Wiring a battery switch
 

I think the battery switch on our new boat is wired incorrectly. Here's what I've got - two batteries with one of those standard Perko battery switches.

If the switch is in position "1", I have nothing on the dash (no power), the bilge blower will not work, hatch ram is unpowered, etc.

Position "All" provides power to all of these devices.

Position "2" also provides power.

I can't say if I can start either motor from position 1 - hopefully I'll be able to test that this weekend. Seems to me, however, that something ain't right here.

Thanks for any advice!

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

The battery switch has three post, one from battery one, one from battery two, and one leaving the switch going to your starter. The dash and engine power are usually picked up from the starter post. It sounds like someone has the dash power wired directly to the battery switch. (on battery #2). That's why #2 and both work. It kind of defeats the purpose of having a selector switch.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

Hmmm, that could be. I'll have to take a better look at it next time I am down to the boat. Does this affect how the alternators charge the batteries, or is that separate?

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

Or battery number one could be dead.

That would leave number "2" and "all" still working because on "all" you would be getting the 12v from 2.

So when you switch it to "off" everything is off?

The alternator charges whichever battery(s) are in the circuit.

Maybe it is wired fine.

The common output of the switch goes to the starter.

The positive leads from each battery go to each switch "input" on the perko.

Check the batteries themselves please.

Good luck.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

The batteries both appear to be good. I have a battery charger (Craftsman) that shows the level of charge when it is connected to a battery. When I put it on battery 1, it showed about 40% charged (this after sitting in the driveway for a couple of weeks with a fair amount of hatch raising and no engine running). When I hooked it up to battery 2, it showed 100% charged. That's why I'm wondering if the 2nd battery is even in the loop.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

Hey DR...

Did ja unscrew the switch and make sure that they are hooked up right yet?
They are easy to check and to wire. The perko should just have a couple screws holding it in place.

Pole 1 is the 12v plus from battery 1.
Pole 2 is the 12v plus from battery 2.
The ouput side goes to the starter.
When you select all it parallels the hots together.
That's it.

Although there is the issue of the ground cable.
I have dual two battery switches (1 and 2 for each engine).
My two blocks are connected with a heavy (number 2?) ground wire, too.

But I think you have a single.

That would be one ground wire to the block from battery 1 neg.
And one ground wire from Battery 1 neg to battery 2 neg.

It would also be interesting to see what the battery charger does when it is hooked up to one battery and you add and subtract the second battery.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

I've seen people who think that TERMINAL "2" refers to ground and connect the NEG wire to it. Your Switch then only works on ALL. If not follow "FUND RAZOR" instructions

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

Is there only one battery switch for the twin-engine setup? If so, you may have one engine that is isolated from the other engine and boat, leaving one engine/battery to be the "house" electrical supply.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

Wow that's exactly the problem I had posted a couple weeks ago. Do you own a BAJA? Reason being I had 2 trip switches instead of the one. Somehow I had accidentally switched off one of the trips inside the hatch. Even took the dealer over 1/2 hour to find the extra breaker. Said he never saw a boat wired up like mine before.

Re: Wiring a battery switch
 

For some reason I think that he has a single engine and two batteries.