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Battery switches

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Kml

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I have 2 switches on my boat.

Blue seas system dual circuit plus 6011 model.
One for the engines with 2 batteries and one for the house with 2 batteries.
The switch that turns the house battery on and off was recently replaced when I bought the boat so the boat is new to me.
My problem is that the house batteries are not charging when under power. Looking at the battery level on the Garmin it will show 11.7 when the engines are running and slowly get lower throughout the day.
I there a way to see that the switch is wired correctly or some other simple test to see?
I have not tried the combine setting on the switch yet but I suspect that should get it charged but seems like more of an emergency starting thing.
Thanks 

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I would check your grounds and make sure the battery lugs are all tight. Next take a volt meter and check all 4 batteries with engine off and write them down.  This will give you a base line reading. Now start the engines and redo the voltage check on the batteries. They all should climb a bit. If not you may have the switches in the wrong positions or something may be wired wrong.

If this is a new to you boat with a new to you problem, what i suspect is, the garmin is running off house bank 2 battery. With the switch set only to 1. That battery is not getting recharged off the engines. Combined mode should solve it.

the human race has proved darwins theory of evolution wrong. we let the dumb survive. 

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My buddies boat has two switches as well one for the motor and the house battery. The house battery is now charged at the marina via an extension cord to the dock power. He was under the impression both were being charged by the motor which was incorrect, and he totally depleted the house battery.  The switches were set to "on" and not both which I guess would be beneficial if the motor battery failed. Just my observation and I'm not pretending to know what I'm talking about.

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25 mins ago, Billybob said:

House batteries may be set up to charge at the dock. Take a look at the wiring path of the house batts, does it have a direct to the motors, or the starting batts? 

It does charge at the dock. 

I think Bergall got it. 

Thank fellas. 

 

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39 mins ago, Bergallmaster said:

Im almost positive you know this, but it needs to be said. Never switch the engine battery switch with the engines running.

I have always heard that but that is not what it says in the bold section of the document that you posted. 

 

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23 hours ago, Kml said:

I have 2 switches on my boat.

Blue seas system dual circuit plus 6011 model.
One for the engines with 2 batteries and one for the house with 2 batteries.
The switch that turns the house battery on and off was recently replaced when I bought the boat so the boat is new to me.
My problem is that the house batteries are not charging when under power. Looking at the battery level on the Garmin it will show 11.7 when the engines are running and slowly get lower throughout the day.
I there a way to see that the switch is wired correctly or some other simple test to see?
I have not tried the combine setting on the switch yet but I suspect that should get it charged but seems like more of an emergency starting thing.
Thanks 

I think you are correct that the house batteries should be charging. First thing I would do is to cycle through the charging settings and see if anything changes. Assuming nothing changes, next I would use another tester and make sure that they really aren’t charging. I’m assuming you have already checked all connection are clean and tight. If everything checks out let us know and we can proceed from there.

====Mako Mike====
Makomania Sportfishing
Pt. Judith, RI
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10 mins ago, Kml said:

I have always heard that but that is not what it says in the bold section of the document that you posted. 

 

That’s good advice for mechanical switches, not the kind of electronical isolated/charging switches I assume we’re talking about here.

 

 

====Mako Mike====
Makomania Sportfishing
Pt. Judith, RI
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25 mins ago, Kml said:

I have always heard that but that is not what it says in the bold section of the document that you posted. 

 

The house batteries are fine to switch. I just dont like switching the starting batteries when running. Even though those are make before break switches ( meaning a connection is made on 1 is made before the other is off), i dont trust them or myself not to go too far, wrong way or switch breaks.

Running engines with no battery attached can do mucho damage. Even for a split second.

the human race has proved darwins theory of evolution wrong. we let the dumb survive. 

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