Battery Configuration

[jimdavi]

Folks:

I have four batteries and it looks (by the wiring diagrams) that the two sets of batteries are in parallel. I do have a generator as well. Can anyone confirm how they are wired stock from Searay? What configuration do you leave the battery switches when on the hook to minimize a dead boat? Do you leave one switch off? Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[MExcelsior]

I believe that the configuration is as follows:
Generator - Stand alone
Two Batteries in Parallel - Starboard - (#2)
Additional Battery - Port - (#1)

I usually use #2 for my deep cycles and leave my #1 off when anchoring.

 

[J Levine]

Mine is wired as Mexcelsior has indicated above, with the all of the 12V accessories onboard connected to the Starboard side. The Port side is only for the engine. I have starting batteries for the generator and the port motor and two deep cycles for the starboard side. With this configuration, turning off the the port side when anchoring does not do anything since the port side battery is a dedicated starting battery.

 

[doug5790]

I have 3 batteries total. one on the port side, two on the starboard. 1995 290 Sundancer. Which is house? which is port motor, which is starboard motor? My port motor battery is going dead. Out for a cruise, I can watch the port gauge slowly go from 12v to 11v to 10v and then not enough to crank the port motor. Will start with "emergency" jump switch. All three batteries were just replaced. I need to find a loose connection, or wire not connected. Which battery should I look at?

 

[go2pamlico]

I contacted Sea Ray and received copies of my boat's wiring diagrams (DC and AC). This helped me understand what was powered from what. I had 4 batteries. The vast majority of the DC systems were powered from the "House Load" / port engine set that were wired in parallel. Emergency sump pumps and the windlass were powered from the Starboard Engine single battery. One of the batteries was dedicated as GenSet start-up. As for switches, it depends on how individual systems are wired in relation the switches. I would not secure power for emergency pumps while at anchor or while at a pier. A draining battery while running suggests a problem with the alternator and/or with wiring from the alternator. Again, I started with good wiring diagrams.

 

[Bt Doctur]

http://www.*******.com/merc/Bullet/97/97_05.pdf replace *`s with b,o,a,t,f,i,x no comma`s
This should clear things up as to how many batteries to have on board with today`s engines and electronic systems.
Factory systems should ONLY work engines, vhf radio`s and bilge pumps.Everything else goes " house"