Battery trouble

[Joshf]

I'm down at the lake with my family for an Easter weekend. I kept the batteries on a trickle charge all winter. My #1 battery will not start the boat, but it will run the stereo and all other electrical. #2 battery will start the boat, but will not run the stereo or the lights. When the switch is on 1 & 2, it will run it all. I have load tested both batteries and they check out as good.
Has anyone experienced this before? Any thoughts?
Thanks!


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[t.franscioni]

That's how it supposed to be. The purpose of the selector switch is to isolate the starting system from the accessory system. Only when you select 1&2 or "both" will you be able to start and run accessories at same time from the battery because in that position both batteries are hooked up in parallel and both are providing power to everything. Ideally what you do is select your starting battery when starting your boat then once running you can go ahead and select 1&2 so that both batteries are now connected and receiving a charge from the alternator. When you are just listening to music or running accessories while parked with engine and alternator not running then you would select your accessory battery that way if you drain it by accident your not stranded you just select your starting battery to fire up the engine and then once running select 1&2 and your drained accessory battery will now start charging back up.

[shag]

Have you cleaned the terminals lately? Even the back of the switch where they connect? Sometimes thats enough to cause an issue. None the less, something is wrong. You should be able to do all functions with just one battery. Go out one day using one battery, then the next day switch to the other one. How old are the batteries? Are they hot after the trickle charge?

[swatguy]

Is this a new boat to you? Did it always do both on each battery?


There is a couple different ways to configure batteries . They way you mention it, could be completely normal. Some people choose to have their stereo battery completely isolated from the starting components. Another way is that everything is wired to run off whether your select 1, 2, or both. So some history is needed to determine if you need to trouble shoot or if this is functioning properly.

[Joshf]

No, this boat is not new to me. I have been able to run any function on the boat (accessories, starting the engine, etc) on either battery. I did check the terminals on the batteries, but not the terminals in the switch - that is a great idea and I will look into that. Unfortunately, my boat is in dry storage down at Lake Powell as of today and I will not be back down there for another 6 weeks. Any other ideas are appreciated however.

I enjoy this forum and have learned plenty of gems that I have used on my boat. Thanks all!

[swatguy]

I am willing to bet there is a ground issue somewhere with a bad connection. Start at the switch and work your way down the lines. However with that said there is also a possibility the switch went bad as well. I have seen a couple die.

[shag]

Good point Swat. I had almost the same thing happening once, and I found just little corrosion on the terminals on the back of the switch. Cleaned everything up with a wire brush and fixed it.

[Turbo]

we had that problem before and it turned out bing the terminal clamp, there was corrosion inside between the stripped batt. wires and the clamp itself and it took a long time for me to find it.

[Joshf]

Quick follow up - the mechanic found a loose ground wire on the #1 battery. Problem solved!

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