So if I understand you this means that when you start your engine from, say, battery 1 selector switch position 1, you are using battery 1 to start your engine and to keep light and radio running? So then after you start your engine you have to go below to select position 2 to prevent battery 1 from being used for lights and radio and not being fully charged for next start?I believe if your switch is correctly wired, when you select battery 1 your lights and radio are only running off battery 1. When you select battery 2 on the switch your lights and radio are only running off battery 2. When switched to all you are connected to both batteries. Of coures when switched to off nothing is on. Hopefully you are not crossed wired somewhere.
guessing games are fun sometimes but no one but you can know how your boat is wired. It certainly sounds like someone screwed up yours. Nothing except bilge pumps should have power when the switch is off.Just noticed that lights and radio stay on whether I select battery 1 or 2 or both when I would have wanted them on only I selected battery 2 so as to preserve battery 1 exclusively for starting. What am I missing?
To be fair he said everything runs whether in position 1, 2, or both; but not that things run when it’s set to off.It certainly sounds like someone screwed up yours. Nothing except bilge pumps should have power when the switch is off.
interesting, the article above suggested everyone should check to see if bilge is running when battery selector is in off position.guessing games are fun sometimes but no one but you can know how your boat is wired. It certainly sounds like someone screwed up yours. Nothing except bilge pumps should have power when the switch is off.
I think I get how switch works now. So perhaps best strategy is to just use battery 1 for everything, and only switch to battery 2 if battery 1 lacks power to start. And use "both" occasionally to charge both batteries. Does that make sense?To be fair he said everything runs whether in position 1, 2, or both; but not that things run when it’s set to off.
Never buy batteries from West Marine. They are made by East Penn and the identical batteries can be purchased at Sam’s Club, NAPA, Batteries Plus and dozens of other retailers for significantly less money. Many WalMart locations also have the East Penn product. I will never advise the East Penn AGM’s as they are not a deep cycle product. Their GEL batts are amazing but you need the charging infrastructure correct or you’ll ruin them…I think I get how switch works now. So perhaps best strategy is to just use battery 1 for everything, and only switch to battery 2 if battery 1 lacks power to start. And use "both" occasionally to charge both batteries. Does that make sense?
So that begs the question, should I buy 2 deep cycle batteries, or 2 dual purpose. Guy at west marine suggested 2 AGM dual purpose batteries today. He said all West Marine AGMs are dual purpose. I'm thinking 2 deep cycle batteries makes more sense. My diesel is only 30HP. Probably generic West Marine batteries assume more cranking power is needed on average than is needed for my little Yanmar.
If I compare West Marine Deep Cycle group 31 ( Wet versus AGM) specs look about the same; price too. What deep cycle AGM do you recommend and what specs in particular are you looking at.?Never buy batteries from West Marine. They are made by East Penn and the identical batteries can be purchased at Sam’s Club, NAPA, Batteries Plus and dozens of other retailers for significantly less money. Many WalMart locations also have the East Penn product. I will never advise the East Penn AGM’s as they are not a deep cycle product. Their GEL batts are amazing but you need the charging infrastructure correct or you’ll ruin them…
Becareful when buying Northstar Batteries and any TPPL batteries. Many of them are designed for use in stable platforms, which boats are not. From the Northstar Website:If I were buying AGM batteries, I would get Odyssey, Northstar, or X2Power (exclusively sold by Batteries Plus). They are identical batteries all made by ENERSYS. They are priced higher. If you are strictly shopping for price, you can make a bad decision ... but that's on you. I would never buy a battery that is described as "Dual Purpose". BTW, your bad decisions (in our eyes) may work out fine in the beginning or they may work out perfectly fine altogether. It's all up to you to determine what serves you best.
In almost all of these applications the battery is connected to a charging system that keeps them fully charged or they are fully charged daily. As suggested by the applications, these batteries are for backup if there is a power outage and once power is restored, they are quickly recharged.NorthStar AGM batteries are used in a wide range of applications, including telecommunications, cable TV, emergency lighting, load leveling, hybrid electric vehicles, engine start, uninterrupted power supply, computer back-up, medical equipment, solar power, data processing, electronic, defense, aviation, oil and gas industry, and material handling.
Yes, I've read that article. Last summer, when I purchased an AGM battery, Northstar sold a battery that is identical to the Odyssey and X2Power batteries that are produced for marine & RV markets.Becareful when buying Northstar Batteries and any TPPL batteries. Many of them are designed for use in stable platforms, which boats are not. From the Northstar Website:
EnerSys
EnerSys is the global leader in batteries, chargers and accessories for motive, reserve, aerospace and defense applications. Industrial batteries. Forklift batteries.www.northstarbattery.com
Maybe, but I read Maine Sails articles and he is pretty adamant that AGM's don't even come close to the same value as LiFePo4.Scott…I wonder about their actions.
“I think Northstar has probably realized that LiFePo4 is the better product for marine market.“
Is it that they concluded it is a “Better” product?
Or that it is an easier product to sell given the current hype and market interests?
I think I am going to do a AGM and next time around try to do lithium and solve whatever problems it causes with the charger and alternator.Maybe, but I read Maine Sails articles and he is pretty adamant that AGM's don't even come close to the same value as LiFePo4.