts to ALL and THEN turn the start batt to OFF. I'm now charging the 2 house batts whether they need it or not. When I hoisted sail I switched to one of the house batts - #1 on odd days and #2 on even days. Additionally, I installed a system made by a company called Lewco in Newport Beach, Ca. It was designed to fool and bypass the regulator. With the Lewco I could dial in the amount of charge I wanted. So, if I was at anchor, my morning routine was to start the engine as I described above and then charge the house batt I used the night before by using the Lewco. Trying to charge your batts at fast idle takes forever. The thing I did not like about the parallel batt system is a bad batt can suck down a good one. With the stand alone system, the start batt is always ready as is one of the house batts. If I really got into a pinch I could use all 3 batts to start the engine.
CM: You should trace the wires to be postive about your system. Your system sounds kinda like what I had. I had a 3 batt system (1 start and 2 house batts). All 3 batts were set up to stand alone. Here's how I worked it. The start batt was on a simple on/off switch. To start the engine I simply switched it on and fired the engine. I would generally motor about 15 minutes to put the charge back in the starting batt. Then I would switch the house batts to ALL and THEN turn the start batt to OFF. I'm now charging the 2 house batts whether they need it or not. When I hoisted sail I switched to one of the house batts - #1 on odd days and #2 on even days. Additionally, I installed a system made by a company called Lewco in Newport Beach, Ca. It was designed to fool and bypass the regulator. With the Lewco I could dial in the amount of charge I wanted. So, if I was at anchor, my morning routine was to start the engine as I described above and then charge the house batt I used the night before by using the Lewco. Trying to charge your batts at fast idle takes forever. The thing I did not like about the parallel batt system is a bad batt can suck down a good one. With the stand alone system, the start batt is always ready as is one of the house batts. If I really got into a pinch I could use all 3 batts to start the engine.
battery hook up
Hi guys, I have a C30 and use 1 G31 gell batery for a starting bank,and have two RD4 gell batterys for a house bank.I used a third RD4 when i had my reffer working.(But thats another story)I hooked my house bank to a 100amp alt with a three stage smart charge ,this charges my house bank.I have a echo charger with smart chargering that trickel charges the starting battery when the volts reach13.8 float charge on the battery charger ,Alt ,solar.It stops charging when you draw the batterys down below 13.8 volts or if you have a problem with the power. I have three on off switches one to starting one two house one between the to to combine .I think WM had this in there catologe afew years back. I keep my start battery on all the time .The house bank is on if im on the boat off when I leave Im not sure about a elect fire or dead batterys.i have a large fuse on all pos wires and inverter / charger. Once started my m25xp runs with no power, I thought that it needs power for the fuel pump but thats just to start. I found when i had a problem with power it was the switches going bad. I keep them on except for the house bank . I dont think there is a need to switch each battery they carge and discharge better together. John
Hi guys, I have a C30 and use 1 G31 gell batery for a starting bank,and have two RD4 gell batterys for a house bank.I used a third RD4 when i had my reffer working.(But thats another story)I hooked my house bank to a 100amp alt with a three stage smart charge ,this charges my house bank.I have a echo charger with smart chargering that trickel charges the starting battery when the volts reach13.8 float charge on the battery charger ,Alt ,solar.It stops charging when you draw the batterys down below 13.8 volts or if you have a problem with the power. I have three on off switches one to starting one two house one between the to to combine .I think WM had this in there catologe afew years back. I keep my start battery on all the time .The house bank is on if im on the boat off when I leave Im not sure about a elect fire or dead batterys.i have a large fuse on all pos wires and inverter / charger. Once started my m25xp runs with no power, I thought that it needs power for the fuel pump but thats just to start. I found when i had a problem with power it was the switches going bad. I keep them on except for the house bank . I dont think there is a need to switch each battery they carge and discharge better together. John
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