Using Battery Switches?

[tank1949]

I just purchased an older Sea Ray that has been retrofitted with 383 antifreeze cooled MCs with Bravo1 drives. Owner had 2 battery selectors. He cranked each motor with both switches set to "all." I was brought up decades ago to run battery selectors and motors independently. If, for whatever reason, one of the charging systems failed, I could direct good power from the other battery-charging system, to recharge drained battery and feed current to both motors. I also had two bilge pumps with two float switches. Each switch was directly wired (fused) to each set of batteries. This method was more reliable incase a charging system failed or battery went dead. Any concerns or objections, please advise.

 

[alldodge]

Ya never know why someone would do something. Could be that is the way they were thought or maybe they just don't know, or something different about the boat. If there is only one alternator and it does not have an isolator or ACR, then that might be the issue. Need to know more about how the boat is setup and what does and doesn't work

 

[bman440440]

IMO a setup like yours should have a dedicated battery for each engine and a dedicated "house bank" with an ACR from one engine to the house bank... then have a on off selector switch on each engine and another on-off switch that connects both engine battery's...and an 1-2-all -off selector switch to the house bank and #2 going to one of the engine battery's... keep each of the engine switches in the "on" and the 3rd combining switch in the off and the house bank in the #1... that way everything has its own battery and the house bank will charge automatically and if there is ever a problem with any of the banks you can switch one of the selectors and have power to the problem bank... and still shut off all power if needed... that's my 2c

 

[tank1949]

IMO a setup like yours should have a dedicated battery for each engine and a dedicated "house bank" with an ACR from one engine to the house bank... then have a on off selector switch on each engine and another on-off switch that connects both engine battery's...and an 1-2-all -off selector switch to the house bank and #2 going to one of the engine battery's... keep each of the engine switches in the "on" and the 3rd combining switch in the off and the house bank in the #1... that way everything has its own battery and the house bank will charge automatically and if there is ever a problem with any of the banks you can switch one of the selectors and have power to the problem bank... and still shut off all power if needed... that's my 2c

Thanks to all. Each 383 has altinator and separate battery switch. That's all I know. Just starting to explore it. What is ACR??? What does it look like????? Boat is really clean. Bilge/engine compartment is outstandingly clean. Wires are all bundled and tie wrapped. I'll have to look for ACR.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks to all. Each 383 has altinator and separate battery switch. That's all I know. Just starting to explore it. What is ACR??? What does it look like????? Boat is really clean. Bilge/engine compartment is outstandingly clean. Wires are all bundled and tie wrapped. I'll have to look for ACR.

Automatic Charge Relay (ACR) Takes a place of the isolator. Google you will find it

Each 383 has alternator and separate battery switch

With that I think the guy just doesn't know what he should be doing