which battery starts outboard?

N

nimrod

New member
I have a dual battery setup in my recently acquired 22' Cruiser, with a battery switch. The batts have been relocated to under the aft seat. My understanding is the battery switch determines which batt receives charging current from the alternator.

How can I tell which battery is used for starting the outboard?

And a related question: the toggle switch panel at the helm has a toggle for "main" and "auxiliary" battery. Does it control which batt runs the accessories, electronics, etc?

thanks for the help

jd
 
Depending on the switch it will select which battery starts the motor. Other then taking the whole system apart and tracing no way to know. so try this. unhook one battery and select battery one then try to start the boat. if it starts swtich to battery two and try to start the boat. if it does not then you now know which battery is which on the switch. should not be to hard.
 
My bet is that the number 1 battery is set up as the starting battery, with number 2 being the house battery. No guarantees that is the case, but it is sort of a de facto standard (sometimes/maybe).

If they used a starting battery and a RV/house battery, the two should be labeled differently by the mfr.
 
Did you move the batteries and/or the switches that control them? If not, find the person who wired the boat. Yep, there are some "we generally do things this way and certain colors wire mean something in the process...sometimes...

Or, take a digital pic of some things... Some may be surprised to find what all may still work if everything/switch is turned off.... but, something still works or is drawing from the batteries....

Many many ways and reasons some things can, and will be different.

and....there may be some relay switches between the recharge taking place with the motors running....and...when they shift what is being charged when and from where.

We are just going to need a bit more help about....Berta's Boy... particular boat and things you see and/or do not see.
 
When you have a battery disconnected (as Starcraft Tom suggested for checking the motor) turn on a cabin light or 2 and see if the toggle switch you mention turns the lights on and off. If it does, but then when you reconnect the battery it no longer does, then it is likely your toggle does change the source battery for your accessories as you suspect.

Another way to check both would be to bridge the posts on one battery with a voltmeter with the switch in position 1 or 2, but not both. Then have someone turn on a heavy accessory draw or two like the radar and a couple lights. You should see a volt drop on the source battery. Likewise, if you turn the motor over there should be a volt drop on the start battery and after started (make sure in water/or hose connected) a voltage rise on the start battery as the alternator kicks in.

To disconnect a battery you need only disconnect one positive post, but make sure you remove all wires from it if there are more than one connected.

If the simple switch is all you have, then the only way your batteries will both get charged by your motor are either running the motor on "both" or alternating the 1 or 2 position for running from time to time. You should not change the switch position while the motor is operating.

Eventually you may wish to add a (not too expensive) battery combiner (Like a Yandina) that will allow you to keep the batteries separated (for running) but combined (for charging).
 
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