Two battery’s being charged?

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by steplift20

Pipedream so you always run with the two batterys hooked together? Thats good but if your batterys die you dont have a backup. Am I right?

I always run with the switch turned to Both. I keep an eye on them and change them out when they begin to get weak, every couple years. The only time I have had one go dead was when the bilge pump float switch got stuck and ran the battery down. But I still had enough juice from the other one to start her up.

[steplift20]

Pipe I& you always keep two battery’s hooked up what happens if your battery’s are tobweal to start the engine? The reason to hav3 the switch is that if one battery goes dead you can switch to the other battery. I understand what your doing but you defeating the purpose of 5he battery switch
I think the best thing you and me can do is relocate the switch but where?

[oteps]

I always keep mine on one battery so I have a backup if one goes dead. Never tried charging them together. I have trickle charger leads on each battery.

[steplift20]

That’s the best way but I keep my boat at the marina and unfortunately they steal stuff. Never had that problem before. Someone stole all my cleaning stuff I had in a box and this weekend I have a floor stand and moved it, I should have put it in my truck and that’s gone. So I know they will steal my charger. My question is. How come they never get caught?

[phatdaddy]

An important factor is how many amps your OB is putting out. I think mine has a 60 amp alt, so i feel like it is more that capable of keeping two batteries up.

[spareparts]

back to the OP question, its an ACR( Automatic charging relay) It allows both batteries to be charged independently regardless of battery switch position without linking them for discharge. Y9u can do the same with a battery isolator but it takes a bit more wiring. The ACR is fairly simple to wire in place. Fun fact, if you have a Yamaha, its got a secondary charging coil that's not being used that allows you to charge two different systems independently. Yamaha sells a kit, but its nothing more than some red wire and couple connectors.