Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

[pontoon chief]

I am attempting to wire a dual battery switch (pergo)to two batterys on a boat with two motors.A 150 Yamaha and a 9.9 Yamaha kicker.
I read the information provided with the switch and there is no mention of using the switch with two motors.
Can anyone tell me if this can be done,and if so ,how to do the wiring.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

Depends on what you want the switch to do. Do you want to be able to save a fresh battery for both engines? Or do you want to be able to switch power from one engine to the other, using both batteries?

 

[pontoon chief]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

I would like to save a battery,and just use one at a time.I would like both motors and gadgets to use one battery,and have the second as a spare.

 

[cjames]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

Sounds like you simply need to hook everything on the boat up to the common terminal on the switch, and connect each of your batteries to terminal one and two respectivly. when you are switched to battery two, both motors and all gadgets will run off that battery, saving the other for (I assume) starting your engine. If your engine has a charging system, you will want to switch to "both" after starting the engine on battery one to insure that both batterys are being charged. Depending on how your boats wired, this could be easy or not so easy...


oops, I just re-read your post, when you said 2 motors, I thought electric. I assume the 150 is the only one with a charging system? If both engines have charging systems, things could get a little more interesting.

 

[pontoon chief]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

Both motors have a charging system.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

OK simple, On the back of the switch the posts should be marked. 1, 2, and Com. (or common).
1) First disconnect all the battery's ground cables to prevent accidental shorting as you work.
2) Select which battery you are going to call battery number 1 and which will be battery number 2.
3) (you may need extra cables for this part) Connect the positive post of battery 1 to the bolt on the back of the switch marked "1".
4)Connect the positive post of battery 2 to the number "2" bolt on the switch.
The battery positives should be the ONLY things connected to the number 1 and number 2 bolts on the switch.
5) Connect all of the boat's positive feed cables to the bolt marked "com", or common on the back of the switch. This includes both positive feeds to both engines and any other positive wires that were connected directly to the batteries originally. Be sure not to forget any fuses that may have been connected to the battery positives. And be certain NONE of the cables connected to the switch are grounds.

When the battery switch is in the number one position, everything will run off of battery number 1. When the switch is in the number 2 position everything runs off battery 2. The battery that is not selected will be isolated and no power will be drawn from it. The same is true for charging. If the engine is running it will only recharge the battery that is selected. It will be necessary to select the "both" position to charge both batteries with the engine.

It does not matter which engine you run. You can run either one, or both at the same time. One will not effect the other.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

I forgot to mention. NEVER select "off" while either or both engines are running.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

A similar scenario was discussed on the Yamaha forum some time ago. Look for a response by Rodbolt. I've forgotten the problem he presented but he knows Yamahas and doing what's being suggested is a no-no and is actually discussed in the Yamaha rigging guide (according to Rodbolt). You have two batteries anyway. Forget the switch and its potential problems. Put one battery on each engine. If one or the other battery dies, jump the dead battery with jumper cables from the good battery. My personal feeling is that you have an issue with the alternator on the big engine back feeding the electrical system on the small engine. Although the diodes in the small engine charging system would block the backfeed up to a certain current level, they do have a breakdown point. What that point is I don't know but I'm betting those components have far smaller ratings than the current output of big engine.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

That is exactly what I want to do. An additional question that I have. I know we are NEVER to switch to the OFF position with one or both motors running. I have a 115 hp Merc and 8hp Yamaha electric start kicker.

However, with one or both motors running can I switch between any of the ON positions (2 ALL 1)?

I just noticed Silvertips post, so I guess I have to do more research.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

Due respect to Silvertip and I am certainly no expert on Yamaha so defenently look into it.
I am assuming Silvertip's warning is applies to a problem if both engines are running at the same time. Are there situations where you would run them both together? If so, the system I suggested may not be the way to go.
However I know of no way it could damage either engine if thet are not running together.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

Al...you should be able to switch between 1, 2 and both (but never off) while the engine is running assuming you have a "Make before break" type switch. Most battery switches today are but to be really sure you could use a simple ohm meter to check as you switch through the various settings.

 

[Al Kungel]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

No, I will not be running them at the same time. My Perko switch is Model 8504 and it has the "Make before Break" feature, so I should be good to go. Just to be sure I will do some more checking.

 

[burroak]

Re: Wiring Pergo Battery Switch

I found very clear diagrams for several wiring options on www.perko.com. Just select "battery switches"> your model> download instructions.