Battery Switch

[Meach]

So my 2012 SX190 has 2 batteries and a switch. 1, 2, all, off. I thought 2 batteries was 1 for stereo one for starting. How do I properly use the switch.

 

[Weeb]

If 1 is your start battery turn it on to start the boat. Then turn on both while running so it charges both batteries. When anchored put it on 2 if that’s your house battery. It could be vice versa depending on which battery is wired to what number. You can start on both if the start battery is weak or not cranking. I wouldn’t start on both when normal starting because it will draw down the house battery too. Not that much but still and these boats don’t have a high amp charging systems.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Could also depend if it is a stock switch, an aftermarket switch such as a Blu Seas, and how it was wired. Some pictures of the batteries, wiring and switch would help.

 

[Meach]

If 1 is your start battery turn it on to start the boat. Then turn on both while running so it charges both batteries. When anchored put it on 2 if that’s your house battery. It could be vice versa depending on which battery is wired to what number. You can start on both if the start battery is weak or not cranking. I wouldn’t start on both when normal starting because it will draw down the house battery too. Not that much but still and these boats don’t have a high amp charging systems.

Thanks that makes complete sense

 

[jcb1977]

Thanks that makes complete sense

There's no house or Start battery in this case, most likely, it's a single circuit two battery setup......engines, radios, accessories all on one circuit. so moving the switch to Battery 1 will use that battery to power everything on your boat. when your engines are on, they will charge only Battery 1. if that battery ends up dying you can move the switch to battery 2. in that case, when running, the boat will only be charging battery 2. if you want to charge both batteries when boat is running, you would move the switch to all. Or if both batteries are extremely low, you could move to switch to all to combine both batteries to be able to start the engines.

You would want to use both batteries regularly, so on even number days you could use the #2 battery, and on odd number days use the #1 Battery. Should not have to use the "all" position very often if ever.

if you wanted the radio isolated on a battery, you would need a dual circuit setup with a ON/OFF switch. in that case, engines are isolated on a Start Battery, and radio and other accessories on the House battery. When Boat is running, both batteries get charged all the time.

 

[Meach]

So I run across the lake in ALL charging both batteries. Put in 1 when I get there. Run stereo fishfinder etc. If I run down the battery switch to 2 or all and should start right up? Awesome

 

[HangOutdoors]

So I run across the lake in ALL charging both batteries. Put in 1 when I get there. Run stereo fishfinder etc. If I run down the battery switch to 2 or all and should start right up? Awesome

Would recommend a Blu Seas switch with the ACR. That way you don't have to screw around with switching and the ACR will provide charging to both batteries automatically when needed.

 

[jcb1977]

So I run across the lake in ALL charging both batteries. Put in 1 when I get there. Run stereo fishfinder etc. If I run down the battery switch to 2 or all and should start right up? Awesome

I would do it simpler than that.....on odd number days, set it to #1, and keep it there. On even number days, set it to #2 and leave it there the whole trip. if you run the battery low, you have a backup battery to switch to if you need it. Want to make sure you are exercising both batteries so they last longer.

assuming you don't have an extremely powerful radio setup or a ton of electronics, and spend a decent amount of time underway, boat should be able to re-charge whichever battery you are running on that day and end up with two batteries fully charged.

a more elegant solution is the blue seas with with ACR which is a dual circuit setup (start and house battery), and simple On and OFF switch. Either way works but always good if you understand the How.

I ended up switchign from a 1/2/both/off switch to the blue seas dual circuit with ACR mostly because I was catching voltage sags when switching through the "off" position and it was frying my connext screen.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Do you have an onboard charger that you plug in when not on the water? That is also quite important to make sure the batteries are charged properly as your two engines together put out roughly 14 amps at idle and 26 amps at 3500 rpms and above. Best to start the day with fully charged batteries.

Blue Seas makes a good ACR. @HangOutdoors wired his up nicely!

The OEM switch and DVSR is a BEP Marine unit that the dual battery boats come with, it is simple and compact.





Either way, it is a good system to have that will automatically isolate your start battery to keep it topped up and no drain while on the water, the Blue Sea system does the same if I am not mistaken. The BEP switch has an integrated emergency parallel switch so if the start battery needs help then the house battery can be paralleled giving that extra boost.

The system you have is the most economical way to go, you just have to manage it a bit.

 

[Meach]

Great. I always wondered if stereo or fish finder would run both batteries down. Now I know. Thank all of you for your help

 

[BMCS]

I have the BEP switch in a 2023 255XD. I should be able to turn the start battery to off and the house battery to on when parked to run stereo correct?
The stereo only runs if both switches are on. Could this be a wiring issue?

 

[Vem2001]

I would do it simpler than that.....on odd number days, set it to #1, and keep it there. On even number days, set it to #2 and leave it there the whole trip. if you run the battery low, you have a backup battery to switch to if you need it. Want to make sure you are exercising both batteries so they last longer.

assuming you don't have an extremely powerful radio setup or a ton of electronics, and spend a decent amount of time underway, boat should be able to re-charge whichever battery you are running on that day and end up with two batteries fully charged.

a more elegant solution is the blue seas with with ACR which is a dual circuit setup (start and house battery), and simple On and OFF switch. Either way works but always good if you understand the How.

I ended up switchign from a 1/2/both/off switch to the blue seas dual circuit with ACR mostly because I was catching voltage sags when switching through the "off" position and it was frying my connext screen.

question @jcb1977
when you were switching through from 1 to both then 2 / or 1 to off then 2 were you turning off the boat first ?
I was told by the BEP tech no worries if i turn off the boat first before any switching to battery 1 or 2 .
I will be installing a BEP DVSR 714-140A soon and don't want to "fry" the connext screen still on the fence about installing.
might just keep a battery jumper and extra battery on board .
did you have the BEP when this happened ?
will like to avoid damaging anything.

 

[jcb1977]

question @jcb1977
when you were switching through from 1 to both then 2 / or 1 to off then 2 were you turning off the boat first ?
I was told by the BEP tech no worries if i turn off the boat first before any switching to battery 1 or 2 .
I will be installing a BEP DVSR 714-140A soon and don't want to "fry" the connext screen still on the fence about installing.
might just keep a battery jumper and extra battery on board .
did you have the BEP when this happened ?
will like to avoid damaging anything.

This happened with the Blue Seas 4 position- 1/2/both/off switch (not a BEP)....The boat was off but batteries were connected to chargers when it happened it to me. The Perko has a switch that forces you switch through the "both" or "all" position instead of "off" which is a much better design.

having boat off/no loads and no chargers connected should be safe to switch to any position.

 

[Vem2001]

Thanks for the info .

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I have the BEP switch in a 2023 255XD. I should be able to turn the start battery to off and the house battery to on when parked to run stereo correct?
The stereo only runs if both switches are on. Could this be a wiring issue?

There is no reason to do that, the BEP switch does everything automatically to ensure the start battery is isolated and fully charged while the accessory or house loads are on the house battery. Turn on both the start and house switches with the emergency parallel switch off at the begging of the day and go boating and forget about it.

Not a wiring issue. While I’m not familiar with your boats wiring my guess would be the start battery has to be on for the connext screen to be on and that the connext screen is where the stereo controls are? I’m pretty sure a lot of other controls are routed through the connext screen is.