Can anyone tell me if the battry selector switch needs to be on when charging the batteries using the on board Dytek Battery charger. As I have two batteries, if the switch needs to be on, what setting do I put the switch on (battery 1, battery 2, or both). Paul s/v Lady Sara Severna Park, MD
- Status
It depends
on the wiring. Look at the charger and count the number of positive (red) wires coming out of it. If there is only one then it most surly goes to the battery selector switch. If there is more than one they may both go to the switch or they may go to each battery bank. For the first case, the selector switch will determine which battery bank gets charged. OFF is not an option in this case. You get to decide which bank(s) get charged and that depends on how you have been using of the bank. The latter case requires some more looking about. Examine each battery bank to see if you can find an extra positive wire that does not go to the selector switch. If so they are most likely the wires from the charger. In this case the selector switch is not even in the circuit and both battery banks get charged even if the switch is in the OFF position. You can test your observations if you have a volt meter. Turn the selector to OFF and with the charger off measure the voltage on both banks. Turn the charger on and remeasure. If the voltage went up the charger is connected to that bank directly. If it did not go up turn the selector switch to that bank and remeasure the voltage. It should have a charging voltage on it. You can repeat for the other bank but if it works for one the other will work too or your selector switch is busted. Happy sailing.
on the wiring. Look at the charger and count the number of positive (red) wires coming out of it. If there is only one then it most surly goes to the battery selector switch. If there is more than one they may both go to the switch or they may go to each battery bank. For the first case, the selector switch will determine which battery bank gets charged. OFF is not an option in this case. You get to decide which bank(s) get charged and that depends on how you have been using of the bank. The latter case requires some more looking about. Examine each battery bank to see if you can find an extra positive wire that does not go to the selector switch. If so they are most likely the wires from the charger. In this case the selector switch is not even in the circuit and both battery banks get charged even if the switch is in the OFF position. You can test your observations if you have a volt meter. Turn the selector to OFF and with the charger off measure the voltage on both banks. Turn the charger on and remeasure. If the voltage went up the charger is connected to that bank directly. If it did not go up turn the selector switch to that bank and remeasure the voltage. It should have a charging voltage on it. You can repeat for the other bank but if it works for one the other will work too or your selector switch is busted. Happy sailing.
help us help to you
Only you can tell how the boat is wired. If the output of the charger goes to the battery switch posts, the answer will be different than if they go to the batteries themselves. You'll have to do some investigation on your boat to figure that out before anyone can tell you what to do.
Only you can tell how the boat is wired. If the output of the charger goes to the battery switch posts, the answer will be different than if they go to the batteries themselves. You'll have to do some investigation on your boat to figure that out before anyone can tell you what to do.
Chargin operation
Paul Here is a pretty simple method for finding your batt positions for charger output. Turn off your mains (A/C and D/C). Next, turn you perkos off, either house and battery bank or however you have them set up. Disconnect your terminals at both batteries. Get your voltmeter handy. Now turn on your AC and your batt charger breaker. Turn your perko to batt 1 (however you determine them) and check voltage on your battery leads. When you get current, you now have the switch positions identified. Hook then back up (power off) and your done. Might wanna write or label them accordingly. Cheers Rick
Paul Here is a pretty simple method for finding your batt positions for charger output. Turn off your mains (A/C and D/C). Next, turn you perkos off, either house and battery bank or however you have them set up. Disconnect your terminals at both batteries. Get your voltmeter handy. Now turn on your AC and your batt charger breaker. Turn your perko to batt 1 (however you determine them) and check voltage on your battery leads. When you get current, you now have the switch positions identified. Hook then back up (power off) and your done. Might wanna write or label them accordingly. Cheers Rick
Paul, in a properly wired boat
the switch should control the battery banks output. The input charge leads should be wired directly from the charger to the batteries bypassing the switch. When you are connected to shore power the batteries should charge independently of what the battery switch may be. Underway, the alternator charge will come through the switch to the selected battery or both if so set at the switch. The 12V (+) leads coming out of the charger should go directly to the positive pole on each battery while the (-) lead should go to a common negative. If this is not the case in your boat I would consider rewiring it to the standart as it will facilitate the power management of your boat.
the switch should control the battery banks output. The input charge leads should be wired directly from the charger to the batteries bypassing the switch. When you are connected to shore power the batteries should charge independently of what the battery switch may be. Underway, the alternator charge will come through the switch to the selected battery or both if so set at the switch. The 12V (+) leads coming out of the charger should go directly to the positive pole on each battery while the (-) lead should go to a common negative. If this is not the case in your boat I would consider rewiring it to the standart as it will facilitate the power management of your boat.
- Status