"Calif Bill" wrote in message
.net...

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Calif Bill wrote:


This is a small boat, not a trawler. Either battery will start the
boat.
If the switch is on 1 then the battery connected to 1 on the switch will
start the boat and run all the electronics. Like wise on 2. Both will
connect the batteries in parallel. Both hooked up. Run the switch in
#1
for a while and then next time run it in #2. If you run it in both, and
you
have a battery failure, you may end up with no starting battery. One
bad
battery adn one dead battery. None, just disconnects both batteries for
storage. I find it much better to add another switch and install a
battery
combiner. Run the starting battery on 1 and all the electronics on 2.
Then
when you are running both batteries will charge and when not running,
only
the electronics battery will be drawn down.

Fine, as long as both batteries are "deep cycle" rated. People who
install a light duty
"starting battery" and then discharge it subtantially for house use (as
would occur with the practice you describe) will be buying new
baterries a lot more often than needed.


Lots of the small boats use the combo starting/ deep cycle battery for
both sid3s. But the main point, is they do not have a house battery setup
and a starting battery setup. The switch connects which ever battery
selected to the output of the switch and the output of the switch is wired
to the motor.


Yep! I have 2 batteries on my 20 footer, both wired to run all 12v DC
accessories and provide power to the starter. I normally switch to the 2nd
battery (deep cycle) when we are swimming off the boat for the stereo and
marine radio (weather alert), then switch back to number 1 for starting and
running.

I had 3 batteries on our 32 footer........1 house and 2 starting.

A word of caution to Charles....unless you are sure your battery switch is
ignition protected NEVER switch between batteries when the engine is
running.