Battery selection

sjhantzis · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:59 am Post subject: Battery selection

Does it matter which battery you switch to when you anchor for the night?

It seems that the Number 2 (port side) battery may be wired directly to the Wallas?

Thanks for any input.

SJH

jennykatz · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 7:10 am Post subject: wallas

Just check for a fuse somewhere near the battery and take it out and try the wallas if it does not work you know that is the battery or if you have a battery switch turn the switch to each side and find out that way .

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:29 am Post subject:

If your #2 battery or whatever one is wired directly to the Wallas, it's usually designated as your "house" battery. That's the one you should use at anchor then, if you run it all the way down, you've still got the #1 battery (start) to start your engine in the morning. After you start the engine, switch it to "both" and you'll charge the other one back up as you travel for the day.

Charlie

Sea Angel · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject:

A note of caution:
Check with your motor manual to see if you can switch batteries while the engine is running AND check to see IF the battery switch will break the circuit between the selected items.

IF there is an open battery connection between selection there is a very good possibility that you could damage the charging circuit in the OB. This did happen to me on a MERC OB.

IF the battery switch maintains a connection between the selection of #1 and BOTH - no problem. Likewise for a change from #2 to BOTH.

This is the very reason why I installed the BEP system on Sea Angel where the house battery is maintained via VSRs (Voltage Sensitive Relays). More info is presented about this in my album. Good luck and great question to help you stay out of trouble. Good advice as to how to find which battery is your supplier.

Art