Two battery’s being charged?

[steplift20]

I hav3 a battery switch that you can designate what battery you want to use
One. Two. Both. Off. I know they hav3 a switch that you can use one battery for starting and as your running it will charge the both battery’s. Did anyone ever install it? If so was it hard to do?

[Pipe_Dream]

I have always had the same switch that you have. I always start and run on "Both" and always turn it to Off when I leave the boat. My bilge pump is hardwired to one of the batteries. Doesn't answer your question but I didn't want you to think that no one saw it.

[phatdaddy]

i think step is talking about the ACR switches, they direct the charge to the lowest battery. No matter which battery the switch is turned to.

I have 2 1000 MCA batteries hooked in parallel with a single on\off switch for the motor.

Alternator charges both. When using 110 vt charger, i hook to neg on one battery and positive on the other

[steplift20]

Phatdaddy I think you know what Im interested in doing.
Use one but charges both while the switch is on to battery 1 ,but charges both
The issue I have with my switch is that its located by the battery s under the panel located in the splash well. So for me to switch it ,its a pain in the. #$&* I should move the switch but Im lazy and its been there for years , out of the elements.

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?

[phatdaddy]

I think u have it backwards

Pipe has Off/one/two/both with 2 batteries, like u have

I have two batteries hooked together with an Off/On switch for the motor No backup battery

mine is also in splashwell

[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.