2 batteries.. how to wire them?

[Lepper]

Found where and how i'm going to put them, how exactly is the proper way to wire them and hook things up to them???

what equipment do you use ect??

dave

[Boatdog]

Read this post for wiring details. Click below.

2 batt's and a Perko switch (http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1152612&an=0&page=0#1152 612)

[Lepper]

Thanks! that really answers that question. but what about hooking up all the other electronics to it?

dave

[Gundog]

On my boat I ran the battery cables like shown in Boatdogs diagram. I then added one more battery switch it is just on and off I put all of the circuits except the motor starting to that switch and to battery 2. The motor starting goes to the C position on the Perko switch. What this does for me is I can start the boat with either battery but I usually run Bat 1 for starting and Bat 2 for everything else. The problem with using the C position on the Perko switch for everything is that it dips the voltage when starting the motor and can damage your electronics. I had my last boat wired that way and when starting my main motor it would sometimes shut off my FF/GPS unit. You can just put all of the elctronics on battery 2 but then it defeats the purpose of having a switch to shut off the batteries. If you had an electrical fire on your boat you don't have a way to shut off everthing without accessing the batteries if you hook staright to the battery. By using the 2 switches it gives me more flexibility. When I get home I just shut off both switches and I know everything is off. You can also add a device that charges both batteries and keep them isolated. I am not sure I have explained this very well let me know if you want a diagram I will try and make something up to show how it works.
GD

[Lepper]

I don't think I asked right.. I got the battery set up, that's easy.

I'm trying to find the best way to go from the switch to the electronics, I have the swithc haven't looked at it yet, but would it be best to run everything straight off the swithc, (which ever position I choose) or should you go from the switch to (electronics here) to one of these like at cabela's?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0023125016549a&navCount=1&podId=002312 5&parentId=cat21310&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatca t21276&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexI d=cat21310&hasJS=true)

dave

[Mark Mc]

Hi Lep..... if I understand the question (which I may not)...

One standard way of hooking up electronics is to run everything through a switch panel that is also a fuse or circuit breaker.

So in the examples above, say one of two batteries is for the electronics & accessories (running lights, etc). You install a panel such as those made by Blue Sea Systems:


web page (http://www.bluesea.com/dept.asp?d_id=7997&l1=7460&l2=7997)

Each switch has its own circuit breaker or fuse. So each piece of gear, or accessory, has the (+) wired to a switch on this panel. The (-) of each accessory goes to a simple buss bar, which is then connected to the battery (-).

The panel is connected to the battery with a large enough cable to handle the amperage of the sum off all the breakers, also considering cable length.

So now you have to turn the main battery switch on (for the house battery), then you turn on each individual switch. If it is running lights then they light up. If it is your radio, well now you have power to the radio but you still need to turn the actual radio switch on.

Hope this makes sense.... ! - Mark

[Lepper]

ahhh.. gotcha..
thanks.
dave

[Laguna29]

Good advise you recieved from Marc. In addition to the fused panel or fuse box which ever you decide on you will want to pick up some flexible conduit, and zip ties with screw holes. They are a zip tie that has a heavy end that allows you to run a stainless steel screw threw the tie and then attach this to your helm. This is very important or the constant movement will eventually put a lot of stress on your connections. If you are interfacing electronics like your NEMA connectors or other share data make sure you follow the manufactures wiring chart. And if you dont know email them or call. Furuno has great customer Free support. Lowrance also is very helpful and Free. When you store your boat in the winter it is a good idea to hit your connections with a shot of Corrosion guard. Also use conductivity gel on your new connections. Corrosion is a killer especially in the Salt enviroment. And I sure like the salty water.