Battery Switch Help

F

FL Boater

Recruit
Joined
Apr 3, 2008
Messages
2
I recently replaced both trolling motor batteries and just relized my battery switch is not working on the 1 or both setting and only on the 2. Do I have somthing hooked up wrong.
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,802
Re: Battery Switch Help

Probably your switch.

If it was that 2 worked, "Both" worked and "1" didn't work, you probably have "C" and "2" backwards. No matter how mis-wired, the "both" setting would always work.
 
F

FL Boater

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Re: Battery Switch Help

Thanks for the info, but that leads to another question. Is there a way to know for sure it's the switch before I take it out and replace it?
 
PondTunes

PondTunes

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
387
Re: Battery Switch Help

you could check continuity with a digital multi meter. The meter should read continuity between the common and #1 when the switch is on #1,
continuity between the common and #2 when the switch is on #2,
Nothing should have continuity when the switch is OFF,
Continuity to everything when the switch is in the BOTH setting.
 
H

harkawy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
155
Re: Battery Switch Help

My Force 70 requires a "Make Before Break" switch to avoid blowing the rectifier when changing positions. Can you recommend one at a reasonable price and how can you test the functionality with a DMM?
 
PondTunes

PondTunes

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
387
Re: Battery Switch Help

harkawy said:
My Force 70 requires a "Make Before Break" switch to avoid blowing the rectifier when changing positions. Can you recommend one at a reasonable price and how can you test the functionality with a DMM?
Click to expand...

They sell them right here on iboats! Popular brands are Perko, Guest & Blue Sea Systems. If you have one you are pondering changing you could look the model number up online to verify if it was a make-before-break, otherwise if you want to test it with a multi-meter you should be able to check continuity from position #1 to position #2... Turn the switch slowly and it should show continuity between the two posts for a second as you go from position 1 to 2 and vice versa... If you have a DMM with an audible continuity alarm it will make your job a little easier.

Looking up the switch is probably the fastest way!

Battery Switches from Iboats
 
H

harkawy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
155
Re: Battery Switch Help

PondTunes said:
They sell them right here on iboats! Popular brands are Perko, Guest & Blue Sea Systems. If you have one you are pondering changing you could look the model number up online to verify if it was a make-before-break, otherwise if you want to test it with a multi-meter you should be able to check continuity from position #1 to position #2... Turn the switch slowly and it should show continuity between the two posts for a second as you go from position 1 to 2 and vice versa... If you have a DMM with an audible continuity alarm it will make your job a little easier.

Looking up the switch is probably the fastest way!

Battery Switches from Iboats
Click to expand...

I have a Perko in my boat now. I guess I'll check it out to make sure that it is a make before break. If is isn't, then I'll buy one here.
 
Boatist

Boatist

Rear Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Messages
4,552
Re: Battery Switch Help

I agree with above but to check continuity with a multimeter you must disconnect the batteries from the switch or you will blow up your meter.

When in the Ohms postion can have no external voltage hooked up.
 
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