Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... M5sx3y9KSM

Thoughts?

The Perko switches are often used on boats with two batteries.

Twin batteries are needed if you're running a big, powerful sound system (all day), a trolling motor or if you've got a Teleflex power steering pump on your SeaStar hydraulic steering. If you were out at sea, it'd be nice to know you have a backup battery.

I don't need twin batteries, as all of the above are N/A. I would like to have a booster battery with an air compressor just to inflate water toys.

Its not really a switch. It isolates the batteries. Mine is ordered and on the way. Great peace of mind when out on the water all day. They sometimes can be tricky to install depending on how your boat is wired up. The engine is powered by one battery, and all of the accessories are powered by the other. When the boat is running the engine is charging both. It is fully automatic and no need to switch from one battery to the other. $119 with free shipping on Amazon right now. I have always worried about a dead battery when there is nobody around to offer a jump, and I want to power some additional accessories next summer.

Had it for 2 years, love it would do it again.

one of the best upgrades i did. my premier came with a 12v fridge. now i can park all day and run the fridge and the stereo without worrying about getting home. i installed a 2nd voltmeter on my dash so i can literally watch the start battery top off and overflow to the house battery.

be prepared though. no wiring is included and you will need some heavy gauge wire for some of your runs. they also don't supply the breakers/fuses they recommend either.

take your time and plan your wiring in advance.

i used www.genuinedealz.com for the supplies. saved a ton of money over places like bass pro/west marine.

Here is where I got my at, look at the system http://www.ezacdc.com/boat-wiring-produ ... h-systems/

I took the 'cheapo' way out. I left the engine attached to the original battery. Bought a Lawn Tractor battery at Walmart for 25 bucks. Moved all the electronics [lights, radio, lighter outlets, water pump, and air compressor] to the 'little battery' Connected the two batteries in parallel [plus to plus, minus to minus] with a standard light switch in the ground side [ - ]. With the switch on, both batteries are tied together and charge. With the switch off, the small battery is isolated, runs all the electrics and won't run down the starting battery.

One of these units is also on our wishlist. We've used a battery switch with success so far since we've put our boat on the water. But I'm thinking I'd like one like the Ac/Dc unit linked above myself. If it works as advertised the unit allows the use of "Both Batteries" until they are drained or utilized to a set-point. The unit will then disengage the primary starting battery preserving enough power to start the engine.

This makes sense to me at least, allowing a person to fully utilize the total battery capacity on-board the boat without the fear of dreaded clicking sound late in the evening when a person is ready to head back to the dock.

I have one on my boat, I run it in battery 1 most of the time and use Battery 2 for just back up. Sometimes I will run it off of battery 2 just to keep it charged. If you have a little motor like me you should not run it on both batteries to charge as it puts to much of a load in the stator in the little merc. When I charge them at home I will put the switch to both batteries so they both charge at the same time.

I have never ran them down. And yes I have 2 batteries on a little 50HP merc.

It's an awesome product.

Here's how I added mine:

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