Multiple battery setup question

[Scottie]

I purchased my first boat late last year, a 2013 yamaha 212x. I've spent the offseason adding/modifying/improving, etc. I have a question on the existing battery setup in this boat. I've done my best with a diagram below. Batteries 1,3, and 4 are Optima D31M and battery 2 is an optima 34M. Let me start by saying I have had zero trouble from this battery setup so far, I'm just trying to understand what is actually happening, and make sure that it is connected properly, and that I am using it properly. The circle in the diagram below is a common "perko" style switch, red with a "1" position, a "2" position", an "All" position, and an "off" position. Can someone explain in layman's terms what's happening when the switch is in each of these positions? What position should the switch be in during "normal" operation? Besides a dead battery situation, when would you switch to a different position and why? Note, its entirely possible I've left out a connection in the diagram, so don't assume that my boat is immediately about to explode. I've had no issues, so if the diagram is wrong, I've screwed up the diagram.

212x Battery Setup

• Scottie
• Mar 24, 2018

 

[Scottie]

Anyone?

 

[Coheeba]

If I read this right here is my take, Battery 2 is your start battery and is active when switch is in position 2. Batteries 1,3,and 4 are in parallel which means the voltage is 12v but capacity/ah is additive and are active when switch is in position 1. Do you have a kicka$$ stereo? Because you should be able to run one for several hours with 1,3, and 4. When you put the switch in "all" it would essentially parallel all batteries. You would do this if the start battery was not able to start the engines. This also would not be good for the battery because the other three would be doing an extremely fast charge on it, but its an option.

 

[Mainah]

@Coheeba beat me too it as I was typing and almost exactly what he said down to the stereo comment. Position 1 will be the normal position for you. Someone designed this so position 2 is the emergency start position. I doubt combine would be usefull in this set up depending on how the single emergency start battery gets charged.

 

[Scottie]

Thank you both for the explanation. I was on the right track but I wasn't sure so I appreciate the details. As for the stereo, there are 6 JL 12s, 4 8" tower speakers, and then the factory speakers have been upgraded. These run from 3 JL marine amps in the port cabinet. The previous owner told me he had the stereo put in and his battery died on the water one day, so he took it back to the installer and said "I never want the battery to be dead again", so this setup is what he ended up with. When I purchased the boat, he couldn't explain the battery setup, just that "they told me to run it like this". I need more information than that . Thanks again.

 

[adrianp89]

6 12s? Damn lol

 

[Scottie]

I'll be honest, its much more than I ever would have done personally, but its a really nice system. I've been meaning to post some pics, but I keep adding to the list of things to do before I do that. So maybe one day. Ha.

 

[adrianp89]

I would love to see pictures... and if there is any room left on the boat lol. I think that has been the biggest thing for my system, it has taken zero space.

 

[Jaylex]

@Scottie pics and more info on the system....can't tease us with specs like that, my build is still in progress and I'm posting since Iive had to wait this long , but I get the idea of a big reveal too.

Are these in boxes and where...sealed...ported.

I have 2 12w3s and wouldn't mind adding one more some where

 

[Scottie]

Okay, she's still under the covers, and she's dirty, but here's a few pics. First off, it is 6 10s, not 12s, sorry for that. Six JL m10IB5 subs. These are marine subs, designed for large air volume without a sealed enclosure. On my 212x at least, I'm really not losing any space that the ballast bags aren't already taking up. If you don't have ballast bags, then my setup could create some storage issues. 3 JL marine amps, 2x m600/1 and 1 m800/8v2. Head unit is nothing special, Sony marine unit w Bluetooth. I added the Sirius/xm tuner to it. It all sounds great and was done pretty well. Pics coming soon.

 

[Jaylex]

ahhhh, ok....I was about to say 6 12s would be insane, I have seen 6 10s before, but still wanna see pics when you get a chance.

 

[Scottie]

 

[adrianp89]

Subwoofers galore! I was under the impression they were each in a box.... that thing probably gets down!

 

[Jaylex]

Are those towers 770s or 880s?

 

[Scottie]

I'm honestly not sure. I will have to check.

 

[jeff_s]

Dayum! What a setup!

 

[jcyamaharider]

Good lord! I know what 2 IB5's do, I couldn't imagine 6!!

 

[Foobar]

That system might just come close to drowning out my wife squawking at me.

 

[Scottie]

Are those towers 770s or 880s?

They are 770s

 

["IN A MEETING"]

I ended up having to install a new deep cycle marine battery for the starter and then I direct wired 3 optima blue tops to my amps in order to power my sound system.