Perko dual battery switch

[Dieselpwr]

The more I read the more confusing it gets. Seems like there's a bunch of ways to hookup a dual battery setup.
Basically I installed a sub and 2 speakers on the swim deck. I'm running 2 amplifiers. A single channel to the sub and a 2 channel to the swim deck. I would've preferred a single amp but these were sitting in the garage.

Using the perko switch, does the positive cable from the engines, and the amplifiers connect to the common post on the back of the switch or should the engines connect to battery 1 post on switch and the amps to battery 2 on the switch?

Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[tdonoughue]

If you have the normal Perko switch (A, B, A+B), then then normal setup will have all of the positive boat cables (engine, amps, radio, etc.) to that common lug on the switch. Then from the A to one battery and from the B to the other battery. All negatives to one battery, with a jumper from that battery negative to the other battery negative.

That said, there are other options to wire things, depending on what you want to accomplish. But this way (above) is, I believe, the most common. It lets you use one battery (say A) and keep the other (say B) in reserve. Or you can start from A and switch to B for when you are floating and listening. I used to flip mine to A+B while running (remember, our boats don't recharge much with their magnitos, but whatever little they do charge will only go to the battery you have selected).

Hope that helps.

 

[Dieselpwr]

Thanks. That's exactly what I want to accomplish, be able to switch to battery 2 while floating and flip back to 1 to start the motors.

 

[tdonoughue]

Great. Just remember, pics are required to be posted on completion. Good luck and let us know if you need more assistance.

 

[Dieselpwr]

Will do. Parts are on order. Here's a pic of the newly installed Fusion speakers on the swim deck and the poor man's version of Seadek.

 

[Julian]

The other alternative is to use a switch designed for separate house and starting batteries....it is an ON/OFF/Combine switch. With this switch, you keep the house and starting load completely separate and only combine them if you have to. No need to remember to switch back and forth.

 

[tdonoughue]

Looks very nice back there. Someday I want speakers somewhere back there, too...

Of course, @Julian is completely correct. But that is a different switch. It can then also be combined with an ACR (see: BlueSea Add-A-Battery Kit) to allow both batteries to charge when there is a charging source (engine running or shore power to charger).

 

[Dieselpwr]

Thanks. I was considering the BlueSea one as well but for my needs, and simplicity to install, the Perko should be fine. I don't do enough long rides for the stator to charge the battery anyway. I typically keep it on a battery tender.

 

[njmr2fan]

So when I'm cruising the lake in between beaches I should have my Perko set to "ALL" and it will charge both batts?

 

[tdonoughue]

Yes, such as it is. Not much charging going on, but you will be getting a bit.

The key is to remember to switch it back to one battery when you stop. If you don't do that, you will drain both batteries, pretty much defeating the purpose of the two battery setup...