Battery Issue?

[fellinger]

I noticed the last time out that my electronics shut off when I start the boat. Could this be the sign of weak batteries? Both batteries are showing a charge. I don't recall this problem last year though.

Thoughts?

[Andys Delight]

I noticed the last time out that my electronics shut off when I start the boat. Could this be the sign of weak batteries? Both batteries are showing a charge. I don't recall this problem last year though.

Thoughts?

That happens to me when I drain it down really low before starting.  Freaked me out the first time it happened to me at night. 

[IKAT]

Fred I think its a wind problem    inside joke

Sorry--Give me a call I can go over it with you

 

[BigAl13]

could be what Mike said when you drain your battery low it needs all the amps to turn over the motor so it cant keep power to your auxiliary equipment.

[IrishAyes]

I had the same problem with mine. I replaced my battery 1-2-all switch with the one on this link.

http://www.islandwaterworld.com/browse.cfm/battery-switch-125a-2-engine-2-bank-with-vsr/4,12462.html

I am not endorsing the site to purchase from, just the product.

Anyway, with the switch that I had the electronics would shut down all the time when I started the motor. The draw from the motor would cause the juice going to the electronics to become lower than what would be needed keep them running and they would shut down and I would have to restart them.

With my new system the motor is on it's own battery and the electronics are on their own battery, thus, one would not affect the other. I have not had a shut down since installing this system. The 'combiner' does just that, it combines the batteries when in need of a charge.

The third switch is for emergency purposes. If your motor battery is low for any reason put the third switch on and both your batteries are now in line to start the motor.

[fellinger]

I had the same problem with mine. I replaced my battery 1-2-all switch with the one on this link.

http://www.islandwaterworld.com/browse.cfm/battery-switch-125a-2-engine-2-bank-with-vsr/4,12462.html

I am not endorsing the site to purchase from, just the product.

Anyway, with the switch that I had the electronics would shut down all the time when I started the motor. The draw from the motor would cause the juice going to the electronics to become lower than what would be needed keep them running and they would shut down and I would have to restart them.

With my new system the motor is on it's own battery and the electronics are on their own battery, thus, one would not affect the other. I have not had a shut down since installing this system. The 'combiner' does just that, it combines the batteries when in need of a charge.

The third switch is for emergency purposes. If your motor battery is low for any reason put the third switch on and both your batteries are now in line to start the motor.

Interesting product. So, the regular Perko switches (http://bluewatermarinesvc.com/html/bat_switch.html) don't truly isolate the batteries?

[IrishAyes]

Interesting product. So, the regular Perko switches (http://bluewatermarinesvc.com/html/bat_switch.html) don't truly isolate the batteries?

As much as I believed all along that they did, for my set up, they did not.

Think about it, if you have the switch set to # 1, does your motor start and your electronics work? Same for # 2 position, does all of your stuff still work? If so, how are they separate? 

[fellinger]

Interesting product. So, the regular Perko switches (http://bluewatermarinesvc.com/html/bat_switch.html) don't truly isolate the batteries?

As much as I believed all along that they did, for my set up, they did not.

Think about it, if you have the switch set to # 1, does your motor start and your electronics work? Same for # 2 position, does all of your stuff still work? If so, how are they separate? 

Dont really know - never tried! I just assumed (I know what it means...) that in either 1 or 2 positions only those batteries would work. I thought in the "All" position both would work but, I didn't think they were inline with each other to affect the other. Lessons learned.

[Andys Delight]

My Perko does not isolate house/electronics from engine.  Not sure that I would want it to honestly.  If your stator/alternator goes bad and stops charging both batteries you may not know it until both batteries are drained completely since they're both being used simultaneously.  I have 2 batteries with a Perko switch.  I have never drained one to the point it wouldn't start the engine, but if by chance I did I would know 100% that battery 2 is 100% charged and will give enough juice to start the engine and get me home.