I have a three battery system on my 35.5. What position should the battery position switch be on while under sail, engine off? While at the dock with the AC charger on and all the DC accessories like the reefer going? When I leave the boat after the weekend I usuallly leave the reefer on, battery set on "house" and AC charger on. Is that the correct way? Position One is the single starting battery. Position Two are the two house batteries and Position "All" obviously is All, which I am guessing is the same as the "Both" position. Fred Miller S/V M Squared
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Doug T.
Battery switch
Assuming that your starter battery is hooked to position #1 and the other two batteries are connected in parallel to position #2: Starting the engine: #1 Running the engine: #1, #2 or Both depending on which batteries need to be charged by the alternator. Do NOT switch it to OFF while the engine is running or you could fry your alternator. (Buy and install the ZAP-STOP device to prevent this from happening.) Sailing or anchored or moored, no engine, no shore power: #2. If it's in OFF, you won't have power to your depth sounder, radio, etc. If in BOTH you risk draining your starting battery. Shore power connected, engine not running: It depends on your battery charger. If it's a two bank model that is connected directly to your batteries (this is the way it should be wired), then you can set the switch to #2 (if you want to use things while at the dock) or set it to OFF. If your battery charger is wired through your switch (not recommended), then rewire it, but in the meantime, set the switch to BOTH so it will charge all of your batteries.
Assuming that your starter battery is hooked to position #1 and the other two batteries are connected in parallel to position #2: Starting the engine: #1 Running the engine: #1, #2 or Both depending on which batteries need to be charged by the alternator. Do NOT switch it to OFF while the engine is running or you could fry your alternator. (Buy and install the ZAP-STOP device to prevent this from happening.) Sailing or anchored or moored, no engine, no shore power: #2. If it's in OFF, you won't have power to your depth sounder, radio, etc. If in BOTH you risk draining your starting battery. Shore power connected, engine not running: It depends on your battery charger. If it's a two bank model that is connected directly to your batteries (this is the way it should be wired), then you can set the switch to #2 (if you want to use things while at the dock) or set it to OFF. If your battery charger is wired through your switch (not recommended), then rewire it, but in the meantime, set the switch to BOTH so it will charge all of your batteries.
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Dakota Jim Russell
Individual Choice, but
When sailing or anchored with the engine off, I like to use just the house battery, keeping the starter battery energy for the purpose of starting the engine. Thus if the house batteries go dead while sailing, I can still start the engine and charge the other bank of batteries. While at the dock, I like to have the load pulled off both batteries, as my smart charger charges both, and I would like to keep a little drain on both. The drain comes primarily from my refridgerator cycling. Your boat may be set up differently so your choice at the dock might be different. While motoring, I need to have the switch to both batteries in order to charge them both. This is not be necessary charging them through at the dock with the AC charger as it is connected to both. However, as noted above, I like to have some drain on both while charging an extended period. Hope this helps.
When sailing or anchored with the engine off, I like to use just the house battery, keeping the starter battery energy for the purpose of starting the engine. Thus if the house batteries go dead while sailing, I can still start the engine and charge the other bank of batteries. While at the dock, I like to have the load pulled off both batteries, as my smart charger charges both, and I would like to keep a little drain on both. The drain comes primarily from my refridgerator cycling. Your boat may be set up differently so your choice at the dock might be different. While motoring, I need to have the switch to both batteries in order to charge them both. This is not be necessary charging them through at the dock with the AC charger as it is connected to both. However, as noted above, I like to have some drain on both while charging an extended period. Hope this helps.
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Daniel Jonas
Switch Position
Well it can depend on how things are wired. If your common goes to the DC panel than under sail you could be on "house" and at the dock you would also be on "house". THis powers your dc system off the house batteries and saves the starter battery for starting. If your common is also hooked to the starter, then you could still be on "house" to start, but could also start on "1" if the house were too low to do the job. Starting on "1" could be appropriate, but then dc loads in effect when starting also come off the 1 position and switching may be a problem after start with the engine on, depends on the switch and alternator protection. In that event, I would leave the switch alone until the engine was off and then switch. You may have to retart any electronics that are running. Switch position during charging can vary from boat to boat depending on where the charger is hooked. If at the common, then the "house" position will not charge the starter battery. Best advice is to diagram your set-up and then decide what switch setting is appropriate in each situation. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Well it can depend on how things are wired. If your common goes to the DC panel than under sail you could be on "house" and at the dock you would also be on "house". THis powers your dc system off the house batteries and saves the starter battery for starting. If your common is also hooked to the starter, then you could still be on "house" to start, but could also start on "1" if the house were too low to do the job. Starting on "1" could be appropriate, but then dc loads in effect when starting also come off the 1 position and switching may be a problem after start with the engine on, depends on the switch and alternator protection. In that event, I would leave the switch alone until the engine was off and then switch. You may have to retart any electronics that are running. Switch position during charging can vary from boat to boat depending on where the charger is hooked. If at the common, then the "house" position will not charge the starter battery. Best advice is to diagram your set-up and then decide what switch setting is appropriate in each situation. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
At the dock, it does not make any difference
Fred: While you are at the dock, on the charger, it should not make any difference were the battery switch is other than the fact that you probably need your switch on to keep your reefer and house lights going. Your charger should keep your batteries topped off. The question is while under power or under sail. My preference would be to keep it on both or #2. This will allow all your batteries to charge or just your house bank. Seems that you would never want to have it on #1, just in case you forget! The point being that the battery switch is only used for engine charging and power usage while away from the dock. If I had my druthers, I would have a battery switch setup like they have in the W/M catalog. One ON/OFF switch for each battery bank and one for the entire system.
Fred: While you are at the dock, on the charger, it should not make any difference were the battery switch is other than the fact that you probably need your switch on to keep your reefer and house lights going. Your charger should keep your batteries topped off. The question is while under power or under sail. My preference would be to keep it on both or #2. This will allow all your batteries to charge or just your house bank. Seems that you would never want to have it on #1, just in case you forget! The point being that the battery switch is only used for engine charging and power usage while away from the dock. If I had my druthers, I would have a battery switch setup like they have in the W/M catalog. One ON/OFF switch for each battery bank and one for the entire system.
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